Apple to Remove iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi Sync in EU With iOS 26.2

[MacRumors]

Apple in iOS 26.2 will disable automatic Wi-Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the European Union to comply with the bloc's regulations, suggests a new report.

Normally, when an iPhone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the network credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the watch to connect to the same network independently – for example, when the iPhone isn't nearby – without the user needing to enter the password manually.

The feature's removal appears to be Apple's response to the European Commission's Digital Markets Act (DMA) interoperability requirements, which Apple has publicly criticized on more than one occasion. Under the DMA, regulators want Apple to open iPhone Wi-Fi hardware access to third-party accessories by the end of 2025.

The year-end compliance deadline coincides with next month's release of iOS 26.2. But rather than comply with the requirement, Apple is apparently disabling the feature entirely for EU users. Apple reportedly confirmed the decision to French publication Numerama.

In terms of the practical impact, it's likely to be limited for most users. Apple Watch will surely still connect to Wi-Fi networks when the paired iPhone is nearby, but users may be required to manually connect to Wi-Fi by typing in the password when the iPhone is out of range. Afterwards, the Wi-Fi network's credentials will presumably be stored on the watch.

Apple has previously warned that complying with EU interoperability requirements could give "data-hungry companies" access to sensitive information, including notification content and complete Wi-Fi network histories. Apple has explicitly called out Meta for making multiple unreasonable interoperability requests under the DMA that if allowed could compromise user security and privacy.

Apple filed an appeal against the interoperability rules at the EU's General Court in Luxembourg on May 30, targeting the Commission's March decision that requires Apple to make iOS more compatible with rival products including smartwatches, headphones, and VR headsets.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple to Remove iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi Sync in EU With iOS 26.2

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Another result for the European Commission, again demonstrating how their hard work benefits the everyday European.

/s

I bought this Audi and the engine blew up. Why can't I use a BMW engine in it? Oh yeah, precious EU company.

 

[tomtad]

"But rather than comply with the requirement, Apple is apparently disabling the feature entirely for European users. Apple reportedly confirmed the decision to French publication Numerama."

Of course they are. I don't know why it's so hard for these tech companies to follow legislation in the markets they operate in without throwing tantrums.

 

[jdavid_rp]

I don’t really know what they’re disabling. It’s like to sync like photos and music via the WiFi network instead or something like airplay or Bluetooth?

 

[ItsASpider]

Yet again, this is not a problem for any other OEM, but when Apple has to do it, suddenly it is impossible because their entire eco-sytem's security is a fragile pos according to Apple.

 

[BlankStar]

I don’t really know what they’re disabling. It’s like to sync like photos and music via the WiFi network instead or something like airplay or Bluetooth?

When your iPhone connects to a new WiFi network, it syncs the credentials to the watch so it can connect to that network when the iPhone isn't nearby. That sync is being disabled.
-----------------
I love a lot that the EU does, but this stuff is going too far... People are free to not buy Apple products so please stop creating these stupid rules.

 

[ridgero]

Another result for the European Commission, again demonstrating how their hard work benefits the everyday European.

/s

I bought this Audi and the engine blew up. Why can't I use a BMW engine in it? Oh yeah, precious EU company.

The funny thing is that you bash the EU, but it protects users' rights in many areas and also standardises useful things. If it weren't for the EU, there probably still wouldn't be USB C on the iPhone.

 

[ToothBlueth]

At some point it will result in Apple losing customers if they take this anti-consumer stance. Just let people have their mix of brands and services, instead of only offering this techno-autocracy.

 

[jimothyGator]

"But rather than comply with the requirement, Apple is apparently disabling the feature entirely for European users. Apple reportedly confirmed the decision to French publication Numerama."

Of course they are. I don't know why it's so hard for these tech companies to follow legislation in the markets they operate in without throwing tantrums.

Because the legislation sucks and is anti-privacy, anti-consumer. I applaud Apple for not bowing to the EU’s every demand.

These regulations aren’t promotedby consumers or consumer advocates. Instead, they are lobbied for by competitors and other corporations, like Meta and Epic Games, who pitch their own tantrums that they can’t invade the privacy of iPhone users or get free access to platforms Apple has spent billions on.

This is a classic case of baptists and bootleggers: astroturf movements claim to be fighting for some moral cause (the baptists), when really it’s driven by commercial interests (the bootleggers) who stand to benefit financially from regulator capture.

FU, EU.

 

[revs]

On one hand, I get it, on the other - why not something along the lines of "Allow X to share Wifi Credentials" option similar to how they have done with contacts and other things that involve data sharing?

 

[Moukee]

I don't even care if it's the EU going too far or Apple being a crybaby about it, if the end result of all this are products that are worse and worse, I'll eventually stop buying them.

 

[tridley68]

Damn Europeans go messing things up again

 

[surferfb]

If they don’t remove the feature, then they have to create an API to give your complete WiFi history to any accessory maker who asks for it. Like Meta.

Can’t possibly imagine why Apple thinks that’s bad for its users’ privacy.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

The funny thing is that you bash the EU, but it protects users' rights in many areas and also standardises useful things. If it weren't for the EU, there probably still wouldn't be USB C on the iPhone.

The EU has only made it harder to grow businesses, it's why it's pretty much creatively stagnant and has been for over two decades.

Couldn't care less about USB-C on my iPhone, if anything it just wasted money because I had to replace all my perfectly functional Lightning cables. Now I have a load of now useless Lightning cables that can't easily be recycled. Such a win. I can see why it would be useful to others, but didn't bother me at all.

 

[foobarbaz]

Because the legislation sucks and is anti-privacy, anti-consumer. I applaud Apple for not bowing to the EU’s every demand.

Please do explain how it would be anti-privacy or anti-consumer to share Wifi passwords with other smart watches I own after my approval?

Apple just doesn't want to put in the extra work to build an API for that. It's their right. The regulation does create extra work for them, and there's no reason they have to do it. Except customer demand. If they cut features, people will eventually buy from someone who doesn't.

But calling something that asks the most powerful company in the world work a little harder anti-consumer is a stretch.

 

[Hajj.david]

The funny thing is that you bash the EU, but it protects users' rights in many areas and also standardises useful things. If it weren't for the EU, there probably still wouldn't be USB C on the iPhone.

Oh yes thank the mighty EU for making it an arm wrestling contest for every single god damn website I visit to remove popups asking about coookies.

Yes great stuff

 

[switz]

Maybe make a device that just makes calls with NO other features. Then see if that is allowed in the EU.

 

[surferfb]

Yet again, this is not a problem for any other OEM, but when Apple has to do it, suddenly it is impossible because their entire eco-sytem's security is a fragile pos according to Apple.

Other OEMs don’t care about your privacy. Apple does.

 

[StuBeck]

On one hand, I get it, on the other - why not something along the lines of "Allow X to share Wifi Credentials" option similar to how they have done with contacts and other things that involve data sharing?

That would be too easy. I'm not sure why their answer to everything is just to shut it down, its not like this has worked very well for them in the future.

 

[switz]

Maybe make a device that just makes calls with NO other features. Then see if that is allowed in the EU. Pperhaps have a rotary dial so no patents are in play.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Please do explain how it would be anti-privacy or anti-consumer to share Wifi passwords with other smart watches I own after my approval?

Apple just doesn't want to put in the extra work to build an API for that. It's their right. The regulation does create extra work for them, and there's no reason they have to do it. Except customer demand. If they cut features, people will eventually buy from someone who doesn't.

But calling something that asks the most powerful company in the world work a little harder anti-consumer is a stretch.

You think allowing your entire wi-fi history to be accessible to other vendors isn't a big privacy issue? The amount of detail about your life that can be gathered from that information would be astronomical.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

Yet again, this is not a problem for any other OEM, but when Apple has to do it, suddenly it is impossible because their entire eco-sytem's security is a fragile pos according to Apple.

It’s competition. They don’t want other to connect to the iPhone. It’s not that hard to understand. They will give in where they have to give in

 

[foobarbaz]

If they don’t remove the feature, then they have to create an API to give your complete WiFi history to any accessory maker who asks for it. Like Meta.

Can’t possibly imagine why Apple thinks that’s bad for its users’ privacy.

Come on. If a user buys a 3rd party device and syncs it to their phone, they certainly approve sharing the Wifi password. Why would they buy the device, if they didn't plan to connect it to the network? They would just enter it manually anyway, and that extra friction benefits Apple (a little bit).

In this case, the privacy angle is just propaganda. Wifi passwords are not monetizable data. Nobody is offering free services in exchange for a Wifi password. (But there's certainly other sharing features where I'd agree with it.)

 

[jdavid_rp]

The funny thing is that you bash the EU, but it protects users' rights in many areas and also standardises useful things. If it weren't for the EU, there probably still wouldn't be USB C on the iPhone.

Yeah, the EU parliament may take wrongs paths sometimes (I don’t know here, could apple just make an API?) but overall I’m quite happy with the EU. I can travel with my national ID with no extra charges in my phone bill for internet use, check what a company knows about me, got discounts around the Union for transport and museums for being student/young.
That and consumer rights, health care covered…

All that in exchange of losing this and some AI features? Deal and deal

 

[iBluetooth]

The funny thing is that you bash the EU, but it protects users' rights in many areas and also standardises useful things. If it weren't for the EU, there probably still wouldn't be USB C on the iPhone.

There are still several different electric plugs in EU, their focus on tech companies looks like populism.