Microsoft China bans Android, mandates staff use iPhones

Microsoft has announced that all staff in China will be required to switch to iPhones by September 2024.

According to a Microsoft memo seen by Bloomberg, employees currently using Android smartphones, including those from China's Huawei and Xiaomi, will be provided with an iPhone 15. Collection points for iPhones are being set up across Microsoft’s facilities in China and Hong Kong.

The decision addresses issues with the Google Play Store's unavailability in mainland China, where staff have relied on Huawei or Xiaomi app platforms, which Microsoft has now blocked. The switch to iPhones ensures access to the iOS App Store, allowing the use of Microsoft’s Authenticator password manager and Identity Pass app.