iTorrent app taken down by Apple
Apple has removed the iTorrent app from the AltStore PAL in the EU, revoking the developer's ability to distribute it, according to reports in late August 2025. Apple cited compliance with government sanctions-related rules for removing the app's notarization, affecting its availability on third-party app marketplaces, 9to5Mac reports.
Apple Blocks iTorrent App From EU Alternative App Marketplace
iTorrent wasn't even hosted on the App Store? Why do this?
Initially, things were unclear when the app disappeared from the AltStore PAL in July. iTorrent developer, Daniil Vinogradov (aka XITRIX), confirmed that Apple had removed Alternative Distribution functionality from iTorrent's Developer Portal, and that no warning was given. The dev also expressed concern that Apple had not responded properly, beyond saying that "their escalation team is looking into it." AltStore PAL Co-founder Shane Gill also requested Apple to clarify the issue.
Many people believed it was the fact that the app was a torrent client, that led Apple to take the app down. That is a fair assumption, given that Apple has a rough history with torrent apps. It has been banning torrent clients since 2009. Torrent clients are not illegal, neither is the act of downloading stuff via torrents. Ever heard of Linux ISO torrents? LibreOffice? Public domain media? What steps the legal boundaries, is the act of downloading and distributing copyrighted content without permission. That's when the issue of piracy arises. A torrent client is in its basic form, like a download manager, a tool which is used by the person responsible for downloading the torrent, aka the user, not the app developer.
After two months of emails, Apple finally revealed what had happened. As it turns out, Apple didn't block iTorrent for its torrent capabilities. According to a statement provided by Apple to TorrentFreak, “Notarization for this app was removed in order to comply with government sanctions-related rules in various jurisdictions. We have communicated this to the developer.”
What does that mean? Well, Vinogradov has a Russia-based Apple account, which is against the sanctions, so the app's EU distribution permissions had been revoked. But here is the thing, the developer has been living in Malta for over 3 years, with an EU Residence permit. In a comment on GitHub, Vinogradov explained that the account wasn't updated with the new details, and the fault lies with them, not Apple. While Vinogradov acknowledged the ban is far, the developer was frustrated why Apple not notifying about the ban, and the long time it took to get a response from the company. The developer hopes to reintroduce the app in AltStore PAL soon.
I still feel Apple is overreaching with its power. Apple's compliance with the Digital Markets Act has been questionable.
Sadly, things like this might happen to Android apps too, as Google wants developers to sign their apps, and verify their identities.
I am starting to think that some Chinese Linux operating system on phone would be a possible choice eventually. I rather have some spyware that I can control than absolutely sterile Android or iOS.
LoL. I use Deepin Linux. The Deepin team wrote their own download manager that also does torrents and is bundled with the distro, since it’s an in-house app afterall. I never have to worry about looking for a 3rd party app to download bitorrent files.
Gee I wonder if it’s 10% as good as my 15 y/o utorrent client (doubt…).
Latest qBittorrent is better, but old free utorrent is good too.
Stupid sheeple aren’t allowed to download torrents, they must buy overpriced devices and pay for changing the wallpaper.
They charge $1500 for overpriced Chinese garbage, and they don’t give you the freedom to do whatever you want on your device. Coming soon to Android. There should be a law against this because it is unacceptable.
I found out it’s coming to Android. I am wondering if you’re using a Chinese Android phone like Xiaomi, Realme or something like that, if it will affect them too or will they hold out a bit longer.
Some people are saying that if this happens to Android, there is no point for them to keep using it and they will be better with iPhone. I don’t see this, as iPhones are very expensive, if you want a fast phone, there are cheaper Androids still so it doesn’t warrant replacing it with an iPhone.
Unless Apple introduces a $200 iPhone, I don’t see how it will be more viable. I prefer Chinese Androids, because they are cheaper and offer more features compared to ones like Samsung or Motorola, which cost more, but offer less.
I have Realme 14 Pro Plus, which is upper middle range, almost a flagship and it’s fast and does what I want it to, but I wouldn’t pay more than I paid for it for either Android or iPhone. It cosed $640 when I bought it, and I think that’s already pretty expensive, but no iPhones for that price, so I don’t see the point.