The App Store is Apple’s proprietary digital distribution platform for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS devices. The App Store allows users to browse and download applications developed with Apple’s iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS SDK. Apps go through an approval process and once published can be downloaded by users.
The App Store serves an important role in the iOS ecosystem, providing users a central, trusted place to discover and download apps on their iOS devices. It features over 2.2 million iOS apps as of Q1 2022 (Apple). For developers, it provides an easy way to distribute apps to millions of users.
Deleting the App Store
The App Store app cannot actually be deleted from an iPhone or iPad running iOS. The App Store is considered a system app that is required for the core functionality of iOS. According to Apple’s support article Remove apps from iPhone, the App Store is not one of the pre-installed apps that can be removed by the user.
While the App Store app cannot be deleted, there are some workarounds users attempt to remove access or hide the app icon. For example, some users report using parental control restrictions or mobile device management profiles to block access to the App Store app on a child’s device. However, this does not technically delete the App Store, it just prevents it from being launched.
Other users try dragging the App Store app icon off the home screen and hiding it away in an App Library page. However, this also does not delete the app, just hides the icon. The App Store app can be easily re-added from the App Library at any time.
In summary, on a standard iPhone or iPad running iOS, there is no way for a user to permanently delete the App Store app itself. The core system apps required by iOS cannot be removed fully by the user.
Loss of App Access
One of the most significant impacts of deleting the App Store would be the loss of the ability for users to download or update apps on their iOS devices. The App Store is the central hub through which users access the vast catalog of over 2 million iOS apps (Features – App Store). If it were deleted, users would no longer have a portal to find and install apps on their iPhones and iPads.
Without access to the App Store, users would be unable to download apps like social media, messaging, entertainment, news, health & fitness, games, and more. Many default apps by Apple such as Mail, Calendar, Music, TV, and Maps would also no longer receive important updates (The Continued Growth and Resilience of Apple’s App Store Ecosystem). The App Store provides a seamless way for users to find apps, purchase/download them, and keep them updated. Deleting it would cut off this access and convenience that iOS users rely on.
Impact on Default Apps
Many default iOS apps depend on the App Store and would cease functioning if it were deleted. Apps like App Store, Books, Podcasts, Apple TV, and Find My rely on connectivity to the App Store to download content or access files (https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/adding-package-dependencies-to-your-app). Without the App Store, these apps would error out or crash when attempting to access missing resources.
Other native apps like Settings, Calendar, and Photos utilize the NSUserDefaults API to store user preferences and data (https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/nsuserdefaults). With the App Store deleted, these apps would lose access to previously saved information and settings, severely limiting their capabilities.
Overall, key apps that iOS users depend on daily would no longer work correctly without the back-end App Store infrastructure. Apple devices would provide a much more limited experience.
Security Risks
Without the App Store, apps on iOS devices would no longer go through Apple’s strict app review process that checks for malware and other potential security issues. This vetting process has been crucial for maintaining the reputation of iOS as being very secure compared to other mobile platforms (https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/93478-apple-ios-14-security-overview). With iOS users directly downloading apps from third party sources, the risk of malware could increase substantially, as it has on Android where sideloading apps is common. For example, one study found that Android devices are 15 times more likely to get malware infections from app installs versus iOS devices (https://www.tomsguide.com/news/android-malware-15-times-higher-than-ios-report).
The App Store review aims to enforce safety standards, like requiring apps to disclose what user data they collect and limiting access to sensitive resources like location, contacts, and photos. Without this centralized gatekeeper, harmful apps like spyware or apps collecting user data for ads could easily spread. Users would lose the App Store’s protections against apps that might misuse their personal information.
Allowing uncontrolled iOS app distribution creates opportunities for attackers to more easily distribute malicious code and target iPhone users with scams. With apps coming from anywhere, the risk of “trojanized” apps embedded with malware rises substantially. This happened on a smaller scale with jailbroken iPhones, where malware was found being distributed outside the App Store (https://securelist.com/ios-malware-that-sneaks-onto-non-jailbroken-devices/104255/). But opening the floodgates to any app source could lead to an influx of dangerous apps on iOS.
Developer Impact
If Apple deleted the App Store, developers would lose the primary distribution channel for getting their apps to iOS users. Currently, the App Store provides developers access to over 1 billion active iOS devices globally. Without the App Store, developers would no longer have a centralized marketplace to upload, market, and sell their apps to this massive iOS userbase.
The App Store also provides developers with important app analytics like downloads, revenue, ratings, and reviews. This helps developers understand user behavior and improve their apps over time. Without the App Store, this visibility into app performance would disappear.
Additionally, Apple handles all payment processing and customer issues through the App Store. Without it, developers would now have to build their own payment infrastructure and customer support channels. This added overhead could negatively impact small and indie developers especially.
Overall, the App Store is the gateway for developers to access the lucrative iOS ecosystem. Deleting it would severely hinder developers by removing their distribution platform, analytics, payment processing, and customer support (App Revenue Data). Apple has cultivated the App Store into an effective channel between iOS developers and users. Losing it would undermine the entire iOS app economy.
Apple Impact
The App Store is a major source of revenue for Apple. In 2022, App Store developers generated over $1.1 trillion in total billings according to Apple. Apple takes a 15-30% commission on app sales and in-app purchases, meaning the company earned hundreds of billions from the App Store. According to Apple, the App Store facilitated over $104 billion in digital sales in 2022 alone.
If the App Store was deleted, Apple would lose this massive revenue stream overnight. The company would no longer earn commissions on app downloads, subscriptions, and in-app purchases. This loss of revenue would significantly impact Apple’s services segment, which has become an increasingly vital part of its business. The App Store and associated services accounted for almost 20% of Apple’s total revenue in 2021. Losing the App Store would create a massive hole in Apple’s finances.
User Workarounds
Without access to the App Store, users would likely try to find ways to install apps on their iPhones and iPads through unofficial methods. One option is sideloading, which allows installing apps without going through the App Store.
Sideloading requires using third-party app stores or developer tools like Xcode. Services like AltStore (https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-sideload-iphone-apps-without-jailbreak/) allow sideloading without jailbreaking the device. However, sideloaded apps need to be refreshed weekly. Jailbreaking removes all restrictions but comes with security risks.
Some tech-savvy users may try to find developer accounts to access apps or manually install app files using file managers. Piracy and illegal app distribution could become more common without the App Store. Most average users would be frustrated by the inability to easily find and install apps.
Apple Response
If there was a widespread issue of users deleting the App Store app, Apple would likely respond swiftly to address the problem. Though the App Store is a major revenue source for Apple, their primary concern would be maintaining the security, stability, and trust of the iOS ecosystem.
Apple would likely issue an immediate statement acknowledging the App Store deletion issue and reassuring users that their devices are still secure. They may release a software update to reinstall the App Store app on affected devices. Apple’s response would emphasize that the App Store is an integral part of iOS and that deleting it can expose users to security risks from untrusted apps 1.
To prevent further App Store deletion, Apple may modify iOS to make deleting the App Store app impossible without advanced technical workarounds. They want to maintain control of app distribution on iOS for security and business reasons. Allowing users to freely delete the App Store would undermine iOS security and Apple’s business model.
Overall, Apple would likely address the App Store deletion issue promptly to maintain user trust and emphasize that the App Store and curated app model benefits consumers. Their response highlights Apple’s role in securely managing iOS and its ecosystem.
Conclusion
Deleting the App Store would have significant and far-reaching consequences for iPhone users, app developers, and Apple itself. Users would lose access to millions of third-party apps that have become essential to the functionality and enjoyment of iOS devices. Default apps like Mail, Maps, and Safari could be impacted without app updates and security fixes from the App Store. Developers would lose access to customers and revenue sources, likely forcing many smaller developers out of business. For Apple, its services business fueled by App Store profits would take a major hit.
While some tech-savvy users may find workarounds, the App Store provides an invaluable centralized platform for app distribution and monetization. It has helped create a robust app ecosystem and provided key quality control and security measures. Losing the App Store would fundamentally change how iOS devices function and negate much of the progress made in iOS apps and services over the past decade. The App Store remains an essential component of the iPhone user experience and Apple ecosystem.