Australian court orders Apple to open the iPhone to rival app stores and alternative payments from March 2027
Australia's Federal Court has ordered Apple to let iPhone users in the country install apps from competing app stores and websites, and to allow developers to steer customers to alternative payment options. The orders, cited as [2026] FCA 1552 and reported by MacRumors, follow the court's August 2025 finding that Apple misused its market power by restricting how apps are distributed and paid for on the iPhone.
The orders apply to users whose Apple Account region is Australia, while Apple Developer Program members worldwide can take part. Users must be able to find, download, install and update apps through rival marketplaces and websites, and Apple may not charge for that access or obstruct it.