Apple is currently testing new features that will enhance interoperability with third-party wearables in the European Union as part of its compliance efforts under the Digital Markets Act.
New Pairing and Notification Features
The company is developing AirPods-like pairing and notification forwarding capabilities for non-Apple wearable devices. These features were first introduced in iOS 26.3 and have been continuously refined through subsequent beta versions, including the latest iOS 26.5.
Live Activities Forwarding
The update also includes a new feature that allows for the forwarding of Live Activities to third-party wearable devices, expanding the scope of notification forwarding beyond traditional alerts.
Simplified Pairing Process
- Bringing earbuds close to an iPhone or iPad will initiate a one-tap pairing process similar to AirPods.
This simplifies the process for users, eliminating the need for multiple steps to pair third-party devices with their Apple smartphones and tablets.
Notification Forwarding
- Third-party accessories like smartwatches will be able to receive notifications from iPhones.
This feature allows users to view and interact with incoming messages directly on their third-party wearables, a capability previously exclusive to the Apple Watch. However, notifications can only be forwarded to one connected device at a time, meaning enabling this for a non-Apple watch will disable it on an Apple Watch.
Developer Testing
Developers are now able to test third-party TVs, smartwatches, and headphones with these new options. The notification forwarding and proximity pairing features will be exclusive to device makers and users in the EU.
元記事: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/30/apple-airpods-like-pairing-notification-forwarding/