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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesShort answer: The European Commission did hear Apple. Apple submitted arguments to the European Union’s first Digital Markets Act (DMA) review, took part in enforcement dialogue and challenged key decisions in court. The Commission then kept the DMA’s core framework, while making limited Apple-specific concessions. “The EU ignored Apple” is therefore a fair description only of Apple’s frustration with the outcome—not of the process.
Apple’s DMA dispute is three different fights
Apple’s objections have appeared in three proceedings with different purposes and decision-makers. Treating them as one “complaint” obscures what happened.
| Track | What Apple challenged | Latest position |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory DMA review | Whether the law’s obligations create security, privacy, engineering and competition problems | The Commission’s April 28, 2026 review said the DMA remained fit for purpose |
| General Court litigation | Apple’s service designations, the interoperability obligation and iMessage-related treatment | The Commission’s May 2026 implementation report said the relevant cases were still pending |
| Commission enforcement | Apple’s App Store rules for links and information about alternative payment channels | A €500 million anti-steering fine was imposed on April 23, 2025 |
The underlying law is Regulation (EU) 2022/1925, adopted on September 14, 2022: read the DMA text.
What Apple told the Commission
Interoperability could create security and privacy risks
Apple argues that requiring iOS features to work with rival products can expose sensitive device capabilities, increase attack surfaces and make reliability harder to control. Apple’s security concerns have been publicly documented, including in its explanation of DMA compliance risks: Apple’s stated position.
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That is an attributed risk argument, not an established finding that the DMA has weakened iPhone security. The Commission’s interpretation is narrower: Article 6(7) requires fair and non-discriminatory access to operating-system features Apple makes available to its own services; it does not require Apple to invent features it does not offer. The Commission also points to safeguards such as user consent, technical controls and equivalent security standards. Its 2026 explanation is set out in this interoperability factsheet.
The App Store should not be treated like an ordinary regulated gateway
Apple has challenged the treatment of its App Store as a designated core platform service. The Commission’s gatekeeper portal currently lists Apple’s App Store, iOS, Safari and iPadOS among its designated services: gatekeeper designations.
Disputing a designation or a particular obligation is not the same as denying that the App Store has substantial commercial power. The legal question is whether the DMA’s criteria and obligations lawfully apply to that service.
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iMessage classification remains a legal issue
The DMA includes rules for number-independent interpersonal communications services. iMessage was not ultimately designated as an Apple core platform service under the same framework, but the Commission’s May 2026 report identifies Apple’s challenge concerning iMessage’s qualification as an ongoing proceeding. That is more precise than saying the EU simply “investigated iMessage.”
Apple says compliance uncertainty affects feature launches
Apple has linked the absence or delay of features such as iPhone Mirroring, some AirPods functions and newer Siri capabilities in the EU to DMA-related uncertainty, privacy concerns or engineering burdens. The Commission disputes the stronger version of that claim. Its citizen Q&A says Apple may launch products and services in the EU, provided it meets applicable obligations, and characterizes decisions not to launch as Apple’s rollout choices rather than automatic legal bans: Commission Q&A.
How the Commission responded
The law is about contestability, not only after-the-fact antitrust
The DMA is designed to prevent gatekeepers from controlling essential digital gateways in ways that limit rivals and business users. Its approach is ex ante: certain obligations apply because a service has gatekeeper characteristics, rather than only after a conventional antitrust case proves a completed abuse.
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In its first review, published April 28, 2026, the Commission said the DMA had produced positive effects for developer choice, alternative app stores, browser choice, data portability and connected-device interoperability. It concluded that the law remained fit for purpose: review announcement and full review report.
Apple had a formal opportunity to participate
The Commission opened the first statutory review consultation on July 3, 2025, with submissions due September 24, 2025. More than 450 contributions came from gatekeepers, developers, businesses, civil-society groups, academics and citizens. The consultation was legally due for completion by May 3, 2026, with further reviews every three years. Details are available in the consultation notice and consultation outcome.
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Where the EU did change course
Apple Ads and Apple Maps were not designated
On February 5, 2026, the Commission decided that Apple Ads and Apple Maps were not sufficiently important gateways to be designated under the DMA: decision. This is evidence that the Commission assessed Apple services individually. It does not reverse the designations of the App Store, iOS, Safari or iPadOS, and it does not amount to a general Apple victory.
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- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
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One Apple investigation closed without a violation finding
The first review reports that one Apple non-compliance investigation closed after Apple made changes, without a finding that Apple had breached the DMA. That is a substantive outcome different from a fine, although it does not establish that Apple’s broader objections were accepted.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where the Commission rejected Apple’s central position
The anti-steering case produced a €500 million fine
On April 23, 2025, the Commission found Apple in breach of the DMA’s anti-steering obligation and imposed a €500 million fine. The decision followed extensive dialogue in which Apple presented its arguments; it was a Commission enforcement decision, not a court judgment: enforcement decision.
The dispute concerned whether developers could tell users about cheaper or alternative purchasing channels outside the App Store. Commission guidance says developers may communicate those options and cannot be forced to use the gatekeeper’s in-app payment system: app-distribution guidance.
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The review defended the DMA rather than weakening it
Apple’s main policy objective would be a substantial retreat from obligations it considers unsafe or disproportionate. The Commission’s April 2026 review did the opposite: it endorsed the DMA’s purpose and reported beneficial effects. That does not foreclose future amendments, but it means the available evidence does not show the EU accepting Apple’s request to fundamentally change course.
What the court cases could decide
The Commission’s May 2026 implementation report identified three relevant Apple proceedings before the EU courts:
- Case T-1080/23: Apple’s challenge involving the App Store as a core platform service.
- Case T-1079/23: Apple’s challenge to the legality of Article 6(7), the interoperability obligation.
- Case T-214/24: Apple and Apple Distribution International v Commission.
The report said the relevant General Court judgments were still pending: May 2026 implementation report. The courts, rather than a Commission press release, will determine whether contested designations and obligations are lawful and proportionate. No outcome should be predicted before those judgments.
What this means for European users and developers
Users
- More ability to encounter alternative app distribution and payment routes.
- Greater interoperability with some rival accessories and services. The Commission’s factsheet says Apple was required to roll out certain solutions, including notifications, proximity pairing and parts of audio switching, by June 1, 2026.
- Potentially less uniformity in refunds, support, fraud controls, malware exposure and parental-control experiences when transactions or distribution move outside Apple’s system.
- Continued regional differences in feature availability while Apple and the Commission disagree about the cost and design of compliance.
Developers
- More scope to direct users to external purchasing options, subject to the DMA’s conditions and Apple’s amended rules.
- Possible access to iOS capabilities that were previously reserved for Apple’s own services.
- Additional compliance, disclosure and support work when using alternative stores, payment flows or interoperability channels.
- Continuing legal uncertainty until the General Court resolves the outstanding challenges.
So, did the EU listen?
On the evidence, yes—but listening did not mean agreeing. Apple was invited to submit arguments, participated in dialogue and obtained decisions that excluded Apple Ads and Apple Maps and closed one investigation without a violation finding. The Commission nevertheless fined Apple over anti-steering, kept the App Store and other core services designated, defended interoperability with safeguards, and concluded that the DMA remained fit for purpose.
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The most accurate verdict is that the EU heard Apple’s complaint, tested parts of it, made limited adjustments and rejected Apple’s central demand for a fundamental retreat from the DMA. The legal dispute is not over, because the key court challenges were still pending in May 2026.
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