December 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
Apple broadcasts modifications to iOS in Japan
The modifications embrace 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 at present introduced modifications impacting iOS apps in Japan to adjust to the Cell 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 outdoors of Apple In-App Buy. Throughout these modifications, Apple has labored to cut back new privateness and safety dangers the legislation creates to supply customers in Japan one of the best and most secure expertise potential.
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 necessary safeguards for youthful customers. These protections embrace Notarization for iOS apps, an authorization course of for app marketplaces, and necessities that assist shield youngsters from inappropriate content material and scams.
Whereas these safeguards don’t get rid of the brand new dangers, they’re important to Apple’s work to make sure iOS stays one of the best, most safe cellular platform obtainable in Japan. Apple will proceed to have interaction with regulators on strengthening protections for iOS customers.
Builders can study in regards to the new capabilities on the Apple Developer Help web page and may combine them into their apps starting at present 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 one of the best place for iOS customers in Japan to find and obtain the apps they love. This consists of App Retailer options that shield customers towards fraud and scams and empower mother and father to make sure their youngsters have age-appropriate experiences.
With the MSCA’s new necessities, builders will even have the choice to distribute iOS apps in Japan utilizing different app marketplaces aside from the App Retailer. Different app marketplaces must be approved by Apple and might want to meet ongoing necessities to serve builders and customers. Nonetheless, apps downloaded outdoors the App Retailer won’t profit from the identical protections Apple supplies via App Assessment, 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 overview — referred to as Notarization — that applies to all iOS apps and focuses on primary performance and defending customers from severe threats. This Notarization course of includes a mix of automated checks and human overview, and helps guarantee apps perform as promised and are freed from identified malware, viruses, or different safety threats. Nonetheless, Notarization is much less complete than the App Assessment course of that applies to all apps on the App Retailer.
Builders can study extra about working or distributing from different app marketplaces on the brand new Apple Developer Help 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 look at 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 of embrace an alternate cost processing methodology of their app and/or hyperlink customers to an internet site to finish a transaction.
These different cost choices will all the time be introduced alongside Apple In-App Buy, in order that customers in Japan are clear on when they’re transacting via Apple. When customers select to pay with Apple In-App Buy, they’ll proceed to obtain acquainted protections and instruments like refund help, subscription administration, and Report a Downside. App Retailer customers’ buy historical past and subscription administration will solely replicate 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 difficulty refunds and can have much less capability to help clients encountering points, scams, or fraud. Customers might must share their cost info with further events, which may introduce new privateness and safety dangers.
Up to date Enterprise Phrases for iOS Apps in Japan
To replicate 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 replicate 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.
Below 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 embrace:
- App Retailer fee: iOS apps on the App Retailer pays 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 yr — 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 payment: Of their iOS apps on the App Retailer, builders can course of funds utilizing Apple In-App Buy for an extra 5 % payment.
- Retailer companies fee: iOS apps on the App Retailer pays 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 yr, pays a decreased charge of 10 %.
- Core Know-how Fee: iOS apps distributed outdoors of the App Retailer pays a 5 % fee on the sale of digital items and companies, together with paid apps. The Core Know-how Fee compensates Apple for the instruments, applied sciences, and companies that allow builders to construct and share their apps with iOS customers.
Below these new enterprise phrases, builders that promote digital items and companies in Japan pays Apple the identical or lower than they do at present. Builders that don’t promote digital items and companies will proceed to not pay Apple any commissions or charges.
Impacts to Youngsters’ On-line Security
Apple created the App Retailer to be a secure place for youths, the place mother and father 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 mother and father select how youngsters use their gadgets.
With the modifications launched underneath the MSCA, the brand new choices for different distribution and cost strategies might expose youngsters to new dangers. As an example, apps downloaded from outdoors the App Retailer might embrace illicit and objectionable content material, and they won’t endure the identical rigorous overview course of Apple employs to guage apps made for kids on the App Retailer. As an example, related regulatory modifications in Europe have enabled forms of apps that had been beforehand unavailable on iOS, together with pornography apps.
In an effort to cut back new dangers of fraud or scams concentrating on youngsters, Apple has labored with regulators in Japan to protect some guardrails, together with:
- Apps within the Youngsters class on the App Retailer won’t embrace hyperlinks to web sites to finish transactions, to cut back the chance of fraud or scams concentrating 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 embrace a parental gate that requires youthful customers to contain their father or mother or guardian earlier than making a purchase order.
- For customers underneath 13 years outdated, apps from the App Retailer can’t hyperlink to web sites for transactions to guard towards the chance of scams that focus on youthful youngsters.
- Apple can also be working to supply builders utilizing different funds with a brand new API to allow them to allow mother and father to watch and approve purchases made outdoors 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 youngsters’ security on-line by constructing on the highly effective instruments and options it makes obtainable at present — like Baby Accounts, net content material filters, app restrictions, monitoring instruments like Display Time and Household Sharing, Communication Security, and Communication Limits, which assist mother and father form who their youngsters talk with and protect them from inappropriate content material.
Further Updates to iOS
Alongside the brand new app distribution and cost choices, Apple has launched further controls and selections for customers in Japan with the discharge of iOS 26.2. These embrace:
- A browser selection display and search engine selection expertise, giving customers in Japan new methods to choose their most well-liked browser and search engine.
- Default controls for navigation apps and app marketplaces.
Throughout these controls, customers can overview and alter their selections 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 aside 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 assets to assist builders perceive the choices now obtainable for his or her apps in Japan, which they’ll entry from the Apple Developer Help web page.
About Apple
Apple revolutionized private expertise with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. At present, 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 folks 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 one of the best merchandise on earth and to leaving the world higher than we discovered it.
Press Contacts
Peter Ajemian
Apple
Apple Media Helpline