Apple Wins Temporary Reprieve from Brazilian Sideloading Mandate

Court Ruling in Brazil Temporarily Halts Apple’s Sideloading Mandate A Federal Civil Court judge in Brazil has ruled that Apple will not be required to enable sideloaded applications, or apps downloaded from sources other than the App Store. This decision comes a week after an initial ruling ordered Apple to allow third-party app marketplaces within 90 days, with non-compliance resulting in daily fines exceeding $40,000.

Apple contested the original ruling, citing concerns about user privacy and security. The judge who overturned the mandate described it as 'disproportionate,' stating that imposing such measures before the case's conclusion was unreasonable.

The antitrust complaint against Apple was filed by Brazil’s regulatory body, CADE, in 2022. After an investigation and unfavorable ruling, a public hearing was held in February 2025. Despite this, the European Union has already compelled Apple to comply with its Digital Markets Act, introducing sideloading in iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 18 for EU users.

CADE retains the right to appeal the recent decision, potentially prolonging the legal battle. The outcome of this ongoing process remains uncertain.