Europa : PWA or A2HS in standalone no longer works

App & System Services Core OS iOS Safari Safari Services Safari and Web

Created Jan ’24

Replies 22

Boosts 10

Views 7.1k

Participants 16

Hello, since the last iOS 17.4 Europe update, and since the implementation of new rules for default browsers, PWAs no longer work. In fact, they are nothing more than shortcuts for internet pages, so this makes the application unusable, which could not necessarily be launched in install mode with notifications. I tried looking for changes but couldn't find them. I think it's linked to the fact that you can install applications from the web from a marketplace. If anyone has a solution or the same problem. Thank you

Boost

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Feb ’24

Hi,

To learn more about developer changes in the European Union, please see "Why don't users in the EU have access to Home Screen web apps?" within the "Developer Q&A: Changes for apps in the EU" section listed below:

https://developer.apple.com/support/dma-and-apps-in-the-eu/#dev-qa

Best,

Paris

warmemelkislekker OP

Feb ’24

Very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very bad choice! Having Adobe Flash feelings again....

warmemelkislekker OP

Feb ’24

I'm a developer and we've JUST switched over to a PWA, now this... This is apple at their worst.

jfvandekamp OP

Feb ’24

Complete businesses are impacted by this abrupt decision. We've developed multiple PWA applications within several SaaS platforms used by thousands of users on a daily basis. In some cases, actual lives depend on the delivery of the web push notifications within the PWAs. Do we need to develop complete native apps now within 3 weeks?

Simone Pasetto OP

Feb ’24

any ideas for can use webpush notification inside webpage like pwa?

jurgenonland OP

Feb ’24

Yes this is unbelievable! Please sign letter to https://letter.open-web-advocacy.org/

kv1dr OP

Mar ’24

PWA now works again in stable iOS 17.4. I just tested it now, I am from EU, and PWA wasn't working in iOS 17.4 Beta. I am not sure if I had to add PWA to home screen again or not. I tried adding PWA to home screen from Safari, Chrome and Firefox and it worked from all 3 browsers.

There is an updated answer to question "Why don’t users in the EU have access to Home Screen web apps?" on https://developer.apple.com/support/dma-and-apps-in-the-eu/#dev-qa:

UPDATE: Previously, Apple announced plans to remove the Home Screen web apps capability in the EU as part of our efforts to comply with the DMA. The need to remove the capability was informed by the complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps to support alternative browser engines that would require building a new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS.

We have received requests to continue to offer support for Home Screen web apps in iOS, therefore we will continue to offer the existing Home Screen web apps capability in the EU. This support means Home Screen web apps continue to be built directly on WebKit and its security architecture, and align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS.

Developers and users who may have been impacted by the removal of Home Screen web apps in the beta release of iOS in the EU can expect the return of the existing functionality for Home Screen web apps with the availability of iOS 17.4 in early March.

Finaly some good news.