EU Mandate Forces Apple to Open iOS 26.5 to Third-Party Wearables: Proximity Pairing and Live Activities Arrive
Breaking: Apple Unlocks Key iPhone Features for Third-Party Wearables in EU
European iPhone users can now pair third-party earbuds with one-tap ease and receive interactive notifications on non-Apple smartwatches, thanks to iOS 26.5. The update, released today, brings proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities to accessories from brands like Samsung and Google.
"This is a direct result of the Digital Markets Act," said Dr. Elena Voss, a tech policy analyst at the Center for Digital Innovation. "Apple is finally allowing competitors to access the same core functionalities that have long been exclusive to AirPods and Apple Watch."
Key Changes at a Glance
- Proximity Pairing: Bringing compatible earbuds near an iPhone triggers a one-tap setup, eliminating multi-step Bluetooth procedures. This mirrors the AirPods experience.
- Notification Forwarding: Third-party smartwatches can now receive and let users interact with iPhone notifications. Previously, these were read-only on non-Apple wearables. Note: Only one device can receive notifications at a time—enabling a third-party watch disables Apple Watch forwarding.
- Live Activities: Real-time updates from iPhone, such as sports scores or delivery tracking, can now appear on third-party wearables, just as they do on Apple Watch.
Accessory makers must add support for these features, so availability may vary. Apple has been testing the interoperability in beta since iOS 26.3.
Background: The DMA’s Long Arm
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act forces “gatekeeper” platforms like Apple to ensure fair competition. For the Cupertino giant, this meant opening up iOS to third-party wearables in ways previously resisted. Apple has publicly criticized the DMA, calling it disruptive.
“The DMA is forcing concerning changes that expose customers to new risks and degrade the seamless integration users expect from Apple products,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
In September, Apple urged regulators to scrap the legislation. A commissioned study last November claimed the DMA has not lowered consumer prices. Despite these objections, compliance is mandatory for EU users with an Apple account set to an EU country.
What This Means for Users and Developers
For European consumers, the update means greater choice. They can now use popular non-Apple earbuds or smartwatches without sacrificing features like quick pairing or interactive alerts. Developers gain a larger potential audience for accessories that rival AirPods or Apple Watch.
However, Apple has placed restrictions: forwarded notifications and Live Activities cannot be used for advertising, profiling, AI training, or location monitoring. Data can only flow to the authorized accessory and cannot be materially altered. This limits how third-party makers can leverage the new access.
Analysts expect a surge in third-party wearable sales in the EU. “This levels the playing field,” said Voss. “But Apple will continue to fight the DMA in court while complying to avoid fines.”
The features are limited to the iPhone’s Settings > Bluetooth menu for pairing, and Notification settings for forwarding. For now, only one forwarded device is allowed at a time.
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