iOS 17.4 Beta Adds New App Verification Screen to App Store in EU [Updated]

Update — 10:09 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple says the App Store showing an app verification screen in the EU is a bug and will be fixed before iOS 17.4 is released to all users. Original story follows.

Starting with the latest iOS 17.4 beta, Apple asks iPhone users in the EU to verify an app's information before installing it from the App Store. The prompt was spotted by Dimitris Sartzetakis of @iSWUpdates and others.

Shazam Authentication App Store Feature 1
iOS 17.4 will allow iPhone users in the EU to install apps from so-called "alternative app marketplaces," and the verification screen will appear in those storefronts too. Apple is likely aiming to avoid anticompetitive complaints by also showing the prompt in its own App Store, should it remain in the public release of iOS 17.4.

Apple previously announced that iOS 17.4 will be released in March, and the App Store changes only apply in the 27 countries that are part of the EU, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and others. Notably, the UK left the EU in 2020.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

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Top Rated Comments

SanderEvers Avatar
13 months ago
It's basically the same EU ideocracy as the "cookiebanner" each website has these days. Nobody reads them, just clicks on install. And the worst part is, it annoys most people.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mvwoensel Avatar
13 months ago
Under the Digital Markets Act, self-preferencing is illegal. That's why users will see this screen before installing apps from any app store, including Apple's own store.

However, users can disable this: "Users can manage their default marketplace through a new default setting. Certain platform features for finding and using apps like Spotlight are integrated with a user’s default marketplace. App installation sheets are automatically turned off for installations from a user’s default marketplace."
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KRBM Avatar
13 months ago

Under the Digital Markets Act, self-preferencing is illegal. That's why users will see this screen before installing apps from any app store, including Apple's own store.
Nothing wrong with forbidding self-preferencing here, the issue is that Apple is choosing to introduce scare screens. They could have adhered to just allowing third party stores but they went above and beyond to add a negative factor in the download flow - most likely to later tell everyone that the EU measures decreased downloads rate when they brought that on themselves.


It's basically the same EU ideocracy as the "cookiebanner" each website has these days. Nobody reads them, just clicks on install. And the worst part is, it annoys most people.
Again, there’s no directive from the EU that Apple has to do this - this is solely Apple’s choice.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iOS Geek Avatar
13 months ago

Nothing wrong with forbidding self-preferencing here, the issue is that Apple is choosing to introduce scare screens. They could have adhered to just allowing third party stores but they went above and beyond to add a negative factor in the download flow - most likely to later tell everyone that the EU measures decreased downloads rate when they brought that on themselves.
Verifying information is a scare screen? Sure, ok...:rolleyes: A scare screen would be warning the dangers of doing this. Not asking you to verify what you're downloading is what you intended to. Stop making things up.

Scary? No. Annoying pain in the neck? Absolutely. But serves the EU right! They meddled in something they should've stayed out of and now there's a worse experience because of it. Saw that coming from a mile away!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unami Avatar
13 months ago

Say it with me: This wouldn't have even been a possibility if the EU kept their noses out.

Sure...it was Apple's choice. But it is a choice that wouldn't have even been thought of if the EU left things alone. This can all be tied back to their incessant need to meddle in everything.
With the same logic you could say that Apple's unfair business practices forced the EU to act.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KRBM Avatar
13 months ago

Say it with me: This wouldn't have even been a possibility if the EU kept their noses out.

Sure...it was Apple's choice. But it is a choice that wouldn't have even been thought of if the EU left things alone. This can all be tied back to their incessant need to meddle in everything.
This borders on victim blaming. You’re saying that you deserved to be punched in the face because you gave someone an opportunity to think of the option.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)