Apple Reverses Decision, Reinstates Support for Web Apps in Europe with iOS 17.4 Update

Apple has made a U-turn on its decision to stop offering web apps for European users, with the reversal set to take effect in the upcoming iOS 17.4 update scheduled for release later this month. The change means that Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) will once again be compatible with WebKit on Apple devices.

In a recent update to a support document, Apple announced the decision to reverse its earlier stance, which was initially taken in February as part of efforts to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union. At that time, Apple had stated that it would no longer support PWAs for iOS users in the EU, citing the need to develop a new integration architecture for displaying full-screen web pages as apps. As a result, support for Home Screen web apps was discontinued from the iOS 17.4 update.

However, following feedback from users and possibly stakeholders, Apple has decided to continue support for Home Screen web apps in the European Union. The company acknowledged that PWAs are not commonly used but assured that they will still be allowed on iOS devices in EU countries.

Apple has confirmed that PWAs will once again be supported on WebKit in the final version of iOS 17.4, which is currently in its beta stage. The official release of the update is expected in early March, offering users in Europe the option to use PWAs on their Apple devices.