Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.2 to developers on Tuesday, and users in Japan that install the beta will find they now have the ability to install third-party alternatives to the official App Store on their iPhone, while also being able to designate a preferred search engine immediately after installing the beta.
Alternative App Stores in Japan
According to a post on X by @Tzzlala, that iPhone users in Japan that are running the iOS 26.2 beta in Japan are now allowed to install third-party app stores, such as those offered by AltStore PAL and Epic Games. It should be noted that currently, Fortnite in-app purchases are region-blocked by Epic.
iOS 26.2 Beta 1で代替アプリストアが日本でも利用可能になってる！！！！！！
AltStore PALとかEpic Games Store使える！ pic.twitter.com/292ncTZrKJ— しずく (@Tzzlala) November 4, 2025
Apple has offered the ability for iPhone and iPad users in the European Union to install apps from third-party app stores since the release of iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 18. They were forced to do so to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. While Apple has not expanded that ability to users in any other region of the world, that appears to be about to change, thanks to the Japanese parliament’s June 2024 approval of legislation that requires large tech firms like Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and payment providers on their mobile platforms.
The new guidelines will go into effect on December 18, 2025. Apple is expected to release iOS 26.2 sometime by the middle of December.
Preferred Search Engines
In addition to access to third-party app stores, iOS 26.2 also adds a prompt allowing Japanese users to select a preferred Safari search engine for the first time.
As noted by a Reddit user, the search engine prompt appears immediately the first iOS 26.2 beta is installed, allowing users to select a search engine from multiple search providers, including DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Bing, Google, and Yahoo Japan.
While iPhone users outside of Japan already have the ability to choose a search engine option other than Google, Apple requires iPhone users to enter the Safari section of their device’s Settings app to make a change. Since Google pays Apple around $20 billion per year for the honor of being the default search engine in Google, Apple is incentivized to makes users jump through extra hoops to make a change.
Japan’s new guidelines say a neutral search engine choice screen must be displayed during initial setup, which is why the screen is presented immediately after the iOS 26.2 beta is installed.
