May 8, 2024

iOS 15.5 Beta Warns Users of Possible External Purchases for Apps With External Link Entitlement

Posted April 6, 2022 at 9:28pm by iClarified · 4894 views
Apple is introducing a new warning to users when deleting apps with possible external purchases, reports 9to5Mac. The site found the alert in the recently released iOS 15.5 beta.

Last month, Apple announced that 'Reader' apps would be permitted to request an 'external link account entitlement' allowing them to link to a website for subscription and account management. The move is an attempt to appease regulators who are investigating the company over possible antitrust violations.

It appears that iOS 15.5 beta has full support for the entitlement. When a user deletes an app that uses an external link, they will see the following message:

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External purchases from "ExternalPurchase" may still exist.
You cannot manage or cancel any external purchases through the App Store. For more information, contact the developer.
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Apple may also be implementing an alert for when you open the app.

Internal iOS code analyzed by 9to5Mac also shows that Apple is implementing another alert that will show up when the user opens an app that offers external purchases for the first time. However, it’s worth noting that this feature won’t be available for every app.

With antitrust legislation looming, it's likely that Apple will need to make significant changes to how the App Store and iOS operates in the near future. Perhaps some of these changes could surface at the company's recently announced 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

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