India’s government backs down after Apple refuses order to preinstall 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’s government backs down after Apple refuses order to preinstall 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’s government backs down after Apple refuses order to preinstall appThe Sanchar Saathi app would have been mandatory on all smartphones.The Sanchar Saathi app would have been mandatory on all smartphones.by Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldDec 3, 2025, 2:08 PM UTCLinkShareImage: Ashish Vaishnav/SOPA Images/LightRocket 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 government retreated less than a week after sending a private order to smartphone manufacturers instructing them to preload a state-backed app on all phones in the region. The reversal comes after industry sources told Reuters that Apple planned to refuse to comply with the order.Sanchar Saathi is a security app operated by India’s Department of Telecommunications that includes features for tracking and blocking lost or stolen phones using their IMEI. Anyone can download it on the App Store or Google Play Store already, but India’s government order would have required phone manufacturers to preload it on all phones in the region and block users from disabling it.India’s Ministry of Communications announced the reversal in a statement on Wednesday, but still asserted that “[Sanchar Saathi] is secure and purely meant to help citizens from bad actors in the cyber world.”The statement doesn’t address the backlash and privacy concerns raised about the order to make the app mandatory. Instead, it attributes the policy change to voluntary app downloads, stating, “Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, [the] Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers.”Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleNewsCloseNewsPosts 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 TechMost PopularMost PopularOpenAI declares ‘code red’ as Google catches up in AI raceSteam Machine today, Steam Phones tomorrowMKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appSilicon Valley is rallying behind a guy who sucksHBO Max’s Mad Men 4K release is the opposite of a remasterThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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India’s government experienced a significant retreat following its initial directive to Apple, compelling the tech giant to refuse an order mandating the pre-installation of a state-backed security application, Sanchar Saathi, across all smartphones within the region. This reversal transpired less than a week after the Ministry of Communications issued the private order to smartphone manufacturers, directing them to include the app on all mobile devices. Industry sources, as reported by Reuters, indicated Apple’s intention to non-compliance, a stance that ultimately proved successful. Sanchar Saathi, developed by the Department of Telecommunications, incorporates features designed for tracking and blocking lost or stolen phones utilizing their IMEI numbers. While the app is currently available for download on both the App Store and Google Play Store, the government’s initial order stipulated that phone manufacturers would be obligated to preload it on all devices, simultaneously preventing users from disabling it. The Ministry of Communications formally announced this policy shift on Wednesday, yet the statement conspicuously avoided addressing the substantial backlash and heightened privacy concerns that emerged surrounding the mandatory pre-installation directive. Instead, the Ministry attributed the change to a voluntary increase in app adoption, framing the rationale as “Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance.” Apple did not issue an immediate public response to this development. The shift in strategy highlights a key tension between governments seeking to bolster cybersecurity and the principles of user choice and data privacy, particularly in the context of mobile technology. The move underscores Apple’s commitment to maintaining user control over device settings and applications, a stance that directly challenged the Indian government’s regulatory approach. Further investigation into the motivations driving the initial order and the subsequent government retreat remains warranted, offering valuable insight into the evolving relationship between technology, security, and governance within the digital landscape.