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December 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
Apple pronounces modifications to iOS in Japan
The modifications embody new choices for builders to distribute apps and course of funds, and new protections to assist cut back privateness and safety dangers the MSCA creates
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple as we speak introduced modifications impacting iOS apps in Japan to adjust to the Cellular Software program Competitors Act (MSCA). These updates create new choices for builders to distribute apps on different app marketplaces and to course of app funds for digital items and companies exterior of Apple In-App Buy. Throughout these modifications, Apple has labored to scale back new privateness and safety dangers the regulation creates to supply customers in Japan the most effective and most secure expertise doable.
The MSCA’s necessities for different app marketplaces and app funds open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, and privateness and safety dangers. Apple has labored with Japanese regulators to introduce protections from new threats — together with essential safeguards for youthful customers. These protections embody Notarization for iOS apps, an authorization course of for app marketplaces, and necessities that assist defend youngsters from inappropriate content material and scams.
Whereas these safeguards don’t remove the brand new dangers, they’re important to Apple’s work to make sure iOS stays the most effective, most safe cellular platform obtainable in Japan. Apple will proceed to interact with regulators on strengthening protections for iOS customers.
Builders can be taught in regards to the new capabilities on the Apple Developer Assist web page and might combine them into their apps starting as we speak as a part of the iOS 26.2 launch.
New Choices for Builders to Distribute Apps on iOS in Japan
The App Retailer — the place each app is reviewed to satisfy the App Retailer’s excessive bar for privateness and safety — stays the most effective place for iOS customers in Japan to find and obtain the apps they love. This consists of App Retailer options that defend customers in opposition to fraud and scams and empower dad and mom to make sure their children have age-appropriate experiences.
With the MSCA’s new necessities, builders can even have the choice to distribute iOS apps in Japan utilizing different app marketplaces apart from the App Retailer. Various app marketplaces must be approved by Apple and might want to meet ongoing necessities to serve builders and customers. Nevertheless, apps downloaded exterior the App Retailer is not going to profit from the identical protections Apple gives by means of App Overview, introducing new dangers for apps that comprise scams, fraud, and abuse, or that expose customers to illicit, objectionable, or dangerous content material not allowed on the App Retailer.
To scale back a few of these new dangers, Apple will conduct a baseline assessment — referred to as Notarization — that applies to all iOS apps and focuses on fundamental performance and defending customers from severe threats. This Notarization course of entails a mix of automated checks and human assessment, and helps guarantee apps operate as promised and are freed from identified malware, viruses, or different safety threats. Nevertheless, Notarization is much less complete than the App Overview course of that applies to all apps on the App Retailer.
Builders can be taught extra about working or distributing from different app marketplaces on the brand new Apple Developer Assist web page.
New Choices for Funds in App Retailer Apps on iOS
On the App Retailer, customers in Japan can proceed to make use of Apple In-App Buy to purchase digital items and companies, handle subscriptions, request refunds, and examine their cost historical past.
To adjust to the MSCA, Apple is sharing instruments that allow builders to supply extra methods for customers to buy digital items and companies in apps on the App Retailer. For his or her iOS apps distributed on the App Retailer in Japan, builders will be capable to embody an alternate cost processing technique of their app and/or hyperlink customers to an internet site to finish a transaction.
These different cost choices will all the time be offered alongside Apple In-App Buy, in order that customers in Japan are clear on when they’re transacting by means of Apple. When customers select to pay with Apple In-App Buy, they’ll proceed to obtain acquainted protections and instruments like refund assist, subscription administration, and Report a Drawback. App Retailer customers’ buy historical past and subscription administration will solely mirror transactions made utilizing Apple In-App Buy.
For apps that use different cost processing or hyperlink customers to the online for transactions, Apple won’t be able to subject refunds and may have much less potential to assist prospects encountering points, scams, or fraud. Customers could have to share their cost data with extra events, which may introduce new privateness and safety dangers.
Up to date Enterprise Phrases for iOS Apps in Japan
To mirror these choices for app distribution and cost processing, Apple can also be sharing up to date enterprise phrases for builders’ iOS apps in Japan. These enterprise phrases mirror the numerous methods Apple creates worth for builders’ apps, whether or not or not they use the App Retailer and/or Apple In-App Buy.
Beneath the enterprise phrases for iOS apps in Japan, Apple will proceed to solely cost a fee on the sale of digital items and companies. The brand new phrases embody:
- App Retailer fee: iOS apps on the App Retailer can pay a decreased fee of both 10 % for the overwhelming majority of builders — together with members of the Small Enterprise Program, Video Associate Program, Mini Apps Associate Program, and for subscriptions following their first 12 months — or 21 % on transactions for digital items and companies. The App Retailer fee displays the worth of the instruments, expertise, and companies that allow builders to create apps, along with App Retailer distribution, discovery, and ongoing companies.
- Apple cost processing charge: Of their iOS apps on the App Retailer, builders can course of funds utilizing Apple In-App Buy for an extra 5 % charge.
- Retailer companies fee: iOS apps on the App Retailer can pay a fee of 15 % on transactions for digital items and companies made on an internet site linked to by the developer’s app. Builders within the applications talked about above, and subscriptions following their first 12 months, can pay a decreased fee of 10 %.
- Core Expertise Fee: iOS apps distributed exterior of the App Retailer can pay a 5 % fee on the sale of digital items and companies, together with paid apps. The Core Expertise Fee compensates Apple for the instruments, applied sciences, and companies that allow builders to construct and share their apps with iOS customers.
Beneath these new enterprise phrases, builders that promote digital items and companies in Japan can pay Apple the identical or lower than they do as we speak. Builders that don’t promote digital items and companies will proceed to not pay Apple any commissions or charges.
Impacts to Children’ On-line Security
Apple created the App Retailer to be a secure place for youths, the place dad and mom are empowered to make sure their youngsters have age-appropriate experiences and have the instruments they should preserve their youngsters secure on-line. That’s why Apple has created industry-leading options like age scores, Content material & Privateness Restrictions, content material filters, Ask to Purchase, and highly effective controls that assist dad and mom select how youngsters use their gadgets.
With the modifications launched underneath the MSCA, the brand new choices for different distribution and cost strategies could expose youngsters to new dangers. As an example, apps downloaded from exterior the App Retailer could embody illicit and objectionable content material, and they won’t bear the identical rigorous assessment course of Apple employs to judge apps made for kids on the App Retailer. As an example, related regulatory modifications in Europe have enabled kinds of apps that had been beforehand unavailable on iOS, together with pornography apps.
In an effort to scale back new dangers of fraud or scams focusing on youngsters, Apple has labored with regulators in Japan to protect some guardrails, together with:
- Apps within the Children class on the App Retailer is not going to embody hyperlinks to web sites to finish transactions, to scale back the danger of fraud or scams focusing on youngsters.
- For customers underneath 18 years outdated, all apps from the App Retailer that use different cost processing or hyperlink to an internet site for transactions should embody a parental gate that requires youthful customers to contain their mother or father or guardian earlier than making a purchase order.
- For customers underneath 13 years outdated, apps from the App Retailer can not hyperlink to web sites for transactions to guard in opposition to the danger of scams that focus on youthful children.
- Apple can also be working to supply builders utilizing different funds with a brand new API to allow them to allow dad and mom to observe and approve purchases made exterior of Apple In-App Buy.
Builders should additionally proceed to supply age scores for his or her apps, whether or not their app is distributed on the App Retailer or an alternate app market.
Apple will proceed innovating to satisfy the evolving dangers to children’ security on-line by constructing on the highly effective instruments and options it makes obtainable as we speak — like Youngster Accounts, internet content material filters, app restrictions, monitoring instruments like Display Time and Household Sharing, Communication Security, and Communication Limits, which assist dad and mom form who their youngsters talk with and defend them from inappropriate content material.
Extra Updates to iOS
Alongside the brand new app distribution and cost choices, Apple has launched extra controls and decisions for customers in Japan with the discharge of iOS 26.2. These embody:
- A browser alternative display screen and search engine alternative expertise, giving customers in Japan new methods to choose their most popular browser and search engine.
- Default controls for navigation apps and app marketplaces.
Throughout these controls, customers can assessment and regulate their decisions at any time in Settings.
For builders, Apple is sharing instruments along with the brand new choices for different distribution and app funds, together with:
- New choices for builders of browser apps to make use of different browser engines apart from WebKit, with strict safety and privateness necessities.
- A brand new API that permits builders of voice-based conversational apps to supply customers the choice to launch their app with the iPhone facet button.
- A course of to request interoperability with core applied sciences in iPhone and iOS.
Apple is offering detailed sources to assist builders perceive the choices now obtainable for his or her apps in Japan, which they’ll entry from the Apple Developer Assist web page.
About Apple
Apple revolutionized private expertise with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. At the moment, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Apple’s six software program platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — present seamless experiences throughout all Apple gadgets and empower individuals with breakthrough companies together with the App Retailer, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV. Apple’s greater than 150,000 staff are devoted to creating the most effective merchandise on earth and to leaving the world higher than we discovered it.
Press Contacts
Peter Ajemian
Apple
Apple Media Helpline
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