Apple Confirms iPhone-to-Windows Clipboard Sync After Microsoft's EU Interoperability Request

Дата публикации: 10-08-2026 06:06:11

Apple says it will build a system that lets iPhone users copy content and paste it directly onto a Windows PC.
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Apple says it will build a system that lets iPhone users copy content and paste it directly onto a Windows PC. The move follows a request Microsoft filed under the EU's Digital Markets Act, according to details on Apple's EU interoperability portal.

When finished, the feature will let users copy on either device and paste on the other without opening an app first. Apple aims to complete the engineering work by fall 2027, with a public release expected no earlier than early 2028. The feature will be available only to EU users.

Apple has not said if it will release the feature in other regions, including the United States.

iPhone-to-Windows Clipboard Sync: What It Does

Right now, iOS only lets third-party apps read the clipboard when they are running in the foreground, and users have to approve each paste action. Apple's Universal Clipboard already moves content between iPhones, Macs, and iPads, but it does not work with Windows.

The planned system would remove these limits for copying between devices. Users would grant permission once for each Windows PC, and after that, clipboard content would sync automatically in both directions in the background.

Microsoft filed its request, case number FB22329535, on March 25, 2026, through Apple's online portal for EU interoperability requests, which processes submissions under Article 6(7) of the Digital Markets Act.

Apple responded on April 27, agreeing to advance the case to the next stage of its review. At the time, the company said it had not yet determined whether the request would affect its intellectual property or compromise the security of its operating system.

Apple confirmed on June 26 that it would proceed with development, describing the undertaking as a "significant engineering effort."

How iPhone-to-Windows Clipboard Sync Would Work

Apple said its planned solution would follow the pattern of the Accessory Notifications and Accessory Live Activities frameworks introduced with iOS 26.5. A developer's extension would receive a notification whenever a user copies content to the iPhone clipboard, then relay that content to a paired device using the Accessory Transport Extension framework.

Microsoft will need to use Apple's AccessorySetupKit framework for the feature to work. This framework manages user consent for each paired device. Once permission is granted for a Windows PC, clipboard content syncs automatically in the background.

In its original filing, Microsoft outlined three use cases. It asked to let users copy text or other content on an iPhone and paste it on a Windows PC, and the reverse.

It asked that the process work without bringing an app to the foreground or repeating manual steps. And it asked that clipboard syncing operate as a continuous background capability rather than a manual, app-driven action.

Microsoft described its intent as "not to replace or replicate Apple's system experience," seeking instead a basic level of cross-device productivity users already expect between their devices.

Release Timeline, EU Scope, and Open Questions

Apple aims to finish the engineering work by fall 2027, with a developer beta to follow. If the schedule holds, the feature will likely arrive with iOS 28, but Apple has not confirmed which version will include it. A public release is not expected before early 2028.

Apple is building the feature to meet its obligations under the Digital Markets Act, so it will launch only for EU users. There is no commitment to release it in other regions.

The AccessorySetupKit requirement mirrors the process behind a separate EU interoperability request Meta filed for AirPods-style pairing support across a user's iPhones and iPads. Meta has separately objected to the same consent framework Microsoft must now use for its clipboard feature.

Apple was one of six companies the European Commission designated as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act in September 2023. That designation requires Apple to review and respond to interoperability requests such as Microsoft's through its dedicated portal.

Microsoft's Phone Link app already connects Windows PCs to iPhones for calls, messages, and contacts. However, features like seamless clipboard access are still limited to Android devices.

Apple has not confirmed which iOS version will include the feature, and the fall 2027 engineering target could change. It is also unclear if Apple will extend the feature beyond the EU, or how Meta's objection to the AccessorySetupKit consent framework might affect the rollout. A public release is not expected before early 2028, and Apple has not given a firm date.

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