Overview
- Code in iOS 26.5 beta 1 adds an AccessoryLiveActivities framework that lets third-party devices display Live Activities from an iPhone.
- Apple is also testing AirPods-style proximity pairing and the ability to forward iPhone notifications to third-party wearables.
- The features are limited to the European Union as part of DMA compliance, and the European Commission expects a rollout in 2026.
- New developer terms in section 3.3.3(J) ban using forwarded data for ads, profiling, model training, or location tracking.
- Apple’s rules lock data to the receiving device, require user permission with per-app controls, and allow forwarding to only one accessory at a time, which turns off Apple Watch notifications when enabled.