Apple Claims Warning Messages on EU App Store Listings Are Not New

Apple has stated that the warning messages now appearing next to EU App Store listings that use third-party payment systems are not actually new. This comes after several recent reports claimed that Apple had added a warning with a red exclamation mark next to apps that were not using its own “private and secure payment system.”

According to these reports, the message was seemingly meant to discourage users from using external payment mechanisms, as is now permitted under the new EU law, the Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, Apple has confirmed to TechCrunch that these user-disclosure screens have been live on the EU App Store since the beginning of its DMA Compliance Plan back in March 2024, and were not newly added as some had reported.

Background

The concern over the warning screens is understandable, given that Apple just suffered a major loss in court to Fortnite maker Epic Games. The court’s decision forced Apple to allow app developers in the U.S. to link to external payment options without having to pay Apple’s commission. Apple is appealing that decision, and many likely suspected the added EU warnings were part of some sort of retaliatory plan on Apple’s part.

However, since the screens are not new, another explanation is in order. The confusion appears to stem from a single post that gained traction on the social network X on Monday, which showed an App Store listing for an EU-based app called Instacar that featured a message warning users, “[T]his app does not support the App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases.”

The Warning Message

The cautionary message also points to a link that users can click to “Learn More.” The post was liked by thousands of X users and reposted by hundreds, including those in the mobile developer community. Unsurprisingly, most didn’t care for the message, calling it “malicious compliance” and “entitled” behavior on Apple’s part.

However, Apple pointed us to an X post from RevenueCat CEO Jacob Eiting, who correctly suggested that the disclosures are EU-only and “have been around for a while.” Eiting theorized that people are just now noticing these warnings because few EU developers have bothered to take advantage of the external purchases option that the DMA permits.

Apple’s Response

In its response to TechCrunch, Apple also noted that it intended to update the message after initial pushback. In August 2024, the company announced a series of changes to its DMA plan that would have included a change to the user disclosure screen. Instead of warning users of the dangers of using external purchases, the new message would have read: “Transactions in this app are supported by the developer and not Apple.”

Conclusion

The tech giant claims that the European Commission (EC) raised no objection to the updated message but instructed Apple to hold off on making any changes. Without further guidance, Apple kept the existing screen in place. In April 2025, the EC fined Apple €500 million for noncompliance under the Digital Markets Act. Apple is now appealing the decision.