Brazil becomes the latest country to force Apple to allow sideloading

A Brazilian court has ordered Apple to allow sideloading on iOS devices within 90 days. This follows similar rulings in other countries, and Apple plans to appeal. Sideloading allows users to install apps directly onto their iPhones, bypassing the App Store, a feature long available on Android via APKs.

Apple's longstanding opposition to sideloading, citing privacy concerns, has been challenged repeatedly. The Epic Games lawsuit, filed over five years ago, significantly highlighted these concerns. Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) changes in 2022, while framed as privacy-enhancing, also faced regulatory scrutiny for exempting Apple itself.

Despite its privacy arguments, Apple's resistance to sideloading, third-party app stores, and other regulatory pressures is weakening. Countries like Vietnam and the EU are pushing for greater openness. This Brazilian ruling represents another significant setback for Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem.

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