Apple is working on Live Activities support for third-party accessories in Europe with iOS 26.5. Here are the details.
iOS 26.5 Will Be an Unusually Intensive Update
Earlier today, we reported that the system includes a new "Suggested Places" feature in Apple Maps and new App Store options for in-app subscriptions.
Now, we can confirm that Apple is working on providing Live Activities support for third-party accessories.
According to new code introduced in iOS 26.5 beta 1, Apple will release a framework called AccessoryLiveActivities that will allow accessories to receive and display Live Activities from an iPhone.
Like the notification forwarding feature, this capability will only be available to users in the European Union, as part of Apple's compliance with the EU Digital Markets Act.
To enable this feature, users will be asked to grant permission for an accessory to receive Live Activities from their iPhones. The system will present an authorization window stating that Live Activities "may contain personal information such as app names and app content, health data, location data, and purchase history."
From here, users will be able to select which apps are allowed to share Live Activities with the accessory or grant full access. The company states that full access will apply to all current and future apps installed on the device.
Apple has not yet published documentation or publicly announced this feature. It is unclear which accessories will support this, but those adopting notification forwarding are thought to be among the first.
Products Worth Browsing on Amazon
- David Pogue – 'Apple: The First 50 Years'
- MacBook Neo
- Logitech MX Master 4
- AirPods Pro 3
- AirTag (2nd Generation) – 4 Pack
- Apple Watch Series 11
- Wireless CarPlay Adapter
Comments
(7 Comments)