Apple Pressures Tencent and ByteDance Over App Fees in China

Apple Inc. is ramping up pressure on Tencent Holdings Ltd. and ByteDance Ltd. to make fundamental changes to China’s most popular apps, an unusual move that may inflame tensions in the world’s largest smartphone market.

The iPhone maker in recent months has demanded the two companies close loopholes that their in-app creators employ to funnel users to external payment systems, circumventing Apple’s typical 30% commission, according to people familiar with the matter.

In May, the US firm warned Tencent it may reject essential WeChat updates unless the developer eradicates links that mini-game developers use to accept payment off Apple’s platform, ...