Normally, when an iPhone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the network credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the watch to connect to the same network independently – for example, when the iPhone isn’t nearby – without the user needing to enter the password manually.
The feature’s removal appears to be Apple’s response to the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) interoperability requirements, which Apple has publicly criticized on more than one occasion. Under the DMA, regulators…
Normally, when an iPhone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the network credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the watch to connect to the same network independently – for example, when the iPhone isn’t nearby – without the user needing to enter the password manually.
The feature’s removal appears to be Apple’s response to the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) interoperability requirements, which Apple has publicly criticized on more than one occasion. Under the DMA, regulators want Apple to open iPhone Wi-Fi hardware access to third-party accessories by the end of 2025.
[…]
Apple has previously warned that complying with EU interoperability requirements could give “data-hungry companies” access to sensitive information, including notification content and complete Wi-Fi network histories.
It seems perfectly reasonable that if I have a third-party watch I should be able to opt into having my phone share Wi-Fi info with it. You can debate whether mandating this is the proper role of government, but the status quo is clearly anti-competitive and bad for the user experience. I’m open to hearing a story where Apple’s position makes sense, but so far it just seems like FUD to me. What is the argument, exactly? That Fitbit, which already has its own GPS, is going to sell your access point–based location history? That Facebook is going to trick you into granting access to their app even though they have no corresponding device?
Of course, what they mean is “Apple refuses to let third party watches share known wifi connections, so they’d rather cut off their nose to spite their face.”
At this point I don’t know where Apple will draw the line if they now even touch existing features, albeit not a very big one. I just can’t fathom how leadership still cannot see that they lost.
Previously:
- Apple’s Thoughts on the DMA
- Apple Appeals EU Digital Markets Act Interoperability Rules
- DMA Compliance: Watch and Headphone Interoperability
- Apple Restricts Pebble From Being Awesome With iPhones
- Can Anyone But a Tech Giant Build the Next Big Thing?
Antitrust Apple Watch Digital Markets Act (DMA) European Union iOS iOS 26 Legal Privacy Strategy Tax watchOS 26 Wi-Fi