iOS 26.1 update hints that Apple may be opening its walled garden to third-party smartwatches: Here’s what we know

Apple released its latest iOS 26.1 Developer beta update on Tuesday, bringing in support for more languages for its Apple Intelligence features along with some UI improvements.

However, a new report by Macworld has now found that the iPhone maker could finally be working on making third-party wearables more compatible with iOS in the future.

The report found ‘some notable under-the-hood changes’ in a snippet of code in iOS 26.1 that shows Apple’s willingness to make its software more compatible with third-party accessories and smartwatches.

What is Apple planning?

Reportedly, the iOS 26.1 beta code includes an unreleased feature called ‘Notification Forwarding,’ which could allow users to choose to show notifications from their iPhone on their non-Apple device or accessory.

After the feature is released, it could be enabled in the Settings menu.

However, another string of code suggests that notifications may only be forwarded to “one accessory at a time” and enabling the new option would disable notifications on the Apple Watch.

The iOS 26.1 beta also includes some references to new frameworks related to accessory pairing called “AccessoryExtension,” which could provide users with an easier method for pairing their third-party device with an iPhone.

The report also cautions that the new features for third-party accessories may not be available in all regions and could solely be available for users in the European Union.

The new features could be a reaction to two decisions made by the European Commission in March, which specify how Apple must make iOS more interoperable with third-party developers and device makers and require that third-party accessories get support for iPhone notifications.

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