After launching iOS 7 to the public on Wednesday, Apple also quietly raised the size limit on App Store downloads over cellular networks. iDevice users unable to locate Wi-Fi networks can now download apps as large as 100 megabytes via mobile data networks, up from the previous limit of 50 megabytes.
App size limits for users on cellular data connections were put in place to prevent the saturation of the networks’ shared capacities. With unlimited data plans hard to find in many countries, the limits also prevent users from unintentionally exceeding their monthly data caps.
This is the third time that Apple has increased the app download cap. When the company first introduced the App Store in 2008, it worked with mobile carriers to set a 10 megabyte limit for 3G downloads. It then raised that limit to 20 megabytes in February 2010, and again to 50 megabytes in March 2012.
Today’s increase will help users eager to get their hands on new apps for iOS 7, as well as accommodate the small increase in size expected for many apps as they transition to 64-bit in the coming months. For those who need to download apps larger than 100 megabytes, you can eliminate the cap by connecting to a Wi-Fi network or by using one of the several unofficial workarounds.