Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

iOS 26.5 adds Live Activities support for third-party accessories in the EU

read original get Live Activities iOS SDK → more articles
Why This Matters

Apple's iOS 26.5 introduces support for Live Activities in third-party accessories within the EU, enhancing real-time information sharing between iPhones and compatible devices. This development underscores Apple's compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act and signals a move toward more integrated, context-aware accessory experiences for consumers. It also highlights ongoing privacy considerations, giving users control over which apps can share Live Activities data with accessories.

Key Takeaways

Apple is working on support for Live Activities in third-party accessories with iOS 26.5 in Europe, according to new code seen by 9to5Mac. Here are the details.

Earlier today, we reported that the system includes a new “Suggested Places” feature on Apple Maps, and new App Store options for in-app subscriptions.

Now, we can confirm that Apple is working on introducing support for Live Activities in third-party accessories.

Based on new code introduced in iOS 26.5 beta 1, Apple will release a framework called AccessoryLiveActivities , which will allow accessories to receive and display Live Activities from an iPhone.

Like the notification forwarding feature, this will only be available to users in the European Union, as part of Apple’s compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

To enable the feature, users will be prompted to grant an accessory permission to receive Live Activities from their iPhone. The system will present an authorization dialog explaining that Live Activities may include “app names and app content, which may contain personal information such as your health data, location data, and purchasing history.”

From there, users will be able to choose which apps will be allowed to share Live Activities with the accessory, or grant full access, which the company warns will apply to all current and future apps installed on the device.

Apple has not yet published documentation or announced the feature publicly. While it’s unclear which accessories will support it, those that adopted notification forwarding may be among the first.

Worth checking out on Amazon