Changes to iOS in Japan

What’s new

App distribution in Japan

When you distribute on the App Store, your apps can be discovered and downloaded by users worldwide on 175 storefronts and in 40 languages. iOS and the App Store are part of an integrated, end-to-end system that Apple has designed to help protect the safety, security, and privacy of users and to provide a simple and intuitive user experience. For developers, Apple provides the tools, technology, and services needed to build, test, and distribute apps, along with a secure commerce platform for the purchase of digital goods and services.

Now with iOS 26.2 and later, developers with apps in Japan can also distribute apps on alternative app marketplaces, operate alternative app marketplaces, and process app payments for digital goods and services outside of Apple In-App Purchase. Learn more about these new options.

Payment options on the App Store

The App Store provides multiple ways for developers to sell digital goods and services that customers can discover and enjoy using Apple’s technology and services. Now there are more ways to offer digital goods or services, which include business terms that only apply to iOS apps distributed in Japan.

• Apple In-App Purchase. You can continue using Apple In-App Purchase, which is convenient and easy for users. It offers worldwide end-to-end payment processing, foreign currency exchange, tax support, customer service, and more. No changes are required on your part.
• Alternative payment options. In addition to Apple In‑App Purchase, you can:
  • Offer digital goods and services for purchase within your app using an alternative payment processor.
  • Direct users to offers and promotions available outside of your app with actionable links that open in a web browser to a website for the purchase of digital goods and services.

To provide a consistent and transparent user experience when offering alternative payment methods for digital goods and services within your app, you’re required to also present Apple In-App Purchase as an option at the same time when merchandising a digital good or service for purchase using an alternative payment method. If you offer an alternative payment option, you’ll also need to implement in-app disclosure sheets and follow child safety guidelines for those purchases.

For details, see Payment options on App Store in Japan.

Distributing on alternative app marketplaces

An alternative app marketplace is an app whose primary purpose is discovery and distribution of notarized iOS apps. To distribute your app on an alternative app marketplace in Japan, you’ll use App Store Connect and the App Store Connect API to complete tasks, such as:

• Registering the alternative app marketplace and providing your Developer ID.
• Adding the marketplace token (provided to you by the marketplace).
• Selecting which of your apps are eligible for alternative distribution.
• Sending notifications to the marketplace when updates are available.

If you distribute your app on an alternative app marketplace:

• App Store functionality like Apple In-App Purchase is not available.
• The sale of digital goods or services from your app are subject to a Core Technology Commission (CTC). For additional details, see the new business terms section below.

For details, see Manage distribution on an alternative app marketplace.

Operating an alternative app marketplace

In Japan, developers can build an alternative app marketplace to distribute notarized iOS apps. Based on specific criteria and ongoing requirements that help protect users and developers, authorization from Apple is required to operate an alternative app marketplace. Authorized developers have access to marketplace capabilities that enable them to securely receive notarized apps from other Apple Developer Program members, allow users to download and install marketplace apps from their website, integrate with system functionality, back up and restore users apps, and more.

For details, see Operating an alternative app marketplace in Japan.

Notarizing apps

Notarization for iOS apps is a baseline review that applies to all apps, regardless of their distribution channel, focused on platform policies for security and privacy and to maintain device integrity. Through a combination of automated checks and human review, notarization helps check that apps are free of known malware, viruses, or other security threats, function as promised, and don’t expose users to egregious fraud.

Information from the Notarization process is also used for app installation sheets, which provide at-a-glance descriptions of apps and their functionality before users download them, including the developer, screenshots, and other essential information.

Apps distributed on the App Store need to meet Apple’s higher standards for user safety, security, and privacy and undergo the standard App Review process, which includes Notarization and enforcement of content and commerce policies.

To get your app notarized, select the alternative distribution option in App Store Connect when you submit it for review. Your app will be evaluated against the Notarization Review Guidelines, a subset of the App Review Guidelines. Notarization will check for:

• Accuracy. Apps must accurately represent the developer, capabilities, and costs to users.
• Functionality. Binaries must be reviewable, free of serious bugs or crashes, and compatible with the current version of iOS. They cannot manipulate software or hardware in ways that negatively impact the user experience.
• Safety. Apps cannot promote physical harm of the user or public.
• Security. Apps cannot enable distribution of malware or of suspicious or unwanted software. They cannot download executable code, read outside of the container, or direct users to lower the security on their system or device. Also, apps must provide transparency and allow user consent to enable any party to access the system or device, or reconfigure the system or other software.
• Privacy. Apps cannot collect or transmit private, sensitive data without a user’s knowledge or in a manner contrary to the stated purpose of the software.

Apple encrypts and signs all iOS apps intended for alternative distribution to help protect developers’ intellectual property and ensure that users get apps from known parties. Notarized apps also undergo a series of checks during installation to ensure that they haven’t been tampered with and that the installation was initiated through an authorized app marketplace.

If Apple determines that an app contains known malware after it’s been installed, it will be prevented from launching, and new installations will be revoked.

For more details see:

• App Store Connect Help: Submit for notarization
• Notarization Review Guidelines

Prioritizing child safety with alternative payments on the App Store

Apple created the App Store to be a safe place for kids — where parents are empowered to ensure their children have age appropriate experiences and have the tools they need to keep their children safe online. The Kids category on the App Store is a great way for people to easily find apps and games made for children. Parents can expect that apps and games in the Kids category are age-appropriate, protect their children’s data, and present parental gates to moderate a child’s ability to perform certain actions. To better support children and teenagers using apps with alternative payment options, all apps that offer alternative payment options in Japan must adhere to the following requirements.

Apps in the Kids category

• Purchase flows within your app using an alternative payment processor must be preceded by a parental gate.
• Apps cannot provide an out-of-app offer to purchase on a website.

All other apps

• Apps outside of the kids category must support parental purchasing controls and require parental consent when offering alternative payment options.
• For users under 13 years old, your app can offer purchase flows within your app using an alternative payment processor. It must provide those options behind a parental gate. It cannot provide an out-of-app offer to purchase on a website.
• For users between 13 and 17 years old, your app can provide an out-of-app offer to purchase on a website and offer purchase flows within your app using an alternative payment processor. Your app must provide these options behind a parental gate.

In a future software update, Apple will release new APIs to better support these requirements.

• Design safe and age‑appropriate experiences for your apps and games

User data portability

Apple is committed to giving users transparency and control over the data Apple collects and uses, and offers users tools for understanding and managing their personal data. This includes Apple’s Data & Privacy page, where users can get or transfer a copy of their data, delete their Apple account, and more. Apple’s Data & Privacy page now provides Japan users with additional App Store data categories and the ability to consent to transferring their data.

Third parties are responsible for meeting minimum eligibility requirements before they may access the Account Data Transfer API for requesting transfers of user data for Japan users to their apps or services.

For more details see Requesting portability of data for users.

New business terms

In Japan, when distributing on the App Store, an alternative app marketplace, or distributing an alternative app marketplace itself, you’re responsible for paying applicable commissions and fees to Apple for the sale of digital goods or services. The commissions and fees reflect the extensive value Apple provides developers through ongoing investments in the tools, technologies, and services that enable them to create innovative apps for the Apple ecosystem — as well as the value delivered by the App Store, which offers capabilities such as app distribution and management, discovery, trust and safety, re-engagement, promotional tools and services, app insights, and payment processing and commerce services.

Business terms for the App Store in Japan

App Store commission

Rate	Applies to
10%	Transactions from participants in the App Store Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, and Video Partner Program.
10%	Auto-renewable subscriptions after their first year.
21%	Sale of digital goods or services (including using alternative payments within apps). Excludes transactions from program participants or auto-renewable subscriptions after their first year.

Apple payment processing fee

Rate	Applies to
5%	Payments processed by Apple In-App Purchase.

The total charge when using Apple In-App Purchase consists of two primary components—a commission and a separate payment processing fee (for payment processing and related commerce services). These rates apply to the price paid by the customer. The calculation of any applicable taxes is performed as per the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.

Store services commission

The store services commission is applicable when your app directs users to offers and promotions available outside of your app with actionable links that open in a web browser to a website for the purchase of digital goods and services. Only sales made within 7 days of the link tap are subject to this commission.

Rate	Applies to
10%	Out-of-app offers for relevant transactions from participants in the App Store Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, and Video Partner Program.
10%	Out-of-app offers for relevant auto-renewable subscriptions after their first year.
15%	Out-of-app offers.

For purchases of digital goods or services on the App Store that don't use Apple In-App Purchase, you're responsible for the collection and remittance of any applicable taxes for sales processed by an alternative payment provider. You're also required to track and send Apple a report of all alternative payment transactions for applicable commission fee calculation and collection purposes. This report will need to be provided monthly within 15 days following the end of the calendar month.

For details, see Payment options on App Store in Japan.

Core Technology Commission for iOS apps distributed outside of the App Store

Rate	Applies to
5%	Alternative app marketplaces or apps distributed through them are subject to a commission on the sales of paid apps and digital goods or services (including one-time purchases and auto-renewing subscriptions) for use within apps on an Apple platform.

The Core Technology Commission (CTC) reflects the value Apple provides developers through ongoing investments in the tools, technologies, and services that enable developers to build and share innovative apps with users.

The CTC covers the following types of transactions:

• Sales of digital goods and services within apps distributed via alternative marketplaces.
• Sales made directly by an alternative app marketplace, such as sales of digital goods or services, paid app downloads (including the marketplace app itself), and paid subscriptions for content or app catalogs it offers.
• Sales when your app directs users to offers and promotions available outside of your app with actionable links that open in a web browser to a website for the purchase of digital goods and services. Only sales made within 7 days of the link tap are subject to this commission.

Taxes. The commission applies to the total price payable by each user, less any transaction taxes. You are responsible for the collection and remittance of any applicable taxes for sales processed by an alternative payment provider.

Reporting transactions from alternative app marketplaces. Developers who distribute their apps on alternative app marketplaces are responsible for reporting their transactions of digital goods or services to Apple. These transactions include purchases made within the developer’s app and from linking out of apps distributed from your alternative app marketplace.

Alternative app marketplace operators are responsible for reporting transactions of digital goods or services to Apple. These transactions include digital goods or services you sell, paid downloads of apps on your marketplace, paid downloads of your alternative app marketplace, and subscriptions for content or catalog of apps you distribute on your alternative app marketplace.

For details, see

• Reporting tokens and transactions to Apple
• Overview of making payments to Apple

New iOS capabilities in Japan

Browser and search engine choice screens

In iOS 26.2 and later, users in Japan will see a choice screen the first time they launch any web browser that provides an additional way to for them to choose their default web browser from a list of options.

Additionally, users of Safari in Japan will see a choice screen on the Start Page in Safari, providing them with an additional way to choose their default search engine.

Alternative web browser engines

In iOS 26.2 and later, browser engines other than WebKit can be used in two types of apps for users in Japan: Dedicated browser apps that provide a full web browser experience, and apps from browser engine stewards that provide in-app browsing experiences using an embedded browser engine.

Authorized developers will have access to technologies within the system that enable critical functionality and help them offer high-performance modern browser engines. These technologies include just-in-time compilation, multiprocess support, and more. As browser engines are constantly exposed to untrusted and potentially malicious content, and have visibility of sensitive user data, they are one of the most common attack vectors for bad actors. To help keep users safe online, Apple will only authorize developers who meet specific criteria and commit to a number of ongoing privacy and security requirements, including timely security updates to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

For details, see Using alternative browser engines in Japan.

Side button access for voice-based conversational apps

In iOS 26.2 and later, users in Japan can configure the side button of iPhone to launch a voice-based conversational app. This functionality is enabled by adopting the App Intents framework and offering App Shortcuts, which allows app features to be integrated with system experiences like Spotlight and provides quick, customizable access for users.

For details, see Launching your voice-based conversational app from the side button of iPhone.

Default app controls and app deletion

In addition to setting their defaults for apps such as browsers, mail apps, phone calls, messaging, and translation, users in Japan can manage the default apps for navigation and app marketplaces. Users in Japan can also uninstall Safari from their device.

For details, see Default apps updates.

Requesting additional interoperability

At Apple, enriching people’s lives with amazing experiences is a core value we share with developers. With a comprehensive ecosystem of APIs, tools, and services, you can build high-quality, feature-rich apps across Apple platforms. Our commitment extends to hearing from developers about interoperability that preserves the user experience and protects user privacy and security at every step. To support this, we provide a dedicated form for Apple Developer Program members to request additional interoperability with iOS and iPadOS features.

For details, see Interoperability requests.

Get started

Start by agreeing to the latest Apple Developer Program License Agreement.

The Apple Developer Program License Agreement has been updated to include new options and business terms for apps distributed in Japan. To agree to these terms in your Apple Developer account, you’ll need to be the Account Holder of your membership. After agreeing to the terms, your developer account will:

• Have access to alternative distribution tools in App Store Connect.
• Have access to the entitlement you’ll need to offer alternative payment options for digital good and services in your app on the App Store in Japan.
• Be subject to new business terms for app distributed in Japan.
• Be eligible to request the entitlement for operating an alternative app marketplace.

By March 17, 2026, all current members of the Apple Developer Program will need to agree to the latest update to the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.

For details on how to use these options, see:

• Payment options on the App Store in Japan
• Manage distribution on an alternative app marketplace
• Operating an alternative app marketplace in Japan

We’re here to help

If you have any questions about the new options now available in Japan, we’re here to help.

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