iOS is famous for being a closed operating system that does not allow users to install applications from other parties outside the App Store, while Google has long allowed Android to do so. Apple believes that uncontrolled software from its app store can contain malware or many security flaws, so it is best to prevent this to avoid risks.

Another reason why Apple doesn’t allow developers to put their iOS apps on third-party app stores is to avoid paying a 30% commission on every user spend in the program or on the App Store. Since the App Store is the only place where iOS users can download software, developers have had no choice but to pay the “Apple tax.”

However, under the European Union (EU) Digital Markets Act (DMA), mobile device users must be allowed to install apps from third-party software stores.

In early 2023, Bloomberg writer Mark Gurman revealed that Apple would allow third-party apps on iPhones, but only in 27 markets that are members of the EU. The limitation is intended to reduce the risk of spreading malware, while also providing the company with real-world data on the possibility of opening up third-party apps in other markets before making a decision.

In a recent discovery by 9to5Mac , iOS 17.2 code suggests that the iPhone will open up the ability to install third-party apps on the device, allowing developers to create their own software repositories. Additionally, information about market restrictions was also found - which proves that Apple is forced to comply with the DMA.

The latest deadline to comply with the DMA is March 2024, but observers believe that CEO Tim Cook and his team will find ways to prevent compliance with the DMA to "open up" iOS, even in the EU.