Katarzyna Petru
Apple is introducing another restriction for users from the European Union. With the update iOS 26.2, the company will disable automatic Wi-Fi network synchronisation between the iPhone and Apple Watch – a feature that has made life easier for users of the Apple ecosystem for years.
End of Convenient Synchronisation
Until now, when the iPhone connected to a new Wi-Fi network, it shared the login details with the paired Apple Watch. This allowed the watch to use the same connection independently, even when the phone was out of range.
With the rollout of iOS 26.2, this feature will be completely disabled in EU countries. Apple confirmed the decision to the French site Numerama.
Official reason: EU law, not technical limitations
The change is meant to be a result of compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) – a regulation that requires Apple to enhance the interoperability of its devices with products from other companies. According to the regulations, by the end of 2025, Apple should enable access to hardware features of the iPhone, such as Wi-Fi modules, for accessories outside its own ecosystem.
Instead of opening this access, Apple has chosen to remove the feature entirely, thus avoiding changes to the system's architecture.
What will the effects be for users?
For most people, the change won't be drastic – the Apple Watch will still connect to Wi-Fi when the iPhone is nearby. However, when the phone is out of range, the user will have to manually enter the network password directly on the watch. After that, the data will be stored locally, so the process will only need to be repeated once for a given network.
Apple vs Brussels
The giant from Cupertino has long criticised the DMA regulations, warning that forced interoperability may violate user privacy and security. According to the company, “data-hungry” entities like Meta are demanding access to sensitive information – including notification content and Wi-Fi connection history.
Apple has already filed an appeal to the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg, challenging the European Commission's decision from March, which requires the company to open the iOS ecosystem to competitive devices, including smartwatches, headphones and VR headsets.
New regulations, new restrictions
Although Apple explains the change as a concern for privacy, many users see it as yet another example of how the company sidesteps EU regulations rather than adapting to them. As a result, consumers lose convenient solutions that previously worked seamlessly.
