Apple has announced that iPhone users in Brazil will soon be able to download apps from alternative app marketplaces, marking one of the biggest changes to the App Store in the country to date.
The move comes after an agreement between Apple and Brazil’s competition regulator, CADE, and will take effect as part of iOS 26.5.
For the first time, developers in Brazil will be able to distribute iOS apps outside of the App Store through third-party app marketplaces. Until now, the App Store has been the only official way for users to download apps on iPhone.
Apple says all alternative app marketplaces will require authorization from the company before they can operate on iOS. Marketplace operators will also need to meet ongoing requirements designed to help protect users and maintain platform security.
While apps distributed outside the App Store will not go through Apple’s full App Review process, they will still be required to pass a security screening process known as Notarization. Apple says this review is designed to detect known malware, viruses, and other security threats before apps can be installed on users’ devices.
The company warned that downloading apps from outside the App Store could expose users to greater risks, including scams, fraud, harmful content, and privacy concerns.
Apple maintains that the App Store remains the safest and most trusted place to discover and download apps, pointing to its review process, parental controls, and protections against malicious software.
The company also highlighted concerns around children’s safety, noting that apps distributed through alternative marketplaces will not benefit from the same level of review and oversight as those available through the App Store.
The changes are part of a wider update to iOS in Brazil that also introduces new payment options for developers. However, the arrival of alternative app marketplaces is likely to be the most significant change for iPhone users, opening the door for third-party app stores on iOS for the first time in the country.
Developers can begin preparing for the new distribution options immediately, with support available through Apple’s updated developer resources. Apple says it will continue working with regulators in Brazil while introducing safeguards designed to reduce the additional security and privacy risks created by the changes.
