Brazilian Court Orders Apple to Open iOS to Third-Party App Stores Again

A federal court in Brazil has once again ruled that Apple must allow the installation of apps on iPhones from alternative sources.

The company has been given 90 days to comply, according to local reports citing the antitrust regulator CADE.

Back in 2023, the Brazilian marketplace MercadoLibre filed a complaint against Apple, arguing that the company’s restrictions on third-party app stores and external links within iOS apps were unlawful. The regulator sided with the plaintiff, deeming Apple’s policy illegal.

Apple initially appealed the decision and obtained a temporary suspension, but the court has now reinstated the order. The ruling requires Apple to enable access to alternative app distribution methods, including third-party stores and monetization tools.