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

Apple successful iOS 26.2 volition disable automatic Wi-Fi web syncing betwixt iPhone and Apple Watch successful the European Union to comply with the bloc's regulations, suggests a caller report.


Normally, erstwhile an iPhone connects to a caller Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the web credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the ticker to link to the aforesaid web independently – for example, erstwhile the iPhone isn't adjacent – without the idiosyncratic needing to participate the password manually.

The feature's removal appears to beryllium Apple's effect to the European Commission's Digital Markets Act (DMA) interoperability requirements, which Apple has publicly criticized connected more than 1 occasion. Under the DMA, regulators privation Apple to unfastened iPhone Wi-Fi hardware entree to third-party accessories by the extremity of 2025.

The year-end compliance deadline coincides with adjacent month's merchandise of iOS 26.2. But alternatively than comply with the requirement, Apple is seemingly disabling the diagnostic wholly for EU users. Apple reportedly confirmed the determination to French work Numerama.

In presumption of the applicable impact, it's apt to beryllium constricted for astir users. Apple Watch volition surely inactive link to Wi-Fi networks erstwhile the paired iPhone is nearby, but users whitethorn beryllium required to manually link to Wi-Fi by typing successful the password erstwhile the iPhone is retired of range. Afterwards, the Wi-Fi network's credentials volition presumably beryllium stored connected the watch.

Apple has antecedently warned that complying with EU interoperability requirements could springiness "data-hungry companies" entree to delicate information, including notification contented and implicit Wi-Fi web histories. Apple has explicitly called retired Meta for making aggregate unreasonable interoperability requests nether the DMA that if allowed could compromise idiosyncratic information and privacy.

Apple filed an appeal against the interoperability rules astatine the EU's General Court successful Luxembourg connected May 30, targeting the Commission's March decision that requires Apple to marque iOS much compatible with rival products including smartwatches, headphones, and VR headsets.
This article, "Apple to Remove iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi Sync successful EU With iOS 26.2" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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