Apple’s iOS 26.3 beta 1 introduces a significant new feature: Notification Forwarding for third-party accessories. This update allows external devices, beyond the Apple Watch, to display notifications from your iPhone, paving the way for compliance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). This new functionality marks a shift in how iPhone notifications work outside Apple’s own ecosystem.
Why Apple is Adding Notification Forwarding
The EU’s Digital Markets Act mandates that Apple must open up its system features to third-party hardware. This includes allowing external devices, such as wearables, to access notifications that were previously restricted to Apple devices like the Apple Watch. This move is in response to regulatory pressure to ensure interoperability between Apple’s ecosystem and third-party accessories.
Apple has raised concerns about privacy and security in light of this change. Notifications often contain sensitive data, including messages, emails, and medical alerts, which could potentially be accessed by third-party companies, even ones outside Apple’s control. To mitigate risks, Apple has structured the Notification Forwarding feature to offer greater user control over which notifications are shared.
How Notification Forwarding Works
In iOS 26.3 beta 1, Notification Forwarding can be found under Settings > Notifications. Here, you can choose a third-party accessory (such as an Android smartwatch or third-party fitness tracker) to receive notifications from your iPhone.
Once this is set up, you can decide which apps are allowed to forward notifications. This works similarly to the per-app notification controls available on the Apple Watch. You’ll be able to pick and choose which apps send notifications to your accessory and which remain exclusive to your phone.
Key Limitation
Currently, Notification Forwarding supports only one accessory at a time. When enabled, notifications will stop appearing on your Apple Watch, if you have one. During the setup process, Apple will notify you that the forwarded notifications will contain app names and full content, which could include sensitive information.
What This Means for Users
While Notification Forwarding is still limited, it represents a major shift in how Apple is opening up iPhone functionalities to third-party devices. This feature may evolve over time, and we can expect more accessories to gain access to iPhone notifications in future updates. This feature also ensures that Apple complies with European regulations without compromising the user experience.
The Bottom Line
Notification Forwarding in iOS 26.3 beta 1 brings significant changes, offering third-party accessories access to iPhone notifications. While this feature is still limited to a single accessory at a time, it opens up opportunities for broader integration with other devices. This change comes in response to EU regulatory requirements but raises concerns about privacy and security, which Apple addresses through controlled notification sharing. As more accessories support this feature, we may see further developments.
