US EditionApple Opens iPhone to Alternative App Stores in Japan
Apple's iOS 26.2 update in Japan introduces alternative app marketplaces and payment methods with a fee structure ranging from 5% to 26%, complying with the Mobile Software Competition Act.
- On December 18, Apple introduced App Store changes in Japan to comply with the Mobile Software Competition Act, with features included in iOS 26.2 available starting today for developers in Japan.
- Following MSCA negotiations, Japan's law requires interoperability and app/payment options similar to the EU DMA, and Apple worked with Japanese regulators, viewing the MSCA as preferable to the DMA.
- New features let developers use alternative marketplaces and payment flows, requiring third-party purchase options alongside Apple In‑App Purchase, while device setup prompts users to pick browser and search defaults.
- New fee rules range from 5% to 26% depending on how an app is distributed or paid for, and Apple says 100% of developers in Japan will face fees that are the same or lower.
- To protect children, Apple requires install sheets with age ratings, bars apps for children under 13 from web purchase links, mandates parental gates for users under 18, and disallows web app downloads unlike the European Union .
18 Articles
18 Articles
New third-party iOS App Stores in Japan preserve user privacy, child safety
Apple is introducing alternative app stores and payment options in Japan to comply with a new competition law, while maintaining that platform-level security and child safety controls remain in place.App StoreApple compares this approach with the EU's Digital Markets Act, which compelled Apple to support third-party app stores, alternative payments, and broader distribution pathways. The company maintains those requirements fragmented oversight …
Japan App Store Gets Alternative Marketplaces, Third-Party Payments and More
Apple today introduced several changes to the App Store in Japan to meet the requirements of the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) that goes into effect on December 18. The MSCA is similar to Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA) so the Japanese App Store will work a lot like the EU App Store, but there are some differences.
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