iOS 26.1 beta suggests iPhone notifications may soon reach non-Apple smartwatches.

Apple has until the end of this year to open up most of these features.

Apple may enhance iPhone and third-party smartwatch interoperability with a new notification forwarding feature in iOS 26.1 beta, expected next month.

Sam Gupta2 hours agoLast Update : 2 hours ago

Latest iOS beta hints at notifications on non-Apple watches

www.theverge.com

Apple could soon improve interoperability between iPhones and third-party smartwatches with a new “notification forwarding” feature in iOS 26.1 beta, allowing iPhone notifications on non-Apple devices.

6 Key Takeaways

Apple could improve interoperability with third-party smartwatches.
iOS 26.1 beta hints at a “notification forwarding” feature.
Users can forward notifications to one device at a time.
Apple must comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
Apple has until the end of this year to comply.
Features may not be available outside the EU.

Fast Answer: iOS 26.1 beta hints at notification forwarding to third-party smartwatches.

Code suggests users would only be able to forward notifications to one device at a time. A new “AccessoryExtension” framework could enhance the pairing process with third-party accessories.

These features appear related to a European Commission order requiring Apple to improve compatibility with non-Apple accessories. Apple must comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) by the end of this year.

Under Investigation: Features may not be available with the expected launch of iOS 26.1 next month or for users outside the EU.

Originally reported by www.theverge.com as “Latest iOS beta hints at notifications on non-Apple watches” on 2025-09-24 18:09:00.