Apple has begun restoring card payments for Apple Account purchases in India more than four years after withdrawing the option, the latest sign of how the iPhone maker is adapting its services to regulatory changes that have reshaped the country’s digital payments landscape.
The change, which is rolling out in phases, allows users in India to add eligible Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards to their Apple Account to pay for subscriptions such as iCloud+ and Apple Music, as well as App Store purchases.
In May 2022, Apple suspended card payments in India following changes to the country’s recurring payments framework. Since then, users have relied on UPI, India’s real-time payments network, net banking, and Apple Account balance for subscriptions and other Apple digital purchases.
The move illustrates a broader challenge for Apple as governments around the world impose country-specific rules on digital platforms, increasingly requiring the Cupertino company to tailor products, payments, and other services to local regulatory frameworks rather than offer a uniform global experience. Similar pressures have led Apple to revise parts of its App Store business in Europe, while regulatory changes in Japan and South Korea have also reshaped aspects of app distribution and payments.
