Sideload iOS apps using the third-party AltStore app | Laptop News

Recent changes to EU laws require Apple to allow third-party app stores in EU countries. Here’s how to use AltStore to sideload iOS apps.

The European Union recently passed the Digital Markets Act (DMA) – a new law that requires device vendors to allow open app ecosystems and allows users to download apps from alternative software marketplaces.

This law was passed after several European countries complained that Apple’s proprietary closed App Store was a monopoly and restricted competition.

Under the DMA, device vendors must allow an open way to “sideload” apps onto mobile devices from third-party app stores. Sideloading is just another term used to describe installing apps from other locations than the device or OS manufacturers’ own software stores.

For iOS devices, several of these “alt” app stores have already appeared. Most of them work in the same way as the Apple App Store or Google Play stores but with a few differences.

AltStore

One such third party app store for iOS devices is AltStore by Riley Testut – who also just happens to be the author of the popular Nintendo Game Boy iOS emulator Delta.

There are two versions of AltStore – one for users in EU countries (AltStore PAL), and one for everyone else (AltStore).

To use AltStore PAL, you’ll need to physically be inside an EU country, not be using a VPN, be logged into an EU App Store account, and be running iOS 17.4 or later.

Most of the same restrictions apply to using AltStore outside the EU except you can use a VPN, and use any App Store account outside the EU.

To install AltStore on iOS devices outside EU countries you’ll also need to have a Mac…

read more appleinsider.com