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Apple Tests iOS 26.3 Notification Forwarding for Third‑Party Wearables

The beta signals Apple's effort to comply with the EU DMA under simultaneous DOJ scrutiny of limits on third‑party smartwatch access to iPhone notifications.

Overview

  • iOS 26.3 beta adds a Notification Forwarding setting that can send iPhone alerts to a non‑Apple accessory.
  • Users pick a single device for forwarding, and Apple Watch notifications are paused while the feature is active.
  • Per‑app controls let users choose which apps can forward, and forwarded alerts include the app name and full notification content.
  • Apple flags privacy risks tied to exposing messages, emails, medical alerts and other notification data to third parties.
  • The feature sits atop a new AccessoryNotifications framework that appears in the beta but lacks public SDK documentation for developers.