Apple loosens third-party device restrictions for the European Union with iOS 26.5

Apple has introduced new interoperability features for iPhone users in the European Union with the iOS 26.5 update. Thanks to the update, some functions specific to Apple Watch and AirPods models can now be used on third-party wearable devices. This step taken by the company is in line with the requirements of the European Union Digital Markets Act (DMA). Thus, users in the EU region will get a more comprehensive iPhone experience with non-Apple headphones, smart watches and similar accessories. The new features are currently limited to users with a valid Apple account in European Union countries.

One of the prominent innovations of the update was proximity-based fast pairing support for third-party headsets. Thanks to this system, which has been available in AirPods models for a long time, when users bring a supported headset closer to the iPhone, a one-touch connection interface will be displayed on the screen. Thus, the multi-step pairing process, which was previously performed manually through Bluetooth settings, will be significantly simplified. In addition, for the feature to work, accessory manufacturers must add the necessary support to their products. Therefore, it seems possible that the feature will not be available on all compatible devices at the same time.

The innovations offered by Apple are not limited to headphones only. Third-party smartwatches will now be able to handle iPhone notifications in a more advanced way. While previously these devices could only show readable notifications, interactive notification support is also offered with iOS 26.5. Users will be able to respond to incoming messages or take action on notifications. However, Apple only allows one device to receive notifications at a time. Therefore, when notification forwarding is enabled on a third-party smartwatch, notifications on Apple Watch will be disabled.

Live Event support expands to third-party devices with iOS 26.5

Another notable change within the scope of the update was the expansion of Live Activities support. Live Events on iPhone can now be viewed on third-party wearable devices. Thus, real-time content such as sports scores, delivery tracking, transportation information or timer can be followed on devices other than Apple Watch. This change, especially for Android-based smartwatch manufacturers, may pave the way for a more functional experience for iPhone users.

In addition, Apple has updated its developer license agreement in accordance with European Union regulations. Based on the information shared by the company, notifications and Live Event data cannot be used for advertising purposes, user profiling, artificial intelligence model training or location tracking. In addition, the data in question cannot be transferred to any other application or device other than the authorized accessory. Apple also does not allow data to be edited in a way that would “significantly alter” its meaning.

Apple had been testing these interoperability changes in beta versions for several months. The first trials started with iOS 26.3. With the release of iOS 26.5, the features are now available to all eligible EU users. On the other hand, the company continues to criticize the Digital Markets Act. Apple had previously stated that DMA regulations caused “alarming changes” in its products and services, and argued that this posed a risk in terms of user security and cross-device integration. Last year, the company called on European regulators to re-evaluate the DMA, and also claimed in a published study that the regulation did not create a price advantage for consumers.