Recently, there has been a small uproar around the topic of sideloading due to a change introduced by Apple in the iOS 17.2 beta. This change led to speculation that Apple would allow the installation of any app on iPhone or iPad, even from outside the App Store. However, the reality is that, as of now, you still cannot install third-party apps on the iPhone in the broader sense of the term.
For years, it has been possible to install apps on the iPhone outside of the App Store, but with a big asterisk
Let’s start from the beginning. Many years ago, it has been possible to install apps on the iPhone from outside the App Store. The key to all of this lies in the signature. Developers, when they are creating an app, can sign the installation file of that app with their own key and then install this file and, therefore, the app on the iPhone.
So, installing an app from outside the App Store is not a novelty for developers. It is expected, obviously, that an app needs to be tested before it can be on the App Store, and that’s precisely why Apple allows this mechanism. Through Xcode, we can install any app that we sign.
In fact, if we are precise, we can install third-party apps from outside the App Store thanks to TestFlight, but these apps expire after three months and must be renewed to continue functioning.
The change in iOS 17.2: AirDrop
The novelty that has caused a stir implies that, supposedly, it is now possible to transfer an IPA file to an iPhone via AirDrop and proceed with its direct installation, something that was not possible until now. However, there is a crucial aspect that must be considered before assuming that Apple has opened the doors to sideloading.
The same developer who discovered the change, Dylan, and posted it on X, explains that the app he tested this feature with is one that is signed by himself. So, where is the novelty?
The novelty lies in the fact that after a developer creates their own IPA and signs it with their certificate, instead of proceeding with installation through Xcode or TestFlight, they can do it via AirDrop. A more direct and, in many cases, convenient system, but nothing similar to being able to install third-party apps from outside the App Store in a broad sense.
It is true that Apple will eventually allow this, as the European Union has decided to force the company to do so despite warnings from experts against this measure. It is true that Apple must be studying and testing a system to comply with this requirement, but the ability to receive an IPA via AirDrop and install it is little more than a convenience right now.
Nevertheless, although the discovery is interesting, let’s not assume more than what we see. Right now, apps on our iPhone must pass the App Store’s security and quality checks, even if developers have access to test their own applications on their own devices.
