Japan hits Apple with December deadline to open up app store access

Japan has introduced strict new regulations requiring Apple to open up its iOS platform to rival app stores and payment systems.

The measures, set to take effect on December 18, 2025, were announced by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), following a multi-year antitrust investigation into Apple and Google’s dominance in the mobile software market, Caliber.Az reports, referencing foreign media.

According to a 119-page document titled “Competition Rules for the Mobile Software Market”, Apple will no longer be permitted to limit app installations solely to its proprietary App Store.

The company must now allow users to install apps from third-party platforms and enable developers to use alternative in-app payment systems.

The new rules also bar Apple from giving preferential treatment to its own services, including using customer data or manipulating app visibility to disadvantage competitors. Apple is further required to establish a “firewall” that separates its teams from accessing confidential information of external developers when building rival services.

Additionally, Apple must submit yearly compliance reports and open access to key device features and hardware for third-party applications, mirroring similar regulatory trends seen in the European Union and other jurisdictions.

The JFTC began its investigation into Apple and Google’s market practices in 2020, amid growing global scrutiny of Big Tech’s control over app distribution and payment ecosystems.