Apple will let iPhone users delete its most-prized asset, App Store

Apple is introducing a major change to its ecosystem with iOS 18, allowing users in eligible markets to delete the company’s most valuable property – the App Store. Following the enforcement of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act in March earlier this year, Apple is reducing limitations in its ecosystem to allow third-party app marketplaces. Giving iPhone and iPad users in the European Union the ability to delete the iOS App Store by the end of the year is the latest to the measures Apple is taking to comply with the new laws, which are meant to create more competition in the region. Other than the App Store, you can also delete other native apps on your iPhone.

“By the end of this year, we’ll make changes to the browser choice screen, default apps, and app deletion for iOS and iPadOS for users in the EU,” said Apple in the latest developer update. This means iOS apps such as Camera, Photos, Notes, and Messages can be deleted in favour of third-party apps, which will be available for download from different app marketplaces. This will mark a major departure from Apple’s core values based on closedness of the ecosystem for “better privacy.” Apple added that these updates “come from our ongoing and continuing dialogue with the European Commission about compliance with the Digital Markets Act’s requirements in these areas.” The upcoming changes to iOS and iPadOS, thus, will be exclusive to users in the European Union.

How will it impact Apple and iPhone users

If you are an iPhone or iPad user, residing in the European Union, you will have the option to choose an app store other than Apple’s App Store. This would mean you can download apps that often do not get Apple’s approval to be listed in the App Store. Unlike Android, iOS has the App Store as the single store you can download apps and games from. It is also one of the biggest revenue generating platforms for Apple, since the company takes a cut for every in-app purchase. While Apple has changed its fee structure for in-app purchases previously, it still mandates developers to pay commissions for using the App Store and its services – resulting in high-margin revenue. EU’s new laws, however, will compel Apple to lose its control on this app publishing and management system, impacting its revenue. DMA mandates Apple to also allow users in the European Union to download third-party app stores.