Apple Drops iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi Sync in EU With iOS 26.2
▼ Summary
– Apple will disable automatic Wi-Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the EU with iOS 26.2 to comply with regulations.
– This feature normally allows the Apple Watch to automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks the iPhone has joined without manual password entry.
– The removal is Apple’s response to the Digital Markets Act, which requires opening iPhone Wi-Fi hardware to third-party accessories by 2025.
– Users in the EU will need to manually enter Wi-Fi passwords on their Apple Watch when the iPhone isn’t nearby, though credentials will be stored afterward.
– Apple has appealed the EU’s interoperability rules, warning they could compromise user security and privacy by giving data-hungry companies access to sensitive information.
In a significant change for European users, Apple is set to remove the automatic Wi-Fi network syncing feature between iPhone and Apple Watch with the upcoming iOS 26.2 update. This adjustment is widely seen as a direct response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which mandates greater hardware interoperability for major tech platforms.
Typically, when an iPhone joins a new Wi-Fi network, it seamlessly shares those login details with a paired Apple Watch. This handy function lets the watch connect to the internet on its own, such as when the phone isn’t nearby, without requiring the user to type in the password. With this capability gone in the EU, Apple Watch owners will need to manually enter Wi-Fi passwords on their watch whenever their iPhone is not in range to facilitate the connection. After the initial manual setup, the watch should remember the network for future use.
The decision stems from DMA rules that compel Apple to open its iPhone’s Wi-Fi hardware to third-party accessory makers by the close of 2025. Rather than modifying its system to allow this access, Apple has chosen to disable the automatic syncing feature altogether for customers in EU member states. The company reportedly informed the French outlet Numerama about this change.
Apple has repeatedly voiced strong opposition to certain DMA interoperability requirements, warning that they could potentially allow what it describes as “data-hungry companies” to access private user information. The company has specifically mentioned Meta, pointing to what it calls unreasonable requests that might risk user security and privacy.
On May 30, Apple formally challenged the EU’s interoperability rules by filing an appeal with the General Court in Luxembourg. This legal action contests a March ruling from the European Commission that orders Apple to improve compatibility between iOS and competing devices like smartwatches, wireless earbuds, and virtual reality headsets.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
