India is ordering Apple and other phone makers to preinstall a state-owned app | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.India is ordering Apple and other phone makers to preinstall a state-owned appComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechIndia is ordering Apple and other phone makers to preinstall a state-owned appReuters reports that the Sanchar Saathi app will be required on new phones and can’t be disabledReuters reports that the Sanchar Saathi app will be required on new phones and can’t be disabledby Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldDec 1, 2025, 4:53 PM UTCLinkShareImage: NurPhoto via Getty ImagesStevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie Bonifield is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI.India’s Department of Telecommunications is giving phone manufacturers 90 days to comply with an order to pre-install a state-owned app on new phones and push it to existing phones through software updates, reports Reuters. The government order was privately sent out to phone manufacturers on November 28th, according to Reuters, including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.In August, Russia issued a similar order requiring phone manufacturers to preload a state-backed messenger app, Max.In this case, the state-owned Sanchar Saathi app is already available on the App Store and Google Play Store, but this order would make it mandatory and prevent it from being disabled or deleted. The app includes features for blocking and tracking lost or stolen phones based on their IMEI, and reporting suspected fraud messages.Image: Government of India, Department of TelecommunicationsWhile iOS users still make up a small slice of the pie in India, Apple’s sales in the region hit a record high of $9 billion in September. Similarly, Google began offering direct online sales of Pixel phones in India earlier this year, and both companies have increased local manufacturing of their mobile devices in recent years. 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India’s Department of Telecommunications is implementing a significant regulatory change, mandating that mobile phone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, pre-install a state-owned application called Sanchar Saathi on new phones. This directive, communicated privately to manufacturers on November 28th, requires not only the inclusion of the app but also its impossibility of being disabled or deleted by the user. The order reflects a trend observed in Russia, where a similar mandate was issued for a state-backed messaging app, Max. Currently, the Sanchar Saathi application is readily available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Its functionality includes features designed for managing lost or stolen devices through IMEI tracking, as well as reporting suspected fraudulent messages. Despite the relatively small market share held by iOS users in India, Apple recently achieved a record high of $9 billion in sales for the region during September, signaling a continued, and substantial, market presence. Furthermore, Google’s increasing investment in local manufacturing of Pixel phones and direct online sales demonstrates a strategic commitment to the Indian market. The rationale behind this regulatory intervention remains unclear pending official statements from the Department of Telecommunications, but it highlights the evolving relationship between governments and technology firms, particularly concerning data security and user control. The move is likely driven by concerns regarding national security and the ability to monitor communications, representing a potentially substantial shift in the operational landscape for mobile device manufacturers within India.