Oliver Haslam·

EU iPhone Users Get Limited Time Access To Alternative App Stores While Travelling Outside

Apple’s new iOS 17.4 software update has been released to the public and it’s now available for everyone who wants it.

But in the EU that software update adds support for third-party app stores but only while you’re actually in an EU country. It turns out, anyone who happens to travel outside of the EU will mean that they have a limited time to use those third-party stores before Apple blocks them.

That’s according to a new support document from Apple which that notes a short-term travel grace period will be allowed.

If you leave the European Union for short-term travel, you’ll continue to have access to alternative app marketplaces for a grace period. If you’re gone for too long, you’ll lose access to some features, including installing new alternative app marketplaces. Apps you installed from alternative app marketplaces will continue to function, but they can’t be updated by the marketplace you downloaded them from.

It isn’t yet clear how long the short-term grace period actually is, however. The EU third-party app stores are available in all 27 EU countries, and this is the first time that those in such countries can download apps outside of the App Store.

To be able to access these app stores users must have an Apple ID that is registered in an EU country and they must also be physically located in one of those countries, too.

You may also like to check out:

You can follow us on Twitter, or Instagram, and even like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the Web.