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Why the UK CMA Closed Its Apple App Store Investigation—and What Happened Next

The CMA’s 2024 closure of its Apple App Store investigation was administrative, not a finding that Apple’s rules were lawful. A separate DMCC Act proceeding followed.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
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The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) closed its Competition Act investigation into Apple’s App Store rules on 21 August 2024 because it was prioritising work under the incoming Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act). That closure was not a ruling that Apple’s rules were lawful. The CMA later opened a separate investigation under the new regime, designated Apple as having strategic market status, and began work on app-store commitments and further proposed requirements.

Why did the CMA close the original investigation?

The CMA opened its investigation on 3 March 2021 under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998. It examined Apple’s terms for distributing apps on iOS and iPadOS devices in the UK, especially the conditions developers faced when using the App Store. The CMA closed that file on 21 August 2024 on administrative priority grounds. CMA case record

The concerns included rules requiring developers of digital content, such as games, to use Apple’s in-app billing system. The CMA said such rules could restrict developers’ choice of payment provider, make direct customer relationships harder, and affect competition and consumer choice, potentially contributing to higher prices or less choice. These were concerns being investigated, not findings proved against Apple. CMA announcement, 21 August 2024

The regulator said it had reassessed the cases against its priorities in light of the DMCC Act’s passage in May 2024. It closed the Competition Act matters “at this point,” expecting to consider the issues under the new digital-markets framework if Apple or Google received strategic market status (SMS) designation. CMA announcement, 21 August 2024

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What “reconsidered under the new regime” means

The DMCC Act received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, and the new digital-markets regime came into force in January 2025. It gives the CMA a separate framework to designate firms as having SMS in relation to a digital activity and, where warranted, set conduct requirements or make pro-competition interventions. Examples in the legislation’s explanatory notes include restrictions on harmful self-preferencing and interoperability obligations; these are examples of available powers, not a list of measures imposed on Apple. DMCC Act explanatory notes CMA announcement on commencement

So the old case was not simply reopened. The Competition Act investigation remained closed, while the later proceeding examined Apple’s broader mobile platform under Part 1 of the DMCC Act. The new designation and subsequent intervention work do not, by themselves, prove every allegation in the 2021 case or establish that every potential remedy is in force.

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How the original and later proceedings differ

Feature Competition Act investigation DMCC Act proceeding
Legal framework Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 Part 1 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
Focus Apple’s UK iOS and iPadOS app-distribution terms, including App Store conditions Apple’s broader mobile platform: operating systems, native app distribution, and mobile browsers and browser engines
Status Closed on 21 August 2024 on administrative priority grounds Apple was designated as having SMS in October 2025; intervention work continued in 2026
What the status means No merits finding that Apple’s rules were lawful or unlawful Designation enables the CMA to consider requirements and interventions; it is not proof of every particular alleged harm

Sources: CMA original case page; CMA Apple mobile-platform case page; DMCC Act explanatory notes.

What happened after the DMCC regime began?

January and October 2025: investigation and designation

The CMA launched its initial SMS investigation into Apple on 23 January 2025. Its scope included iOS and iPadOS, App Store distribution, and mobile browsers and browser engines, including Safari and WebKit. On 22 October 2025, the CMA issued its final decision designating Apple as having SMS for its mobile platform. CMA Apple mobile-platform case page

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2026: commitments implemented

In February 2026, CMA executive director Will Hayter described app-store commitments agreed with Apple and Google covering app review, ranking, use of data, and interoperability. On 1 April 2026, the CMA’s case page recorded Apple’s final commitments as implemented voluntarily after stakeholder consultation. They address App Store review processes, search ranking and the use of third-party data, and create a process for developers to request interoperable access to iOS functionality. CMA Apple mobile-platform case page CMA programme guidance Will Hayter, CMA, 10 February 2026

June to August 2026: steering proposal under consultation

On 30 June 2026, the CMA launched a consultation on a proposed steering conduct requirement for Apple. “Steering” means allowing developers to communicate with app users about options outside the app, including routes to complete transactions elsewhere, on fair and reasonable terms. Consultation responses were published on 14 August 2026. At the latest status reported by the CMA in those materials, this remained a proposal—not an imposed requirement. The CMA said it would consider responses before deciding later in 2026. CMA Apple mobile-platform case page CMA steering consultation

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Why the dispute matters to UK app users and developers

The CMA’s 10 February 2026 blog estimated that the UK app economy generates 1.5% of UK GDP and supports around 400,000 jobs. Those are CMA figures, not a measure of Apple’s contribution or of harm caused by any particular App Store rule. The underlying original dataset is not identified in the cited blog. CMA blog, 10 February 2026

For developers, payment rules, app review, search ranking, data use, interoperability, and the ability to tell customers about alternatives can shape how they distribute and monetise apps. For users, those rules may affect which apps and payment routes are available and how easily developers can reach customers. The CMA’s 2024 concerns describe potential effects under investigation; they should not be read as findings that a specific price increase or reduction in choice was caused by Apple.

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Where the case stood on 4 October 2026

  • Original Competition Act file: closed on 21 August 2024 on administrative priority grounds.
  • Separate DMCC proceeding: Apple designated as having SMS for its mobile platform in October 2025, with intervention work ongoing.
  • Measures already recorded: Apple’s app-review, ranking, data-use, and interoperability commitments were recorded by the CMA as implemented voluntarily in April 2026.
  • Further measure under consideration: the steering conduct requirement remained a proposal after consultation responses were published in August 2026.

This account is specific to the UK CMA process. It does not describe EU or US proceedings, which involve different legal frameworks and decisions.

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