According to 9to5Mac, Apple will remove iPhone to Apple Watch Wi-Fi network synchronization for European Union users in iOS 26.2 next month. This follows yesterday’s announcement that AirPods Live Translation will finally launch in the EU with the same update after being delayed from iOS 26’s initial release. Apple told French publication Numerama that the Wi-Fi sync removal is necessary to comply with Digital Markets Act requirements that would otherwise force Apple to open iPhone Wi-Fi access to third-party accessories by the end of 2025. The company claims this isn’t retaliatory but rather protects user privacy from competitors like Meta potentially accessing Wi-Fi connection histories. It’s not yet clear exactly how this will impact Apple Watch functionality when iPhones are out of range.
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Privacy protection or corporate stubbornness?
Here’s the thing – Apple‘s argument about protecting user privacy actually makes some sense. They’re claiming that if they have to replicate the iPhone-Watch Wi-Fi connection for third-party products, companies like Meta could potentially track your location history through your Wi-Fi connections. That’s a legitimate concern in an era where everyone’s fighting for every scrap of user data.
But let’s be real – this also feels like Apple being Apple. They’ve been fighting the EU’s DMA requirements tooth and nail, and this is just the latest skirmish. Remember when they initially tried to make third-party app stores so cumbersome that nobody would use them? This feels like another case of “fine, if we have to play by your rules, we’ll just remove the feature entirely.”
What EU Apple Watch users actually lose
So what does this mean in practice? Basically, your Apple Watch might struggle to maintain Wi-Fi connectivity when your iPhone isn’t nearby. Think about when you leave your phone at home but your watch stays connected to known networks – that seamless experience could disappear. The details are still fuzzy, but it sounds like the watch will still work fine when paired with your phone, but standalone Wi-Fi functionality takes a hit.
And here’s the kicker – this comes right as Apple finally brings AirPods Live Translation to the EU after delaying it from the original iOS 26 release. They specifically cited “additional engineering work needed to comply with DMA requirements” for that delay. So EU users get one feature back while losing another. Feels like a trade-off nobody asked for.
The bigger regulatory battle
This isn’t just about Wi-Fi sync – it’s about the fundamental tension between Apple’s walled garden and EU regulators pushing for more openness. The DMA wants Apple to treat third-party accessories the same as their own products, and Apple’s response is essentially “then nobody gets the nice features.”
Is this really about privacy, or is it about maintaining control over the ecosystem? Probably both. But the timing is suspicious – right at the end of 2025 deadline when they’d have to open up Wi-Fi access. They’re choosing to remove functionality rather than share it. That tells you everything about their priorities.
What’s next? Will we see more features get stripped from EU devices as these regulatory battles continue? It’s a worrying trend for users caught in the middle of this corporate-regulatory standoff. Follow 9to5Mac on Twitter for ongoing coverage as this develops.
