Apple announces reversal of ``PWA deprecation in iOS 17.4''

From around the beginning of February 2024, it has become clear that Apple is discontinuing support for `` Progressive Web Apps (PWA)'' in the beta version of iOS 17.4. Apple explained that it was discontinuing support for PWAs in order to comply with the European Union's (EU) digital market law , but after being exposed to much criticism, Apple has announced that it will withdraw the discontinuation of support. .

iOS 17.4 won't remove Home Screen web apps in the EU after all - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/01/apple-home-screen-web-apps-ios-17-eu/

iPhone has long supported PWA, which allows you to add web apps to your home screen and use them just like mobile apps. It has been revealed that PWA support on iOS has been removed in the iOS 17.4 beta, and Apple has confirmed this. In addition, Apple explained that the discontinuation of PWA support on iOS was ``to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA).''

Apple admits that it has removed PWA support from iOS, in response to the Digital Markets Act, the impact is limited to users in the EU - GIGAZINE

Apple's removal of PWA support has been criticized by developers and Open Web Advocacy, a non-profit organization fighting for the future of the open web, and EU regulators launched an investigation at the end of February 2024. It has also been reported that.

Report that EU regulators have started investigating Apple's ``abolition of PWA on iPhone'' - GIGAZINE

However, Apple has announced that it has changed its policy to continue supporting PWA in iOS 17.4. Apple's policy change is noted in the developer support page under the heading 'Why don't users in the EU have access to Home Screen web apps?'

Update on apps distributed in the European Union - Support - Apple Developer
https://developer.apple.com/support/dma-and-apps-in-the-eu/

Apple said, 'Apple previously announced plans to remove support for PWAs in the EU as part of its efforts to become DMA compliant. Removing this feature requires web apps to support alternative browser engines. This was due to complex security and privacy concerns, including the need to build a new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS.We received requests to continue providing support for PWAs on iOS. As such, we will continue to provide existing PWA support in the EU. This support means that PWAs will continue to be built directly on WebKit and its security architecture and fit into the security and privacy model of native apps on iOS. Developers and users who may have been affected by the removal of PWA support in the iOS 17.4 beta in the EU should note that existing functionality for PWAs will be restored when iOS 17.4 is available in early March. You can look forward to it.''