EU Sideloading Changes in iOS 18: What You Need to Know

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The EU Forces Apple’s Hand on Sideloading

For years, Apple maintained a strict single-store policy on iPhone: if you wanted an app, you went through the App Store, period. That changed dramatically when the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into full force, compelling Apple to open iOS to alternative app marketplaces and — to a limited but significant extent — sideloading. The changes that rolled out across iOS 17.4 and continued to mature in iOS 18 represent the biggest shift in iOS’s app distribution model since the iPhone launched.

For users who have been following the sideloading space — and for fans of tools like Scarlet iOS — the EU changes are both exciting and nuanced. They do not replace third-party sideloading tools, but they do reshape the landscape in important ways. Here is everything you need to know.

What the Digital Markets Act Requires

The DMA designates large technology platforms as “gatekeepers” and imposes specific interoperability and openness requirements on them. For Apple, this includes:

  • Allowing third-party app marketplaces on iOS in EU member states
  • Allowing app developers to distribute their apps outside the App Store directly to users
  • Permitting alternative browser engines (not just WebKit) on iOS in the EU
  • Opening up NFC access for third-party payment apps

Crucially, these requirements apply only to users with devices set to an EU App Store region. If you are in the United States, Canada, Australia, or elsewhere, you do not get these features natively — at least not yet.

What Apple Changed in iOS 17.4 and iOS 18

Alternative Marketplaces

Apple introduced a new category called “Alternative App Marketplaces.” These are third-party app stores that have been vetted and approved by Apple under a new notarization process. Any app distributed through an Alternative Marketplace must still go through Apple’s notarization, which checks for malware and some policy compliance — but it does not enforce all App Store guidelines, particularly around business models and payment systems.

The first alternative marketplaces to launch in the EU included AltStore PAL (a paid version of AltStore designed for EU compliance) and several others. Scarlet iOS is also navigating the landscape to determine the best path for EU users.

Web Distribution

iOS 17.4 and later (in the EU) also allow “web distribution” — developers can host their apps on their own websites and allow users to install them directly, without going through any marketplace. This is a form of genuine sideloading, though with Apple’s notarization requirement still in place.

Web distribution requires developers to meet a minimum 1 million annual installs threshold or qualify for an exception. This effectively limits direct web distribution to larger developers, leaving smaller apps and personal tools in a gray area.

iOS 18 Refinements

iOS 18 brought several refinements to the EU framework:

  • Improved onboarding flow for installing alternative marketplaces
  • Better permission dialogs that explain what users are consenting to
  • Expanded notarization transparency — users can see more details about what notarization checked
  • Initial steps toward allowing EU features globally, though Apple has resisted this politically

How These Changes Affect Scarlet iOS Users

For EU-based Scarlet iOS users, the DMA changes create new options but do not eliminate the value of traditional sideloading tools. Here is why:

Apple’s Notarization Is Not the Same as Full Openness

Even in the EU, Apple still controls what gets notarized. Apps that Apple deems to violate its notarization guidelines — which include some categories of apps that Scarlet’s library includes — may not pass. Traditional sideloading via Scarlet remains the most permissive option for installing any IPA file, not just notarized ones.

Global Users Are Still Better Served by Third-Party Tools

If you are outside the EU, nothing has changed from Apple’s side. Tools like Scarlet iOS remain the primary method for installing apps beyond the App Store. As our guide to sideloading apps on iOS 18 without jailbreak explains, Scarlet’s approach works globally and does not require any region changes.

The Certificate Model Still Works

Scarlet iOS’s certificate-based installation model — the core of how it has always worked — is entirely separate from Apple’s EU marketplace framework. Whether or not you have access to EU features, Scarlet iOS installs apps the same way it always has. Understanding what Scarlet iOS is and how it works in 2026 helps clarify why these two systems coexist rather than compete.

The Future: Will These Changes Spread Globally?

This is the big question. Regulatory pressure is building in other jurisdictions. The United States DOJ and Congress have held hearings on App Store monopoly concerns. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority is investigating Apple. Japan has passed legislation requiring alternative payment options.

Most analysts expect some version of the EU changes to reach other markets within the next 2-3 years. Whether that means full sideloading support or a more limited “notarized web distribution” model remains to be seen. Apple will almost certainly fight for the most restrictive interpretation in each jurisdiction.

What Should You Do Right Now?

If you are in the EU:

  • Explore alternative marketplaces — AltStore PAL and others offer a legitimized experience
  • Continue using Scarlet iOS for apps that alternative marketplaces do not carry
  • Stay informed about which apps qualify for web distribution

If you are outside the EU:

  • Continue using Scarlet iOS — it remains the most capable sideloading solution available
  • Monitor legislative developments in your region
  • Advocate for openness — user voices matter in regulatory processes

Conclusion

The EU sideloading changes in iOS 18 are a historic shift, but they are the beginning of the story, not the end. Apple’s compliance is grudging and heavily gatekept. For users who want true freedom to install any app on their iPhone, third-party tools like Scarlet iOS remain indispensable — and they work right now, everywhere in the world.

Do not wait for regulators. Install Scarlet iOS today and enjoy app freedom regardless of where you live.

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