The European Commission today announced a long list of changes that Apple is legally required to implement in future iOS 19 and iOS 20 updates. The announcement clarifies the interoperability requirements that Apple must comply with in the EU under the Digital Markets Act, which will be fully implemented from March 2024. These changes will further open up the iPhone and its technology to competing companies and devices, something Apple is very unhappy about.
Some key items are as follows:
Third-party smartwatches must be able to display and interact with iOS notifications by the end of 2025, which could mean iOS 19.2 or earlier.
Apple has until June 1, 2026 to provide automatic audio switching to third-party headphones, which may mean iOS 19.4 or earlier. The feature allows most AirPods and certain Beats to automatically switch connections between Apple devices such as Macs and iPhones.
Apple must make changes to iOS by June 1, 2026, to allow third parties to provide equivalent AirDrop alternatives.
Apple must make changes to iOS to allow third parties to provide equivalent AirPlay alternatives before iOS 20 or the end of 2026.
Before iOS20, Apple had to meet certain requirements.
The entire list of changes can be found on the European Commission's website.
Apple criticized the requirements as "harmful to our products and to European users." "Today's decision wraps us in red tape, slows Apple's ability to innovate for European users, and forces us to give away new features for free to companies that don't have to play by the same rules," Apple said in a statement.
iOS19 will be released at WWDC2025 in June this year, and iOS20 will be released a year later.