iOS app wants to push update outside of App Store, is that even allowed?

[mongobongo]

So I just noticed one of my iOS apps is trying to update itself separate from the App Store. I can't recall seeing this behaviour from any other app ever. Is it normal for iOS apps to update in this way and is it even allowed according to Apples terms and conditions?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Since you're located in Sweden maybe it has something to do with the changes in iOS 17.4 for the EU..

 

[mongobongo]

Since you're located in Sweden maybe it has something to do with the changes in iOS 17.4 for the EU..

That’s not it. My Apple ID is set to US currently so those changes don’t apply to me.

 

[one more]

How do you know this offered update would bypass Apple’s App Store? Like what actually happens if you click on “Update App”? Perhaps it is just the app notifying you that a newer version is available.

 

[ThatSomeone]

Does the update link not take you to the App Store? I've seen a couple of apps in the past few years with this sort of prompt that just leads to the App Store page whenever they get an update.

I'd also imagine that if the app did lead to an alternative App Store, it did the check before the prompt based on your physical location(IP-address, GPS etc.) and not Apple ID. I don't believe apps can see what country your Apple ID is set to.

 

[mongobongo]

How do you know this offered update would bypass Apple’s App Store? Like what actually happens if you click on “Update App”? Perhaps it is just the app notifying you that a newer version is available.

There is no update available in the App Store. Clicking on update leads to the app trying to update itself.

 

[mongobongo]

Does the update link not take you to the App Store? I've seen a couple of apps in the past few years with this sort of prompt that just leads to the App Store page whenever they get an update.

I'd also imagine that if the app did lead to an alternative App Store, it did the check before the prompt based on your physical location(IP-address, GPS etc.) and not Apple ID. I don't believe apps can see what country your Apple ID is set to.

No external App Store. Only this

 

[ThatSomeone]

No external App Store. Only this

View attachment 2360853

Seems like an in-app update. Which is a bit odd, but I don't think they are prohibited depending on what's in those updates. Sometimes additional or entire app assets can downloaded and updated outside the App Store for various reasons, but that's usually done automatically in the background, especially for a finance app. Although I'd imagine if it was malicious Apple would shut them down pretty fast.

 

[UliBaer]

Such form of update i know from mapping apps like Magic Earth or mapy.cz, every time when updated offline maps are available for download.

[edit] Maybe the app wants to download updated data sets or something alike?

 

[ManuCH]

That's an in-app update. Depending on what part of the app they actually update, it might be in violation of the App Store rules. But maybe they are just updating a database of crypto coins, stuff like that (as it's the Nexo app, if I saw that right). Which may be allowed. Just let it do its thing.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Go do the developers site and check the changelog for the update. If you haven't encountered this before and its a new "feature" I guess they will have a good explanation to the behavior on their website.