how do i install alternative app markets

Hi ville37,

Just to clarify, EU decide to force apple to allow third party App Store like AltStore on Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad or others devices with iOS 17.4 or newer version.

First of all you may think you can simply put Google Play Store app using an APK file on a Apple device, but remember that IPA and APK aren't the same, Android based apps are mostly coded using Kotlin, yes some apps from the current Apple App Store can run Kotlin based app but remember that they first needs to be fixed before they can run because Apple apps are code using Swift on Xcode. (Swift is a robust and intuitive programming language created by Apple for building apps for iOS, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch.)

In the other hand, you managed to fix the APK and run on your Apple device, fine, but here's an another problem, Google Play Store on Android devices use drivers, but not that type of driver you can install while the system's running but the type of drivers that needs to be installed before the Android kernel (fix the kernel, install Google Services such as Play Services and install Googles Apps), it's called Gapps and support many architecture, the problem is that even if iPhone and most of Android are ARM (38/64 bit [86 or 64]) based architecture, the kernel isn't the same, Google Play Store needs Google Play Services and Google Services in global to be running, for example on a non Gapps fixed Android device some apps that require Google Play Services won't start at all like YouTube or many Apps and Games that are only available on the Google Play Store.

So unfortunately you'll never see the Google Play Store available on Apple Device because Gapps fix is incompatible with the Apple Kernel from their devices, but check out the other alternatives, like AltStore or similar, also check GitHub repository to see if someone else try to build another third party Apps Store for Apple Devices.

Keep in mind that AltStore needs a yearly subscription that cost 1.80$ (as I remember) at this time.

I hope I helped you, I don't wand to be rude but to make sure it's clear that Android apps and Apple apps aren't cross platform without any support behind.

Stay tuned ;)

It doesn't work like that. The Google Play Store is entirely different. It's an App Store for Android phones.

So far, this is the only alternative marketplace that has actually launched: https://mobivention.com/presse-en-2/mobivention-revolutionises-the-distribution-of-ios-apps-in-the-eu-with-an-authorised-alternative-app-marketplace/?lang=en

The first one with real apps in it will probably be this one in April: https://setapp.com/join-waitlist?irgwc=1&clickid=1gTToZXyfxyPTcBU4qwB5y9-UkHyrISmXQDgTM0&iradid=343321&irpid=10078&utm_content=ONLINE_TRACKING_LINK&utm_campaign=Skimbit%20Ltd.&sharedid=macrumors.com&utm_medium=affiliate&mpaid=3&utm_source=impactradius

I went ahead and left all those tracking links on the URL on purpose. If that's the kind of experience you want, better get used to it. 😄

Supposedly Epic is going to have an alternative marketplace for games, but that's still in development.

Prepare to be underwhelmed.