Apple is currently testing iOS 17.5, available as a beta update for developers and public software testers. There aren’t many user-facing changes in this latest beta update, which isn’t a huge surprise because we’re only about two months away from our first look at iOS 18.
Still, iOS 17.5 will be another monumental update for some iPhone users, as Apple is adding support for downloading apps from the web. Once iOS 17.5 is officially out, you’ll be able to sideload apps on iPhone—as long as you live in the European Union.
App installation via the web (E.U. only)
Following an announcement in March, iOS 17.5 introduces the ability to download apps directly from developers’ websites, as opposed to using an app store. The first 17.5 beta gave developers the option to host their apps on the web, while the second beta actually lets users download those apps onto their iPhones. It’s the latest fundamental change Apple has made to its platform in the wake of rulings from the European Commission that forced the company to allow developers to run their own third-party app stores, offer true third-party web browsers, and more.
If you don’t use iOS, downloading software from a website for use on your phone isn’t a novel experience. The practice, known as sideloading, is quite normal on Android, and is essentially the go-to way to get new apps on desktop operating systems like Windows, Linux—and, yes, macOS.
Apple has resisted the practice on the iPhone since iOS’ inception, claiming that sideloading puts users at risk. While there is some truth to that, as the lack of oversight invites bad actors to trick users into installing malware, there are plenty of legitimate apps that don’t exist on an official app store. As long as users are careful, they should be able to download programs safely.
Apple being Apple, even after this change rolls out, you won’t be able to simply download any old app from the internet you want: The company is placing restrictions on both the developers that can offer this service, as well as the apps that can be sold online. In addition, devs will still need to offer a cut of their earnings to Apple, so the entire process won’t be that far removed from what goes on in the App Store. Still, it’s a step in the right direction—for users in the E.U., anyway. Nothing about Apple’s app download policies is changing outside of Europe.
Other stuff coming to iOS 17.5
The only major new feature to appear in the second iOS 17.5 beta is a fun one: Quartles, a new word game for Apple News+ subscribers. Players pick from tiles containing two or three letters each to build words, which can be made up of one to four tiles. MacRumors has access to the game, and shows how picking the tiles “art,” “ist,” “ic,” and “ally” creates the word “artistically.” If you pay for Apple News+, you can add this game to your roster of news-based games, including Wordle and Connections.
Aside from major E.U.-centric changes, the 17.5 update is a minor one, though there are a few new features to check out. The Podcasts widget will now change its color to reflect whatever you’re listening to, rather than the stock purple color of Podcasts itself, and there’s a new icon for the Passkeys Access for Web Browsers menu in Privacy & Security. As of the second beta, you’ll find a tip in the Notes app pointing you to features like tags and checklists, while the Books app has a new shortcut to the Reading Goals section.
9to5Mac also discovered code in iOS 17.5 that identifies unknown Bluetooth trackers and walks users through how to disable them. This would be a welcome security feature, as trackers like AirTags have raised concerns that people could use them for stalking. This code suggests that both Find My-enabled devices as well as third-party trackers would be detectable by iOS 17.5; however, the feature is not currently active. Other features found in code that may be on the horizon are a “Block All Participants” button in FaceTime, a Battery Health menu for iPads, and references to a new Apple Pencil that apparently uses a “squeeze” feature.