Apple Seeds Third iOS 17.4 Public Beta With EU App Ecosystem Changes

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 updates to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its release. The third public iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 betas come a week after Apple released the second betas.

iOS 17
Public beta testers can get the beta by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and toggling on the iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 Public Beta. Signing up on Apple's beta testing website is required.

The iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 betas introduce a whole slew of changes for users in the European Union, allowing for alternative app stores and alternative payment methods.

There are new options for choosing a default browser, NFC has been opened up to banks and other financial institutions, and browsers aren't mandated to use WebKit.

Along with these changes, the update also brings new emoji characters, Podcast transcripts, tweaks to Safari, hints of what we can expect from the next-generation CarPlay, and more.

Full details on what's included in iOS 17.4 can be found in our features guide.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Battery Capacity and Weight Allegedly Revealed

Monday May 19, 2025 2:22 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the camera's overall design and thinness, we haven't heard any details about the device's weight and battery capacity until now. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air has a weight ...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
Apple Intelligence General Feature

Report: Apple's Next-Gen Version of Siri Is 'On Par' With ChatGPT

Monday May 19, 2025 9:00 am PDT by
Apple has big plans to improve Siri over the next few years, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett report. Some Apple executives are now reportedly pushing to turn Siri into a true ChatGPT competitor. A next-generation, chatbot version of Siri has reportedly made significant progress during testing over the past six months; some executives allegedly now see it as "on par" with recent...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Apple Will Reportedly Be More Cautious About Announcing New Features Well in Advance

Sunday May 18, 2025 2:50 pm PDT by
Apple plans to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett. The pair of reporters revealed this noteworthy tidbit towards the bottom of a lengthy report about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings today. This alleged change in strategy comes after Apple was forced to delay its more...

Top Rated Comments

sirdir Avatar
17 months ago

Only the iPhone.
And that's how they designed it to fail. Nobody will develop browsers with their own engine just for european iPhones. It's sad that Apple is so afraid of competition that they don't see how they are holding back their own platforms. The iPad could really replace a computer, if they'd just let it.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Antoniosmalakia Avatar
17 months ago

perhaps a silly question, the UK does not get the app ecosystem changes?
Apparently not, because of Brexit.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tehabe Avatar
17 months ago
Apple implements these rules in a way which have "bad faith" written all over it, it is embarrassing even to think about it. And this a company which earned almost $100 billion in the last fiscal year and the fiscal year before that and before that.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rafagon Avatar
17 months ago
Are the new emojis in there?!?

I can't wait to try them out!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
17 months ago

perhaps a silly question, the UK does not get the app ecosystem changes?

A short answer is “no”, a more expanded version is here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-17-4-introduces-alternative-app-marketplaces-with-no-commission-in-eu.2417417/post-32885437
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Antoniosmalakia Avatar
17 months ago

And that's how they designed it to fail. Nobody will develop browsers with their own engine just for european iPhones. It's sad that Apple is so afraid of competition that they don't see how they are holding back their own platforms. The iPad could really replace a computer, if they'd just let it.
I don’t think I would want it to replace my MacBook, but I certainly wish it was more capable.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)