Apple Warns: EU Regulations May Force a Downgraded iOS Version!

Since the launch of iOS 18 in September 2024, a feature sorely missed by macOS users in the European Union is the iPhone mirroring capability. For many months, Apple did not provide a clear explanation for its absence, sparking various speculations. However, the company has made it clear that this was not an oversight, and that legal constraints within the EU have forced them to disable this feature.

For those hoping to see this feature in macOS and iOS 26, you might want to temper your expectations: Apple announced during WWDC 2025 that it won’t be making the feature available in the EU anytime soon, as reported by Numerama. Worse still, Cupertino has publicly expressed its complaints about the European Union, offering specific reasons:

• The European Commission often changes its stance, and the rules are frequently updated, posing a significant risk of penalties.
• iPhone mirroring is a feature, not a service. According to current EU rules, Apple might be forced to include a similar feature for Android phones, or alternatively, the EU could demand its inclusion on Windows systems.
• Communicating with the EU is challenging, as the officials involved may not fully grasp the complexities of new technologies. In times of uncertainty, they tend to revert to a rigid and indiscriminate application of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
• If Apple were to offer iPhone mirroring, the risk of facing penalties or unfeasible demands that would require substantial investment or compromise the security of various operating systems is currently too high.

The iPhone as a Prime Target, with New Features in Jeopardy

While Apple is not the only company targeted by the European Commission’s repeated requests, it seems to receive a unique level of scrutiny, possibly due to its platform being perceived as more closed than others.

Apple Intelligence: Is the DMA truly to blame for delays in the European Union?

The DMA has not only blocked iPhone mirroring but has also led to the opening up of mobile payment options beyond the Apple Wallet app and the general unlocking of NFC on the iPhone. However, the European Commission wants to push further, demanding that Apple share Wi-Fi networks saved on iPhones with devices from other brands, and open up all its proprietary APIs that are currently exclusive to its products, allowing other manufacturers equal access.

macOS 15.4: European users still deprived of iPhone mirroring

While there is a distinction between services and features, with only the former typically being targeted, pre-installed apps are closely monitored by the EU. Apple states that it is doing everything possible not to remove existing features (contrary to persistent rumors, Apple does not plan to disable AirDrop in the EU), but new services might not make it to the continent.

Apple is fighting legally against the EU to continue offering the same services and features in Europe as it does in the rest of the world. However, the European Commission might enforce changes, and even though it seems unlikely for iOS 26, Apple suggests that in the future the commission might push them to offer a reduced version of iOS, especially as its competitors vigorously lobby the EU to penalize Cupertino.