We monitor 175 App Store storefronts to answer one question —
Is Merge Photos - Fuse Retouch censored by Apple?
Merge Photos - Fuse Retouch is gone from every App Store storefront we test. It was last seen available on Oct 15, 2020.
835 tests on record·last checked 2 days ago
Why it is unavailable
Five things can put an app out of one App Store. Each is weighed below against what can be seen from outside — open a card for the reasoning.
A government or a court demanded it
and Apple complied. Apple publishes a count of these per country each year and never says which apps they were. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- Photo and video apps in the United States are unavailable at 3%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 8 other apps left Russia the same day, Mar 15, 2022.
- Apple reports 1,213 government-ordered removals in Russia for 2025, naming none of them.
Apple applied a rule, unasked
either its own review guidelines, or its own reading of a local law, with nobody having demanded anything. This is the largest category in Apple's own removal figures by a wide margin, and it covers distribution permits as well as content — Apple kept a free Bible app out of mainland China in 2021 for want of one. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- Photo and video apps in the United States are unavailable at 3%, near the 5% for everything there, which cuts neither way.
- 8 other apps left Russia the same day, Mar 15, 2022.
The developer withheld it
freely, or under legal advice of their own, or because Apple's guidelines require that kind of app to be limited to certain countries. Switching a country off is easy for a developer to do in Apple's own tools: it needs no new version of the app, and it leaves no public trace other than the app being unavailable.
Something broke
a rejected update, a lapsed certificate, a payment or licensing problem, a mistake nobody has got round to noticing.
- 8 other apps left Russia the same day, Mar 15, 2022.
- Gone for 4 years.
A local rule about paying for it
gambling licences, financial rules, tax — the kind of law that governs a transaction. Apple can obey every one of them by refusing the payment, which is why this is the only restriction we would accept and the only one that cannot touch a free app.
- It is free, so Apple sells nothing here.
How this is weighed, and what it cannot tell you
Weighed from the evidence under each card, not from a model. There is no published figure for how Apple's removals divide up, so these are ordered words rather than percentages. For scale on the same-day counts: across the whole record an app leaves a storefront with fewer than two others, so a dozen at once is not a dozen coincidences.
None of this is certain, and a citation does not make it so: Apple naming a Chinese agency tells you what Apple said, not everything that happened. What can be said is that the readings alone cannot separate these five — a developer switching off a country and a government ordering it removed arrive at Apple's catalogue looking identical — and that nobody has ever measured how they divide across the App Store. The one careful study of the question was done on Google's store, using an error message Apple does not emit.
Apple publishes no record of which apps are unavailable in which of its App Stores. For the removals it makes on a government's demand it publishes the agency and the law behind every one — 2,045 of the 166,899 apps it removed during 2025 — and never which app. Where a reason reaches the public at all, it is usually because a developer chose to say so. Apple's App Store Transparency Report
Know of a statement, notice or order we have missed? Tell us →
Merge Photos - Fuse Retouch
Developer: FanTengMu Tianjin Technology Co., Ltd. · Category: Photo & Video · Released: May 30, 2017 · Rating: 2.3★
Other Photo and video apps missing from mainland China
Life of this app
- May 30, 2017Released on the App Store
- Apr 22, 2019First tested by AppleCensorship
- Oct 15, 2020Last seen available anywhere
- Nov 12, 2022Gone from 118 storefronts
- Sep 16, 2026Most recent test
Testing history
One column per month, every month from the first reading to the last. Height follows how many readings we took that month; red is the share of them that found the app unavailable. An empty month is one nobody tested.
Found availableFound unavailable
Availability by storefront
Every storefront we test, current status first. Data is a measurement, not a promise: each row carries its own date.
| Test now | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AfghanistanAF | Unavailable | Aug 12, 2026 | 37 days ago | ||
| AlbaniaAL | Unavailable | Jun 9, 2025 | 15 months ago | ||
| AngolaAO | Unavailable | Apr 20, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| AnguillaAI | Unavailable | Jun 8, 2022 | 15 months ago | ||
| Antigua & BarbudaAG | Unavailable | Jul 5, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| ArgentinaAR | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 16 months ago | ||
| AustraliaAU | Unavailable | Oct 11, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| AzerbaijanAZ | Unavailable | Mar 28, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| BahamasBS | Unavailable | Feb 21, 2023 | 13 months ago | ||
| BahrainBH | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 14 months ago | ||
| BelgiumBE | Unavailable | Feb 27, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| BelizeBZ | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 9 months ago | ||
| BeninBJ | Unavailable | Oct 7, 2024 | 7 months ago | ||
| BermudaBM | Unavailable | Aug 5, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| BhutanBT | Unavailable | Oct 8, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Bosnia & HerzegovinaBA | Unavailable | Nov 22, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| British Virgin IslandsVG | Unavailable | Apr 12, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| BruneiBN | Unavailable | Dec 15, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| BulgariaBG | Unavailable | Nov 4, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Burkina FasoBF | Unavailable | Apr 12, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| CambodiaKH | Unavailable | Mar 31, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| CameroonCM | Unavailable | Nov 1, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| Cape VerdeCV | Unavailable | Apr 12, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| Cayman IslandsKY | Unavailable | Apr 26, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| ChileCL | Unavailable | Jan 29, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| China (Mainland)CN | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 5 months ago | ||
| Costa RicaCR | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 6 months ago | ||
| Côte d’IvoireCI | Unavailable | Nov 6, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| CroatiaHR | Unavailable | May 2, 2022 | 16 months ago | ||
| Dominican RepublicDO | Unavailable | Mar 28, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| DR CongoCD | Unavailable | Jul 29, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| El SalvadorSV | Unavailable | Feb 7, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| EstoniaEE | Unavailable | Apr 10, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| EswatiniSZ | Unavailable | Feb 9, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| FijiFJ | Unavailable | Jun 25, 2026 | 3 months ago | ||
| FranceFR | Unavailable | Dec 29, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| GabonGA | Unavailable | Aug 19, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| GeorgiaGE | Unavailable | Nov 30, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| GermanyDE | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 1 year ago | ||
| GhanaGH | Unavailable | Mar 6, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| GrenadaGD | Unavailable | Jun 20, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| GuatemalaGT | Unavailable | Jan 27, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| GuyanaGY | Unavailable | May 18, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| HondurasHN | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 37 days ago | ||
| Hong KongHK | Unavailable | Nov 2, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| IndonesiaID | Unavailable | Jun 2, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| IraqIQ | Unavailable | Sep 16, 2026 | 2 days ago | ||
| IsraelIL | Unavailable | Aug 2, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| ItalyIT | Unavailable | Feb 9, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| JamaicaJM | Unavailable | Feb 7, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| JordanJO | Unavailable | Feb 7, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| KazakhstanKZ | Unavailable | Feb 9, 2022 | 6 months ago | ||
| KenyaKE | Unavailable | Oct 22, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| KyrgyzstanKG | Unavailable | Mar 23, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| LebanonLB | Unavailable | Nov 30, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| LiberiaLR | Unavailable | Jul 7, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| LibyaLY | Unavailable | Oct 19, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| LithuaniaLT | Unavailable | Jan 24, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| LuxembourgLU | Unavailable | May 2, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| MacaoMO | Unavailable | Dec 2, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| MadagascarMG | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| MalaysiaMY | Unavailable | Nov 6, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| MaldivesMV | Unavailable | Feb 13, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| MaltaMT | Unavailable | Jan 24, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| MauritiusMU | Unavailable | May 3, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| MexicoMX | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 1 year ago | ||
| MicronesiaFM | Unavailable | Mar 1, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| MongoliaMN | Unavailable | Feb 23, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| MoroccoMA | Unavailable | Jun 25, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| MozambiqueMZ | Unavailable | Feb 14, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| Myanmar (Burma)MM | Unavailable | Nov 21, 2022 | 6 months ago | ||
| NauruNR | Unavailable | Jul 10, 2024 | 2 days ago | ||
| NepalNP | Unavailable | Dec 2, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| NetherlandsNL | Unavailable | Jun 24, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| New ZealandNZ | Unavailable | Jan 5, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| NicaraguaNI | Unavailable | Jan 14, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| NigerNE | Unavailable | Aug 17, 2023 | 4 months ago | ||
| North MacedoniaMK | Unavailable | Jun 27, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| NorwayNO | Unavailable | Apr 12, 2022 | 12 months ago | ||
| PakistanPK | Unavailable | Jun 20, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| PalauPW | Unavailable | Nov 21, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| PanamaPA | Unavailable | Feb 20, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| Papua New GuineaPG | Unavailable | Jan 29, 2022 | 15 months ago | ||
| PhilippinesPH | Unavailable | Sep 3, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| PolandPL | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 14 months ago | ||
| PortugalPT | Unavailable | Jan 30, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| QatarQA | Unavailable | May 18, 2022 | 13 months ago | ||
| Republic of the CongoCG | Unavailable | Apr 2, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| RussiaRU | Unavailable | Mar 15, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| RwandaRW | Unavailable | Jun 24, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| São Tomé & PríncipeST | Unavailable | Mar 14, 2026 | 6 months ago | ||
| SenegalSN | Unavailable | Jul 17, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| SerbiaRS | Unavailable | Nov 12, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| SeychellesSC | Unavailable | Dec 24, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| SingaporeSG | Unavailable | Feb 24, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| SlovakiaSK | Unavailable | Apr 28, 2026 | 5 months ago | ||
| Solomon IslandsSB | Unavailable | Jun 26, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| South AfricaZA | Unavailable | Aug 19, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| South KoreaKR | Unavailable | Jan 14, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| St. Vincent & GrenadinesVC | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| SwitzerlandCH | Unavailable | Jun 8, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| TaiwanTW | Unavailable | Jun 8, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| TanzaniaTZ | Unavailable | Dec 27, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| ThailandTH | Unavailable | Jul 3, 2026 | 3 months ago | ||
| TongaTO | Unavailable | Nov 12, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| Trinidad & TobagoTT | Unavailable | Dec 15, 2023 | 3 years ago | ||
| TurkmenistanTM | Unavailable | Jan 31, 2024 | 3 years ago | ||
| Turks & Caicos IslandsTC | Unavailable | Jan 19, 2023 | 4 years ago | ||
| UkraineUA | Unavailable | Mar 15, 2022 | 2 years ago | ||
| United Arab EmiratesAE | Unavailable | Dec 2, 2022 | 2 days ago | ||
| United StatesUS | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 2 days ago | ||
| UruguayUY | Unavailable | Mar 15, 2022 | 15 months ago | ||
| UzbekistanUZ | Unavailable | Feb 14, 2022 | 3 years ago | ||
| VanuatuVU | Unavailable | Nov 16, 2022 | 4 years ago | ||
| VenezuelaVE | Unavailable | Sep 20, 2023 | 2 years ago | ||
| YemenYE | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 2 days ago | ||
| ZambiaZM | Unavailable | May 15, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| ZimbabweZW | Unavailable | Jan 10, 2022 | 3 months ago | ||
| AlgeriaDZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ArmeniaAM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AustriaAT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BarbadosBB | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BelarusBY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BoliviaBO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BotswanaBW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BrazilBR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CanadaCA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ChadTD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ColombiaCO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CyprusCY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CzechiaCZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| DenmarkDK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| DominicaDM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EcuadorEC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EgyptEG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FinlandFI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GambiaGM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GreeceGR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Guinea-BissauGW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| HungaryHU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IcelandIS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IndiaIN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IrelandIE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JapanJP | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KosovoXK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KuwaitKW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LaosLA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LatviaLV | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MalawiMW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MaliML | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MauritaniaMR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MoldovaMD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MontenegroME | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MontserratMS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NamibiaNA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NigeriaNG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| OmanOM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ParaguayPY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PeruPE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| RomaniaRO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Saudi ArabiaSA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Sierra LeoneSL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SloveniaSI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SpainES | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Sri LankaLK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| St. Kitts & NevisKN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| St. LuciaLC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SurinameSR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SwedenSE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TajikistanTJ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TunisiaTN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TürkiyeTR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UgandaUG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| United KingdomGB | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VietnamVN | Not tested | — | — | 0 |
Testing asks Apple whether it will sell this app in that storefront, right now, by the same method the crawler has used since 2019. Your browser asks Apple directly, so the answer describes what Apple serves your connection — and if your browser cannot reach Apple at all, we ask on your behalf and say so. The result is a link: open it to see Apple's own answer and check ours. Readings are added to the record above; roughly a quarter of the readings taken each day come from people testing.
How we test
Availability is checked against Apple's own catalog servers for every storefront, the same way the App Store app asks. "Unavailable" means Apple's servers say the app cannot be offered in that country — it does not say who asked for the removal. Removals initiated by the developer and removals demanded by governments look the same from outside; the history and context on this page are how we tell them apart.