Interoperability requests
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. You can also ask questions or share feedback on Apple’s developer tools, technologies, and services in a variety of ways — such as developer support, the Apple Developer Forums, and Feedback Assistant.
Submitting a request
Apple evaluates interoperability requests for feasibility and appropriateness and, where a request meets such criteria, develops solutions for those for release in a future software update.
Before you begin
To help you determine if your request is an interoperability request, choose the option that best describes your feedback or request.
This appears to be an interoperability request.
To submit a request, your Apple Developer Program membership must be in good standing and you must have entered into the current terms of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement. Please note that all correspondence with you about your request will also include the Account Holder for your Apple Developer Program membership.
For ease of handling, please submit a separate request for each feature you’re requesting interoperability with.
Developers of apps in the EU can make requests for interoperability with hardware and software features built into iOS, iPadOS, iPhone, and/or iPad, per Article 6(7) of the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA). More information on this process is available here.
Make sure to provide as complete as possible information on the request form to help avoid delays. We may contact you through Feedback Assistant if additional information is required.
This appears to be an enhancement request.
Send us your request with Feedback Assistant. For details on how to submit an enhancement request, see the Feedback Assistant User Guide.
This appears to be a bug report.
Send us your request with Feedback Assistant. For details on how to submit a bug report, see the Feedback Assistant User Guide.
If you would like to make an interoperability request, per Article 6(7) of the EU Digital Markets Act, see Requesting interoperability with iOS and iPadOS in the European Union.
How it works
Once you have submitted your request, you’ll receive a notification confirming successful submission. For ease of handling, please submit a separate request for each feature you’re requesting interoperability with.
We’ll contact you through Feedback Assistant to notify you of updates, timing, and the outcome of our review. You’ll also be able to directly communicate with a designated contact person at Apple on your pending requests in a dedicated space in Feedback Assistant. Your request will be handled in three phases:
Phase one: Eligibility
Apple will make an initial assessment of your request to ensure the functionality dependent on the OS, underlying hardware capabilities, or system integration points are accessed by Apple’s own services or accessories. We’ll contact you if additional information is required to evaluate your request. If an interoperability solution already exists, we’ll point you to existing documentation on this solution.
Phase two: Design
After completing the initial assessment, eligible requests move into Apple’s software planning process. This annual process evaluates, designs, and schedules potential software features for upcoming releases. Our evaluation considers user experience, security and privacy, platform priorities, proportional impact on our resources, and developer and user adoption. When determining whether and how to design interoperability solutions, we consider multiple factors, including, but not limited to:
- Security. As part of its security review, Apple will consider among other things: (i) whether providing access to the functionality requested could put the device and users at risk from malicious actors trying to gain access to the device; (ii) whether the functionality requested could be used for a purpose that would put users at greater risk of crime or fraud.
- Privacy. Apple will also consider the possible user privacy implications of the request, including among other things: (i) what user data an app might access as part of any request; (ii) any possible risks to user privacy from your proposed data collection and any mitigations that could be possible to protect user privacy.
- Protection of vulnerable users. Apple will look at the possible additional security and privacy risks to vulnerable users such as children, and consider if additional protections are needed.
- Device integrity. Apple will also consider possible risks to device performance arising from implementation. For example, whether the request would lead to undue strain on computing or communications resources or bandwidth, or overuse of system resources like excessive use of the CPU or GPU in the background, and the impact on device battery life.
- Safety. Apple will assess whether the request could facilitate harmful activities, such as illegal gambling or criminal activities like fraud or misrepresentation.
- Apple technology. Apple will finally consider whether your request has any implications for Apple’s intellectual property rights concerning its proprietary tools and technologies. Apple may set restrictions on requests that could infringe its proprietary rights, and is entitled to charge for access to Apple tools and technologies.
If Apple determines that it’s not feasible to design an effective interoperability solution or that it is not appropriate to do so, we’ll communicate that to you.
Phase three: Implementation
To the extent a suitable interoperability solution could be designed and is planned for a future software release, Apple will subsequently implement the solution. Implementation is highly specific to each request. We’ll notify you when your interoperability request is addressed in a prerelease or software update. Additionally, Apple will release the relevant technical documentation to describe how all developers can address each solution.
Q&A
If my project requires effective interoperability with multiple aspects, should I submit one request or multiple requests?
Please submit a separate request for each distinct interoperability aspect or feature of your project.
How will Apple inform me of updates on my interoperability request?
A dedicated space within Feedback Assistant allows you to access all relevant information about your request, including the current stage, submitted information, and Apple’s responses. You’ll also receive an email notifying you of any new communication from Apple in Feedback Assistant.
Can I follow up with Apple about my interoperability request?
Apple will communicate the results of the initial assessment and will reach out to you if additional information is needed. If your request appears to be eligible and if we determine that it is appropriate and feasible to design an effective interoperability solution, we’ll communicate it to you. If you don’t receive a response in a timely manner or if you need to provide additional information about your request, you can contact us via follow-ups in Feedback Assistant.
What’s the difference between an interoperability request and an enhancement request?
An interoperability request is for when you want to access an iOS or iPadOS capability that is used by Apple’s own services or accessories, but is currently unavailable to your app or accessory. An enhancement request is for when you would like a new capability, an improved API, or expanded system functionality that would help your app work better.