Apple Plans iPhone-to-Windows Copy and Paste in EU After Microsoft Request

[MacRumors]

Apple is working on a new feature that will support cross-device copy and paste between iOS devices and Windows PCs.

Microsoft asked for the feature using Apple's EU interoperability request system for developers, which Apple implemented to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Apple began evaluating the request in March, and on June 26, proposed a project plan.

Microsoft described how the feature would be used:

• Copy text or other supported content on their iPhone and paste it directly on their Windows PC, and vice versa.
• Perform common productivity workflows without needing to foreground an app or take explicit repeated actions to initiate a transfer.
• Experience clipboard synchronization as a lightweight, continuous capability rather than a manual, app-driven operation.

Apple proposed a solution that would let an iPhone share and import items from the pasteboard to a paired accessory, like a Windows PC. Apple plans to use a solution similar to the Accessory Notifications option it added for third-party wearables in the EU in iOS 26.5. Users would need to give a paired device one-time permission to paste content from an iPhone.

To adopt this solution, you will need to adopt AccessorySetupKit in order for the user to consent to the necessary permissions allowing the pasteboard to be shared with your accessory. This solution will require the user to perform a one-time consent to sharing the pasteboard with each paired accessory that will receive this functionality.

Right now, an app can only read an iPhone's clipboard if the app is actively running in the foreground and the user grants clipboard access with each copy/paste action. For its own devices, Apple has a Universal Clipboard feature with cross-device copy and paste between iOS and macOS.

Microsoft complained that the clipboard restrictions imposed on apps prevent the continuous synchronization of clipboard content from an iPhone to a PC or other connected device in the background.

Apple says introducing cross-device copy and paste is a significant engineering effort, with work expected to be complete by fall 2027. It will be shipped first in a developer beta for testing ahead of a public release. If the feature is added toward the end of fall 2027, it could be early 2028 before the public gets access.

It is likely that cross-device copy and paste will be limited to iPhone and Windows users in the European Union, though it is possible Apple could implement it worldwide.

Apple has brought some features it was required to support under the DMA to all countries, like eSIM transfers from iPhone to Android and simpler data transfers when switching between Android devices and iPhones. Other features, like AirPods-style pairing and notification forwarding for third-party wearables, have only rolled out in the EU.

Article Link: Apple Plans iPhone-to-Windows Copy and Paste in EU After Microsoft Request

 

[szw-mapple fan]

That's great, it'll save me from having to use messaging to send text back and forth on the rare occasions that I use my PC. I hope this also works for mac to PC

 

[ratspg]

Who remembers when Apple was the underdog and rushed to release a new macOS every year with amazing new features. Now? Let's gate everything until governments force us to add features that are useful to all! LOL

 

[SteveJobsOfficial]

End of the world as we know it according to the people foaming at their mouth frantically with rage every time anything like this is brought up.

 

[iPopHeaps]

I think Wallace would call this “a valuable addition to our modern lifestyle, Grommit”.

 

[tarkeybear]

Cool idea! I'm sure Apple will incorporate some guardrails to prevent malicious code from being uploaded from a PC to the iPhone (or vice versa)?

 

[cubeover]

They want to see what we copy in the Apple ecosystem. Passwords, wallet addresses etc.

 

[AppleTO]

Apple proposed a solution that would let an iPhone share and import items from the pasteboard to a paired accessory, like a Windows PC.

Paired how exactly…? Over Bluetooth? Or some app that has to be running on both systems?

Not that I’m in the EU, but I’d much prefer AirDrop to PC functionality.

 

[jole]

I hope this also works for mac to PC

MacOS is not a DMA gatekeeper platform, so this is unlikely.

Windows is a DMA gatekeeper platform, so maybe copy from Windows to Mac will come to be... in EU.

(Yes, this is ridiculous)

 

[Sean J]

Perhaps Apple will follow Microsoft design philosophy, so that paste from iOS to Windows only works when v3 is released…

 

[Plutonius]

As the article stated, it might be EU only.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

It's sad how Apple has no backbone anymore and just kowtows to the EU. How long until the EU makes us all switch to USB-D connectors, and Apple just goes along with it, like they did USB-C?

 

[Starfia]

This is turning out to be such a win for those smaller developers that would otherwise have trouble competing.

 

[CarAnalogy]

OMG yes please do this.

I am so tired of trying to talk Windows users through installing Microsoft Authenticator and having to explain go to the app store, ignore all the flashing ads.

Go to search.

Search for Microsoft Authenticator.

It will be sandwiched between two prominent ads, look carefully.

Make sure it's the real one, published by Microsoft Corporation.

If I could just have them copy and paste the link to their iPhone it would be so much better.

Literally the only reliable way to get to the right app on the App Store anymore is by direct link.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

It appears the EU is focused on making the iPhone as widespread as possible. Makes sense, even with lower marketshare, businesses in the EU make more money from iOS users than Android. The “competition” they were going for is all about ensuring there is no competition for Apple 🙂

 

[Unregistered 4U]

It's sad how Apple has no backbone anymore and just kowtows to the EU. How long until the EU makes us all switch to USB-D connectors, and Apple just goes along with it, like they did USB-C?
View attachment 2649918

Apple switched to USB-C when they said they would. Ten years to the month after saying that Lightning would be the connector for a decade.

 

[ersan191]

"Significant engineering effort" lol

2+ years to implement.

 

[Böhme417]

I really wish they would make AirDrop work between Apple devices and Windows. It's just so annoying getting files off my phone to my work computer. I'm tired of having to Slack or email them to myself or upload them to OneDrive.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Cool idea! I'm sure Apple will incorporate some guardrails to prevent malicious code from being uploaded from a PC to the iPhone (or vice versa)?

The EU regulators don’t understand “safety”. If someone gets malicious code this way, they can thank the EU regulators🙂

 

[klasma]

Nice. Now some company should request this for Linux as well.

 

[canadianreader]

Nice. Now some company should request this for Linux as well.

Try Localsend it’s open source and cross platform for sending files, folders and copy paste texts

 

[Unregistered 4U]

OMG yes please do this.

I am so tired of trying to talk Windows users through installing Microsoft Authenticator and having to explain go to the app store, ignore all the flashing ads.

Go to search.

Search for Microsoft Authenticator.

It will be sandwiched between two prominent ads, look carefully.

Make sure it's the real one, published by Microsoft Corporation.

If I could just have them copy and paste the link to their iPhone it would be so much better.

Literally the only reliable way to get to the right app on the App Store anymore is by direct link.

Which is why one exists.

how to setup microsoft authenticator app in my ios phone - Microsoft Q&A

please help

learn.microsoft.com

I don’t think I’ll ever understand folks the App Store search to find stuff. 🙂

 

[fenderbass146]

Would I personally like this? Yes.

Do I think the EU is garbage and shouldn't dictate stuff like this to companies. Also yes.

 

[klasma]

Try Localsend it’s open source and cross platform for sending files, folders and copy paste texts

It requires both devices to be on the same local network, which isn’t necessary for Apple’s cross-device C&P feature, and likely won’t be required for what Microsoft wants either.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Which is why one exists.

how to setup microsoft authenticator app in my ios phone - Microsoft Q&A

please help

learn.microsoft.com

I don’t think I’ll ever understand folks the App Store search to find stuff. 🙂

I'll be honest, in the moment I usually just abandon that idea and go another route, but it didn't occur to me to go to the trouble to generate a QR code for the URL.

Why, oh why, does neither Apple nor Microsoft just do that directly?