App suddenly not working outside of the UK?

[capybaraforlife]

I’ve been using the app for absolutely ages, perhaps a decade?! And it suddenly stopped working. I deleted and tried to reinstall and was told the app no longer works in my region? (I’m in the Middle East):

have any overseas app users found the same? I really don’t want to use the mobile site on my phone, it’s so clunky and doesn’t seem to be mobile optimized at all..:.

Hi OP

Thanks for flagging this.

It sounds like you may be using the old app. Can you please head over to the app store and install the new Mumsnet app? This should sort it but please let us know.

Thank you for trying to help!

There’s only one app showing in the store and as mentioned, when I try to reinstall it says app not available in your region. Screen shot attached.

Hi again @capybaraforlife ,

We've done a bit of digging and sadly it looks like our app isn't available in the Middle East. This is because Apple automatically blocks apps that contain frequent references to alcohol, tobacco or drugs, as well as apps that contain frequent sexual content.

We're assuming you downloaded the app prior to going to the Middle East? But it looks like you won't be able to update to the new version whilst you're there. It's out of our hands unfortunately as it's all controlled by Apple. It might be that you can download the new version next time you're in the UK.

Sorry we can't be any more help with this one!

thanks for the update. i also checked and i think it's because my apple account/app store is set to the middle east not uk. i highly doubt it's banned here given the shows we get on netflix!

I've lived here for 20 years and started using the app from here, never the UK.

hebemumsnet thanks for the update. I spoke to a friend who works at apple: it’s not blocked here and she said it’s because you have not enabled the UAE App Store as a distribution region from your side. Was there a change in regions (ie you removed some) when you recently updated the app?

hebemumsnet checking back in on this, do you have any clarity on my question regarding removing regions when you updated the app? thank you!

Sorry @capybaraforlife we missed your previous update. We're looking into this now and will get back to you shortly.

I’m in Saudi and the app seem fine

Not currently on my VPN

djsteves which region is your App Store set to and have you got the most recently updated app?

its still set to the UK. Anything Saudi is set to my Saudi phone number. Means I can access both UK and KSA apps together.

Hello @capybaraforlife we've double checked and, unfortunately, our app is blocked by the UAE on Apple and it's out of our control.

Thank you makes sense. I’m impressed you still keep a UK number, I relinquished mine decades ago 😄

Thanks for this. Apple UAE says the opposite 🤪

I keep a house in the UK. So use both numbers

Me too. Is there a benefit to a UK number that I'm missing :) I left almost 20 years ago so it totally fell by the wayside.