Netflix makes huge change to subscriptions after Apple switches up iPhone and iPad app rules

ANYONE planning to subscribe to Netflix through their iPhone or iPad may notice something a bit different from now on.

Apple recently made a massive change to its rules, which will certainly come as a relief to Netflix after losing almost a million subscribers recently.

Reuters

Apple recently changed its rules[/caption]

The iPhone maker has relaxed how it takes the controversial “Apple Tax”.

Apple has long taken a juicy cut of earnings from apps that process payments through iOS.

And developers face being banned if they try to get around it by providing a link to their website.

It’s a thorny issue that has enraged Fortnite maker Epic, who dared to defy the rules a few years ago and found itself taken off the App Store as a result.

Apple has now made some changes to how it takes fees, meaning that some services like Netflix can avoid them altogether at last.

It applies to those deemed as “reader” apps, which is defined as providing “content that was previously purchased or content available from an app that users pay for on a recurring basis such as music, video, digital magazines, newspapers, books, and audio”.

This means Netflix is among the few who are allowed to offer a subscription link that takes users onto a web page outside of Apple’s reach.

But Apple does show a warning alert when you tap the button to subscribe.

The message, first spotted by 9to5Mac, tells users: “You’re about to leave the app and go to an external website.”

It warns that “any accounts or purchases made outside of this app will be managed by the developer”.

“Your App Store account, stored payment methods, and related features, such as subscription management and refund requests, will not be available,” the alert goes on.

“Apple is not responsible for the privacy or security of transactions made with this developer.”

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