EU iPhone Users Get AirPods-Like Pairing and Notification Forwarding for Third-Party Wearables in iOS 26.5

[MacRumors]

iOS 26.5 introduces several interoperability changes for third-party wearables, which means European iPhone users have access to new capabilities when using non-Apple accessories.

To comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple is letting third-party wearables access some features that have historically been limited to the Apple Watch and AirPods.

• Proximity pairing - Third-party earbuds are able to use proximity pairing to connect to an iPhone, similar to the AirPods. Bringing a set of earbuds that support the feature near an iPhone will initiate an AirPods-like one-tap pairing process, so third-party wearables like earbuds will no longer require multiple steps to pair.
• iPhone notifications - Third-party accessories like smartwatches are able to receive notifications from the iPhone, and users are able to view and react to them. Interactive notifications from the iPhone have been limited to the Apple Watch, while third-party wearables have only been able to display read-only notifications. Notifications can only be forwarded to a single connected device at a time, so turning on notifications for a third-party wearable disables notifications on Apple Watch.
• Live Activities - Live Activities from the iPhone can be displayed on a third-party wearable, similar to how Live Activities are shown on an Apple Watch.

Accessory makers will need to add support for the interoperability updates, so they may not be available right away. Third-party TVs, smartwatches, and headphones will be able to use the features.

Apple has been testing the interoperability changes in betas for the last several months, starting with iOS 26.3, but they're available for all EU users with the launch of iOS 26.5.

Apple updated its Developer Program License Agreement to reflect the EU changes. Forwarded notifications and Live Activities cannot be used for advertising, profiling, training models, or monitoring location. Forwarded information can't be sent to any other app or device besides the authorized target accessory, nor can it be modified in a way that "materially changes the meaning."

Expanded support for third-party wearables is limited to iPhone users in the European Union with an Apple account set to an EU country or region.

Apple has warned that the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is forcing it to make "concerning changes" to its products and services in the EU, and exposing customers to new risks while also disrupting the way that Apple products work together. In September, Apple urged European regulators to scrap the DMA, and in November, it shared a study it commissioned that found the DMA has not resulted in lower prices for consumers.

Article Link: EU iPhone Users Get AirPods-Like Pairing and Notification Forwarding for Third-Party Wearables in iOS 26.5

 

[Meatwad]

I wonder how long before some "I told you so" hack where someone takes some Chinese device and it abuses this access....

 

[Adam-Jobs]

Good!

 

[fbadini]

Please Mr. Carl Pei update Nothing Headphones (a)

 

[Spock]

I wonder how long before some "I told you so" hack where someone takes some Chinese device and it abuses this access....

I don't think that it is a real concern, I think Apple is just fear mongering to avoid implementing features that make other devices compete with the Apple eco system.

 

[yellowbunny]

Lucky people!

 

[Mr. Nice]

Thanks EU🏆🏁
Power to the people,
not to the Billion dollar Big techs👍

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

As a Fitbit user , how do I use those notifications replies ?

 

[Octavius8]

Si, it is actually possible?. It just a matter of willingness from Apple.

 

[Pitogyro]

How can anyone possibly be opposed to that? It’s great for consumers and for competition.

 

[bluecoast]

And now roll this out globally.

 

[TooMuchPhone]

I would love a non-apple watch...hope this comes to the United States.

 

[Reason077]

Why EU only? Now that they've done the work, surely these features would be of benefit to everyone? And a global rollout would likely mean more testing and less bugs from having multiple different software configurations in different regions.

 

[miq]

Wow, I didn’t realise A$$le deliberately crippled notification forwarding to third-party devices (In my case, Garmin FR965). Just another reason for me to despise this company and get the hell out of the ecosystem.

 

[mihighil]

“Concerning changes”…damn they are so petty, this just makes them look bad.

 

[dropadrop]

Si, it is actually possible?. It just a matter of willingness from Apple.

Not sure they would classify as willing…

 

[JoeG4]

I wonder how long before some "I told you so" hack where someone takes some Chinese device and it abuses this access....

lol I was reading the article and pondering how long it'd take before someone said something bad about it.

 

[Syrianos82]

Thanks EU🏆🏁
Power to the people,
not to the Billion dollar Big techs👍

But we still don’t get iPhone mirroring here in Europe… sad

 

[Alpha Centauri]

The EU is a strange animal with such rulings. Meanwhile in Germany, certain features aren't allowed:

1. Live Voicemail
2. Phone call recording
3. iPhone mirroring

3. Live translation wasn't initially supported but seems to be now.

 

[gigatoaster]

Vive l’Europe, like we say in my country.

 

[SnowPenguin]

Europeans are lucky in a way. I hope some of these changes go to the rest of the world, but so far, many of them did not.

 

[surferfb]

Why EU only? Now that they've done the work, surely these features would be of benefit to everyone? And a global rollout would likely mean more testing and less bugs from having multiple different software configurations in different regions.

Apple has repeatedly stated that they think these features are bad for their users’ privacy and security. If they truly believe that, then that’s why they’re not rolling it out.

Understand most on MacRumors think that’s FUD, but that’s what Apple says.

 

[Trusteft]

Thanks EU🏆🏁
Power to the people,
not to the Billion dollar Big techs👍

*Trillion(s).

 

[BombDialog]

Third-party accessories like smartwatches are able to receive notifications from the iPhone, and users are able to view and react to them

If this includes iMessage that’s fascinating and may be a first?

 

[JSDK]

As an EU citizen, it's nice to have the option. However, I'm going with a classic automatic watch on my wrist, so I would rather have the option of iPhone Mirroring on my Mac, as well as the option to record a conversation - this will probably never be possible in the EU.