Apple’s ongoing efforts to comply with the EU’s DMA may soon bring the removal of a key feature. A new report says that iOS 26.2 will drop EU support for iPhones syncing Wi-Fi networks to Apple Watch.
Wi-Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch may be disabled with iOS 26.2 in the EU
Yesterday Apple announced that AirPods Live Translation will launch in the EU with iOS 26.2.
It first arrived in the US and elsewhere with iOS 26, but Apple said: “Live Translation on AirPods was delayed for users in the EU due to the additional engineering work needed to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act.”
Alongside that news, however, it seems iOS 26.2 may also bring a feature regression for EU users.
Apple told French publication Numerama that in iOS 26.2, iPhone won’t be able to sync Wi-Fi details to Apple Watch like it can now. This is due to DMA requirements.
Here’s an excerpt translated into English:
Apple announced to Numerama that it had made the decision to disable Wi-Fi synchronization between an iPhone and an Apple Watch in Europe so as not to have to comply with the European Commission’s request, which wants to force it by the end of 2025 to open the iPhone’s Wi-Fi to third-party accessories.
The end of year deadline for compliance lines up with iOS 26.2’s release date next month. If Apple doesn’t disable Wi-Fi syncing, it will need to open Wi-Fi access to third-party accessories before then.
This isn’t a punitive or retaliatory move. Rather, Apple says it’s necessary to protect the privacy of its users.
... continue reading