Apple to Remove PWA Support in iOS 17.4 for European Users

In a surprising turn of events, European users experimenting with the iOS 17.4 beta discovered that progressive web apps (PWAs) ceased to function, sparking initial thoughts of a bug. However, Apple clarified on its Developer website that this change is intentional, attributing the decision to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Progressive web apps, which allow users to add website shortcuts to their home screen with functionalities like notifications, badge alerts, and persistent sign-in, rely on Safari's WebKit engine. The EU's DMA mandates that third-party browsers on iOS should have the capability to use their own engines. This regulation poses challenges for PWAs, as they could then be built on any of these alternative engines rather than exclusively on WebKit.

Apple's Justification and Security Concerns

Apple's stance is that adapting web apps to meet the DMA's requirements involves extensive effort that is not justified by the low user engagement these apps see. The company also raises security concerns, suggesting that PWAs based on non-WebKit engines could potentially lead to unauthorized data access, including capturing permissions and accessing the camera, microphone, or location without user consent.

Impact on Home Screen Web Apps in Safari

Apple doesn't help third-party browsers with Home Screen web apps, which is understandable. However, the Digital Markets Act is also behind the decision to stop supporting Home Screen web apps in Safari.

The law insists on equal treatment for all browsers, meaning Apple can't show favoritism to Safari and WebKit over other browser engines. This restriction not only affects third-party browsers but also prevents Safari from supporting Home Screen web apps.

Future Changes for EU-based Users

As a result, when iOS 17.4 is officially released in March, EU-based users will find that PWAs are no longer available. Instead, they will have the option to add basic browser bookmarks to their home screens. These bookmarks will open in a new tab in the user's browser but will not retain login information or have the capacity to send notifications. Apple emphasizes that maintaining PWAs as a Safari-only feature is not feasible under the EU's DMA, which advocates for equal treatment of all browsers.

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