Australian Court Orders Apple to Allow Rival iPhone App Stores From March 2027; Apple Will Appeal
Justice Jonathan Beach's remedies order covers rival stores, sideloading and alternative payments in Australia only, and it is not yet in force.
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The Federal Court of Australia has ordered Apple to let iPhone users in the country install third-party app stores, download apps directly from developers' websites and pay through alternative systems, with the orders taking effect on March 1, 2027. Apple said: "We will request a stay and appeal the outcome" (9to5Mac).
The ruling is the remedies stage of the long-running case brought by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite. It follows Justice Jonathan Beach's August 2025 liability finding that Apple breached section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Australia's misuse-of-market-power law. The remedies decision was delivered on October 22 in Australia (FoneArena, TechRadar).
What Apple has to do
| The court's orders (Australian Apple Accounts only) | Detail |
|---|---|
| Third-party app stores | Must be allowed |
| Direct downloads | Apps from developers' websites must be allowed |
| Alternative payments | Developers can use them without also offering Apple's in-app purchase |
| External purchase links | Must be permitted |
| APIs and tools | Must be opened to rival stores, with fees on alternative channels limited |
| Fortnite | Epic's apps must be readmitted to the Australian App Store on request |
| Costs | Apple pays 85% of Epic's costs for the liability trial; remedies costs decided later |
| Start date | March 1, 2027 (Apple may apply 1 to 15 February 2027 for two more months) |
The court found Apple held "a substantial degree of power" in both iOS app distribution and in-app payments. Fortnite has already returned to the Australian App Store.
What Apple won
The order is not a clean sweep for Epic. Apple may keep security scanning and notarisation for apps distributed outside the App Store, provided the checks are necessary and proportionate rather than designed to block rival distribution. Apple is not required to distribute rival marketplaces through its own App Store. The court rejected Epic's request to apply the orders worldwide, so they cover Australia alone, and it also rejected Apple's proposed five-year automatic expiry.
The timetable
The orders start on March 1, 2027, and Apple can apply between February 1 and 15 for an extension of two months, which needs court approval. Because Apple will seek a stay and appeal, the real start date could move. A stay would not undo Fortnite's return, but it could pause the app store and payment requirements while the appeal runs.
Where this sits globally
Third-party app stores are already allowed on the iPhone in the European Union, Brazil and Japan. The United States has no alternative app stores yet, only external payment links. Australia joins that short list through a court order rather than a new law.
Epic chief executive Tim Sweeney called the remedies "a huge victory for consumers and developers". That is an advocate's description; the practical effect will depend on how many developers open rival stores and how many users bother to use them.
What it means for Australian users
Nothing changes today. If the order stands, Australians would be able to choose between Apple's store and rivals, and developers could send customers to their own payment pages, often at lower prices. Apple will argue its security checks remain the best protection, and the court has left it room to keep some of them.
Does it affect India?
No. The order applies only to Australian Apple Accounts, so iPhone users in India see no change. India's Competition Commission has its own long-running case over Apple's App Store practices, but it is a separate proceeding, and this ruling does not bind it. It does add to the list of jurisdictions Indian regulators and developers can point to.
What to watch next
Apple's stay application and the grounds of its appeal come first. After that, whether Apple files an extension request by February 15 will show whether it expects to comply on time.
