The European Commission designates iPadOS under the DMA, giving Apple six months to comply, after designating iOS, the App Store, and Safari in September 2023
Bloomberg Samuel Stolton
Context & Ripple Effects
The iPadOS decision extends the Commission’s September 2023 DMA designations of iOS, Safari and the App Store, bringing Apple’s tablet operating system into the same regulatory arc. It also follows Apple’s challenge to aspects of the earlier gatekeeper decisions, including iOS interoperability and App Store treatment, in its November 2023 DMA challenge.
Later coverage shows the practical direction of travel: Apple planned EU iPad support for alternative app stores and browser engines, while the Commission subsequently pressed Apple on operating-system interoperability.
First-order effects
- Apple must prepare iPadOS-specific DMA compliance within six months, rather than treating its iPad software as outside the obligations already applied to its phone OS, browser and app marketplace.
- iPad users and developers in the EU become the immediately affected constituencies, as Apple’s iPadOS distribution and browser choices move into the DMA compliance process.
Second-order effects
- The designation increases the value of alternative app-distribution and browser-engine support on iPad, giving developers and browser vendors a clearer route to seek comparable access across Apple’s mobile devices.
- Apple’s implementation choices on iPadOS will be scrutinized alongside its wider OS obligations; later Commission action on operating-system interoperability raises the stakes of whether compliance is functional rather than merely formal.
Third-order effects
- If enforcement remains consistent, EU platform regulation will increasingly assess Apple’s device operating systems as a connected distribution layer, limiting the room to preserve different access rules by device category.
- The durable shift is from app-store-focused oversight toward operating-system interoperability and contestability, though the eventual competitive impact depends on how Apple implements the requirements and how the Commission enforces them.
The trend: The DMA is broadening from policing individual app marketplaces to reshaping the operating-system controls that determine software distribution and browser competition across devices.
Related: Apple · Safari · The European Commission · Apple plans EU iPad alternative app stores and browser engines · Apple’s DMA designation challenge · EU action on Apple OS interoperability
Related Coverage
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- Commission designates Apple's iPadOS under the Digital Markets Act European Commission
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- Apple's iPadOS subject to tough EU tech rules, EU says Reuters
- Thank EU very much! Apple's iPad now has to follow the same app sideloading rules as iPhone Tom's Guide
- iPadOS Identified as Digital ‘Gatekeeper’ Under New EU Tech Rules MacRumors
- European Commission Designates iPadOS a DMA ‘Gatekeeping’ Platform Too Daring Fireball
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- Vivaldi's statement on the new EU ruling on Apple's iPad OS Vivaldi Browser
- Epic Games Moving Forward to Bring Fortnite to iPad in EU iPhone in Canada Blog
- Epic Announces The Return Of Fortnite On The iPad Following EU's Ruling That Identified iPadOS As A Digital Gatekeeper Wccftech
- Apple must open iPadOS to sideloading within 6 months, EU says Ars Technica
- Apple Forced to Allow Sideloading on iPadOS in the EU Gizchina
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- Apple's iPad operating system subject to tough EU tech rules News.ng
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- After iOS, the EU now has its Sights set on iPadOS Phandroid
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- Apple faces potential $40 billion fine from EU over iPadOS ‘Gatekeeper’ role Android Headlines
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- EU Says Apple iPadOS Must Comply With Digital Markets Act iClarified
- EU ruling gives Apple six months to bring iPadOS into line with DMA demands Pocket Gamer.biz
- Apple's iPadOS now subject to EU's Digital Markets Act after ‘Gatekeeper’ designation MSPoweruser
- The EU Designates Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPadOS as a Gatekeeper TipRanks Financial
- Seems like iPadOS is now also considered a gatekeeper when it comes to the Digital Markets Act. And I'm happy it is finally the case. — I grab my popcorn for how salty Apple will reply to that again. The entire story with iPhones was hilarious already — https://ec.europa.eu/... @RayuDW@meow.social
- The EU has announced that iPadOS is now subject to the DMA just like iOS is. https://www.macstories.net/... I have a feeling that the potential for alternative app marketplaces is possibly even greater on the iPad than it is on the iPhone. … @nileane@nileane.fr
Discussion
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@stroughtonsmith …
Steve Troughton-Smith
on mastodon
Two of Apple's platforms now count as gatekeepers under the DMA, which opens sideloading/alternative app stores for any developer who wishes to use them! — ...but of course, virtually nobody will because of the toxic Core Technology Fee, which leaves a Sword of Damocles hanging…
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@viticci@mastodon.macstories.net
@viticci@mastodon.macstories.net
on mastodon
Finally, someone who cares about iPadOS 🙃 — https://www.macstories.net/...
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@stroughtonsmith …
Steve Troughton-Smith
on mastodon
YES. iPad will join the sideloading and alternate app stores club — https://mastodon.social/...
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@simonwood@mastodon.social
Simon Wood
on mastodon
The EU is kindly helping Apple with the fragmentation problem they created for themselves (and more importantly their users) - I think this will mean in the EU you can download an app from the same store to both your iPhone and iPad... https://www.macstories.net/...
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@ballmatthew
Matthew Ball
on x
@mgsiegler Not what happened! EU was very, very clear about designations despite Apple protestations (October 2023 final pre-DMA ruling below, doc: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/...), then in January 2024 Apple filed a dispute ( https://www.reuters.com/...), which the EU has rejected…
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@fortnitegame
@fortnitegame
on x
Update: The EU announced today that this also applies to iPads! Fortnite will return to iPhones in the EU pretty soon, AND iPads later this year! 🎉
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@timsweeneyepic
Tim Sweeney
on x
This is fantastic news, and makes iOS app store competition in the EU relevant to iPad owners (who Apple previously intended to freeze out of access). A fantastic move by the European Commission to open markets to competition.
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@parkerortolani
Parker Ortolani
on x
Apple, please see this as an opportunity. Sideloading on iPad could help transform it into the computer many of us want it to be. And yes, just open it worldwide and rip the bandaid off.
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@stevesi
Steven Sinofsky
on x
What changed from before until now? It wasn't a surge iPad sales. It wasn't the DMA criteria. It must be the success and “market feedback” over how much more choice and better quality the DMA created in such a short time...
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@andreas_schwab
@andreas_schwab
on x
The #DMA enforcement continues 💪🏻🇪🇺 @EP_SingleMarket @EPPGroup @EuroParlPress
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@getpeid
Carl Pei
on x
@mgsiegler It will be interesting to observe whether Apple's combative stance towards the EU will benefit or hurt them in the long run.
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@altstoreio
@altstoreio
on x
For those asking about an iPad version of AltStore PAL, good news: Apple will soon be required to support alternative app marketplaces on iPad as well 🥳 We'll have more to announce once more details are made available — so stay tuned!
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@betaprofiles
@betaprofiles
on x
EU: “iPadOS, I'm coming for you” 😈 [Grim Reaper (EU) knocking on doors meme: Safari, App Store, and iOS doors already open, knocking on iPadOS door now]
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@mysk_co
@mysk_co
on x
Looking forward to evaluating Apple's approach to app sideloading on the iPad. Now marketplace app developers need an API so they can tell if multiple devices belong to the same user and avoid charging users multiple times.
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@privacymatters
@privacymatters
on x
This good news. Today, the European Commission designated Apple with respect to iPadOS as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act ("DMA"). Apple now has six months to ensure full compliance of iPadOS with the DMA obligations. https://ec.europa.eu/...
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@mysk_co
@mysk_co
on x
@PrivacyMatters Soon we won't get asked: “why do I get a prompt to choose my default browser on the iPhone, but not on my iPad?”
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@privacymatters
@privacymatters
on x
One thing I wish the DMA had addressed is the genuine lack of search choice for iOS Safari ... the default is Google cos $$$$$$$$$$$ but that doesn't help privacy or competition
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@wavesblog
Simonetta Vezzoso
on x
“End users are locked-in to iPadOS. Apple leverages its large ecosystem to disincentivise end users from switching to other operating systems for tablets” 🙋🏼♀️
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@mysk_co
@mysk_co
on x
BREAKING: The EU Commission designates iPadOS as a gatekeeper under the Digital Market App. Apple will have to allow alternative marketplaces on the iPad too. https://ec.europa.eu/...
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@openwebadvocacy
@openwebadvocacy
on x
🇪🇺In a win for browser competition, Apple has been designated with respect to iPadOS under the Digital Markets Act. ⏰Apple now has six months to ensure full compliance of iPadOS with the DMA obligations. https://ec.europa.eu/...
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@mgsiegler
M.G. Siegler
on x
Phil Schiller press release in 3... 2...
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@mgsiegler
M.G. Siegler
on x
[Deleted tweet] But really, what a dick move after specifically making Apple set up iOS to do things differently than iPadOS here only to reverse course a few months later.
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@tsoni_maria
Maria Tsoni
on x
📢New #DMA designation: @EU_Commission today decided to designate Apple's iPadOS as a gatekeeper under the #DMA. This is the 1st qualitative designation that finds Apple being an important gateway between businesses and consumers. Apple has 6 months to comply with the EU rules.
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@eu_commission
@eu_commission
on x
Today, we designated Apple's iPadOS as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act. Our thorough investigation shows that its tablet operating system is an important gateway for businesses to reach consumers. We will keep monitoring compliance with the #DMA very closely ↓
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@digitaleu
@digitaleu
on x
The @EU_Commission has today designated Apple's iPadOS as a gatekeeper under the #DigitalMarketsAct. Apple now has six months to ensure full compliance of its operating system for tablets with the #DMA obligations. Towards fairness & contestability of digital markets. More ↓
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@hbkirb
Adam Demasi
on x
Now we wait 6 months for Apple to change a few lines in Config.plist just because they can 🫠 They can roll out these DMA features to iPadOS in 17.5, due to release in a few weeks, or a later 17.6 release. Instead, it'll likely be tied to iPadOS 18.1. https://adamdemasi.com/...
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@lewis_crofts
Lewis Crofts
on x
Apple statement: “We will continue to constructively engage with the EC to comply with the DMA, across all designated services.” /1
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@lewis_crofts
Lewis Crofts
on x
.@apple back in the #DMA spotlight. This time, EC has designated its iPadOS as a core service. Already designated iPhone OS in Sept. First time EC has done this based on just on user numbers but also a qualitative assessment. https://ec.europa.eu/...
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r/technology
r
on reddit
iPadOS Identified as Digital ‘Gatekeeper’ Under New EU Tech Rules