Oliver Haslam·

Apple’s Upcoming iOS 17.4 Update Might Ditch Progressive Web Apps In The EU

If you’re an iPhone owner in the European Union you might find that the iOS 17.4 update does more than just add the ability to use third-party app stores and pick your own default web browser.

Because according to reports the update will actually remove a feature that you might already be enjoying.

That feature is support for Progressive Web Apps, or PWA. That’s the feature that allows some websites to send push notifications, launch from the Home screen without opening Safari, and include badges on their icons. All of that seems to have been removed from iOS 17.4, but only for those who are in the EU.

The change has been spotted by multiple people running the iOS 17.4 beta on their iPhones, and while some assumed it was a bug in the first release, the fact it is still there in the second suggests that this is actually a decision that Apple has made. The company has so far not confirmed whether that is the case and it seems like an odd one to make, too.

Everyone who installs iOS 17.4 outside the EU continues to have access to the PWA feature, while there have been sporadic reports from people who say that their PWAs still work.

However, there is some confusion about whether those people are actually in the EU or just Europe — a distinction that has been lost on some people regarding the ongoing EU Digital Markets Act situation.

Apple is expected to release iOS 17.4 to the public later this month.

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