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EU’s DMA forces Apple to remove iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi sync for EU users

MacDailyNews

Nov 6

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Apple plans to disable automatic Wi-Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch for users in the European Union starting with iOS 26.2, according to a new report. This change is intended to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates that Apple provide third-party accessories with access to iPhone Wi-Fi hardware by the end of 2025.

The iOS 26.2 update, expected next month, aligns with that deadline. Instead of enabling third-party interoperability, Apple has chosen to remove the feature entirely for EU devices. The company reportedly confirmed this approach to French outlet Numerama.

Apple has previously criticized the DMA’s stringent regulations, arguing they could compromise user privacy and security.

Tim Hardwick for MacRumors:
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Normally, when an iPhone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the network credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the watch to connect to the same network independently – for example, when the iPhone isn’t nearby – without the user needing to enter the password manually.
Apple Watch will surely still connect to Wi-Fi networks when the paired iPhone is nearby, but users may be required to manually connect to Wi-Fi by typing in the password when the iPhone is out of range. Afterwards, the Wi-Fi network’s credentials will presumably be stored on the watch.
Apple has previously warned that complying with EU interoperability requirements could give “data-hungry companies” access to sensitive information, including notification content and complete Wi-Fi network histories.
Apple filed an appeal against the interoperability rules at the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg on May 30, targeting the Commission’s March decision that requires Apple to make iOS more compatible with rival products including smartwatches, headphones, and VR headsets.

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MacDailyNews Take: Meddling EU autocrats, not Apple, forced this feature loss on EU users.

The Law of Unintended Consequences is ironclad. – MacDailyNews, February 14, 2024

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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]

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