Apple EU Payment Warnings: The Missed Key Fact

Apple Clarifies EU App Store Payment Warnings

Apple has stated that the warning messages currently displayed alongside EU App Store listings utilizing third-party payment systems are not a recent development.

Initial Reports and the Digital Markets Act

Several recent reports indicated that Apple had added a warning, marked with a red exclamation point, to applications not employing its own private and secure payment system. This message appeared designed to dissuade users from utilizing external payment methods, now permissible under the new EU legislation, the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

However, Apple confirmed to TechCrunch that these user-disclosure screens were implemented on the EU App Store as part of Apple’s DMA Compliance Plan, beginning in March 2024. Reports suggesting their recent addition are inaccurate.

Context of the Epic Games Ruling

Concerns regarding the warning screens are understandable, particularly given Apple’s recent legal defeat against Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite. The court mandated that Apple permit app developers in the U.S. to provide links to external payment options without incurring Apple’s standard commission fees.

Apple is currently appealing this ruling, leading many to speculate that the EU warnings represent a retaliatory measure. It was suggested the company might be signaling its reluctance to relinquish commission revenue.

However, since the screens predate this increased scrutiny, an alternative explanation is necessary.

Origin of the Recent Attention

The renewed attention appears to have originated from a single post on the social media platform X on Monday. The post showcased an App Store listing for an EU-based application, Instacar, displaying a message informing users that “[T]his app does not support the App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases.”

The message also included a link labeled “Learn More” for further information.

X user Viktor Maric commented, “First time seeing this,” and expressed concern that “Apple will punish the apps with external payment system [sic].”

Developer Reaction and Clarification

Maric’s post garnered significant engagement, receiving thousands of likes and hundreds of reposts, including shares from members of the mobile developer community. Many expressed disapproval, labeling the message as “malicious compliance” and indicative of “entitled” behavior from Apple.

Despite these opinions, the user disclosure screen itself is not a new feature.

Apple directed attention to an X post from RevenueCat CEO Jacob Eiting, who accurately pointed out that the disclosures are exclusive to the EU and “have been around for a while.”

Eiting posited that the increased visibility is due to the fact that few EU developers have yet to utilize the external purchase option enabled by the DMA. (Critics have accused Apple’s DMA Compliance Plan of being deliberately complex and incorporating “junk fees” to offset lost in-app purchase commissions.)

Planned Updates and EC Intervention

In response to TechCrunch, Apple also revealed its intention to revise the message following initial feedback. In August 2024, the company announced planned changes to its DMA implementation, including an altered user disclosure screen.

The proposed message would have stated: “Transactions in this app are supported by the developer and not Apple.”

Apple asserts that the European Commission (EC) did not object to this updated message but instructed the company to refrain from implementing any changes. Lacking further direction, Apple maintained the original screen.

Recent Fine and Ongoing Appeal

In April 2025, the EC imposed a €500 million fine on Apple for noncompliance with the Digital Markets Act. Apple is currently appealing this decision.