iOS 17.4 Public Beta: Progressive Web App Support on iPhones in Europe Reportedly Removed

The recent rollout of the iOS 17.4 public beta globally has stirred particular interest among European users due to its significant changes. Among these changes, the update introduced support for third-party app stores on iPhones within the region, granting third-party browsers like Firefox and Google the freedom to utilize their own engines instead of Apple’s WebKit.

However, reports from beta testers now indicate a notable omission: the removal of support for progressive web apps (PWA) on their devices. Developer Maximiliano Firtman took to X (formerly Twitter) to shed light on the issue, initially considering it a bug upon encountering it after the release of the first public beta on February 2.

However, with the arrival of iOS 17.4 beta 2, Maximiliano suggests a possible intentional removal in Europe, citing a system alert notifying users that web apps “will open from your default browser from now on.” This shift potentially aligns with compliance efforts regarding the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

While Apple had previously mandated PWAs through its WebKit browser engine for Safari and required third-party browsers to adhere to the same engine, the imminent implementation of DMA regulations prompts a change.

Consequently, browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox will now operate using their own engines, thereby lacking support for PWAs. However, the paradox arises as Safari should theoretically continue to support these web apps, raising questions about the rationale behind this strategic alteration.

If it is true, this means that users in Europe will no longer get the web push notifications from a PWA, a feature which was added with the iOS 16.4 update. Further, this would also result in users losing the data stored in these web apps. However, it is worth noting that the tipster highlighted that “nothing is mentioned on release notes about this change”. Additionally, another user has also reported that they are unaffected by the issue.

Apple also rolled out the iOS 17.3.1 update to all users on Thursday, ahead of the expected release of iOS 17.4 in March. It is a small update that focuses on bug fixes and addresses only one issue. As per the changelog, some users reported an issue where while typing, the text unexpectedly duplicated itself or overlapped in the text field. Users who faced the issue should find that it has been resolved, after updating to the latest version.