IOS 26.1 Beta Suggests Third‑Party Watch Support

Code in the iOS 26.1 developer beta reveals an unreleased “Notification Forwarding” feature that would let iPhones push notifications to a non‑Apple accessory and an AccessoryExtension framework that appears intended to simplify pairing with third‑party smartwatches and wearables. The beta strings indicate notifications can be forwarded to only one accessory at a time and that enabling the feature would stop notifications from appearing on a paired Apple Watch. The framework strings are incomplete, so Apple may not ship the functionality with iOS 26.1 (expected in October). Reporting says the changes are likely driven by regulatory pressure from the EU’s Digital Markets Act, so initial availability could be EU‑focused even if Apple later expands it more widely. Overall, the beta signals a potential shift toward greater iPhone interoperability with third‑party wearables, but rollout timing, regional limits, and exact capabilities remain uncertain.