What happened
On December 17, 2025, Apple announced its changes to iOS in Japan. They respond to the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), a Japanese law aimed at the biggest smartphone platforms. The software arrived in iOS 26.2, released on December 12, and MacRumors reported that the law took effect on December 18. The changes apply only to the iPhone in Japan.
The main changes for users:
- Alternative app marketplaces. Apple must authorize each one, and you can make one your default instead of the App Store.
- Other ways to pay. Apps can offer their own payment system or a link to buy on the web. When they do, Apple's in-app purchase must appear alongside it.
- Choice screens. You choose a default browser and search engine, shown in random order, rather than getting Safari and Google automatically.
- New defaults. You can set a different default navigation app, and some voice assistant apps can be launched from the side button instead of Siri.
For developers, Apple set new fees. App Store sales pay 21% (10% for small businesses and subscriptions after their first year), plus 5% if they use Apple's payment processing. Sales through a web link pay 15% (10% for the same groups). Apps sold through other marketplaces pay a 5% Core Technology Commission, as 9to5Mac detailed.
What changed for buyers
For iPhone owners in Japan, the practical questions are safety, refunds and price.
Safety. Every app, wherever it comes from, goes through an Apple check called notarization. Apple itself says this is "less comprehensive than the App Review process." Marketplaces have to be authorized, but once approved they handle their own content review, fraud prevention and customer support.
Refunds. This is the clearest change. If you pay through a developer's own system or on a website, Apple says it "will not be able to issue refunds." It also says it can do less to help with scams, and you may end up sharing card details with more companies. MacRumors noted that apps must show a warning that you are no longer dealing with Apple. Purchases made with Apple's in-app purchase keep the familiar Report a Problem, refund and subscription tools.
Children. Apps in the Kids category can't link out to pay. For users under 13, App Store apps can't link to websites for purchases at all. For under-18s, other payment options sit behind a parental gate.
Price. Developers may charge different prices depending on how you pay, so a web purchase can be cheaper. Nothing forces them to pass on the saving.
This is a summary of Apple's published rules and press reporting, not legal advice.
Where things stand now (November 2026)
The new system is up and running. The best-known arrival is the Epic Games Store, which launched on iPhone in Japan around the start of May 2026 with Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe, PocketGamer.biz reported. You install it from Epic's website and then allow apps from Epic in Settings. Epic's own announcement framed the launch as happening "despite Apple's non-compliance" with the law, so the two companies still disagree about how Apple has applied it. Apple's Japan rules are still in force as announced in December 2025, as far as we could find.
Japan is no longer alone. Apple made similar changes in Brazil in June 2026 after an agreement with that country's competition regulator, including the same warning that it won't refund purchases made outside its own payment system. The EU has had alternative marketplaces since 2024. In the US, the picture is different again. There's no third-party app store system, but apps can link to cheaper web purchases while the Epic v. Apple case continues. Our news page and timeline follow each region.
None of this changes which iPhone to buy. The options depend on your country and Apple Account region, not your model. Any iPhone that runs iOS 26.2 or later can use them in Japan, and the current lowest-priced iPhone is the iPhone 17e, now from $699 in the US. Keep your iPhone up to date via our iOS hub.
Bottom line
If you live in Japan, you now have real choices about where you get apps and how you pay. They come with less protection. Sticking with the App Store and Apple's in-app purchase keeps Apple's refunds and support. Going elsewhere can save money but makes the developer or marketplace your point of contact if something goes wrong. Before paying outside Apple's system, check the seller's refund policy, especially for subscriptions and anything bought for children.
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