According to 9to5Mac, the first iOS 26.3 beta reveals Apple’s initial user interface for complying with an upcoming EU Digital Markets Act rule on notification forwarding. The new setup, found under Settings > Notifications, will let users select a single third-party device to receive notifications forwarded from their iPhone. This groundwork has been in place since iOS 26.1, but the public framework for it isn’t yet documented as Apple hasn’t released an iOS 26.3 SDK. A key limitation is that the feature only works with one accessory at a time, and it will disable notifications on the user’s Apple Watch while active. During setup, Apple will explicitly warn that forwarded data includes the app name and all notification content, from messages to medical alerts.
Apple’s Privacy Playbook
Here’s the thing: this is classic Apple when faced with regulatory mandates it disagrees with. They implement the letter of the law, but in the most controlled, caveat-filled way possible. They’ve been vocal, like in their newsroom post, about the privacy risks of exposing notification data. So now, the user experience itself becomes the warning label. By making it a binary choice (your third-party gadget or your Apple Watch, not both) and front-loading the data disclosure, they’re framing the feature as a potential security compromise. It’s a strategic move. They’re technically compliant, but they’re also making sure users feel the weight of the decision.
What It Means For Users And Makers
For users in the EU, this is a double-edged sword. You’ll finally get the choice to see your iPhone alerts on, say, a competing smartwatch or a non-Apple smart display. That’s genuine progress for interoperability. But the one-device limit is a huge practical constraint. It basically kills the idea of having notifications mirrored to multiple screens in your home or office. And let’s be honest, how many people will willingly turn off their Apple Watch notifications to enable this? For accessory makers, the new public framework is the key. Once it’s live, they can finally build this in. But they’ll be building on Apple’s terms, into an ecosystem where the iPhone itself is telling customers to be wary of sharing data with them. It’s an open door, but Apple’s standing in the doorway giving you a suspicious look.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about notifications. It’s another battle in the long war between platform control and regulatory forced-opening. Apple’s approach shows how a giant can comply while still defending its ecosystem’s integrity and its own accessory sales. The warning language is careful—it states facts but, as 9to5Mac notes, stops short of explicitly calling it a “threat” in the UI. That’s a legal and PR tightrope. So, will this actually lead to a flourishing market for new notification-compatible devices in Europe? Or will it remain a niche feature for the truly dedicated? I think the restrictive implementation suggests Apple is betting on the latter. They’ve built the lane, but they’ve made it pretty narrow.
