Apple has confirmed it is working on a new feature that will support cross-device copy and paste between iOS devices and Windows PCs, a change that follows a formal interoperability request from Microsoft. The move comes under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires gatekeepers like Apple to open up their ecosystems to third-party solutions.
Microsoft submitted its request through Apple's developer interoperability system, which was established to comply with the DMA. Apple began evaluating the request in March and proposed a detailed project plan on June 26. According to sources close to the negotiations, the plan outlines a solution that will allow users to copy text, images, and other supported content directly from their iPhone and paste it onto a Windows PC, and vice versa.
The technical approach chosen by Apple is based on a mechanism similar to the Accessory Notifications option it introduced for third-party wearables in the EU in iOS 26.5. To use the new feature, users will need to grant one-time permission to the paired device to access the shared clipboard. From a development perspective, integrators will need to adopt AccessorySetupKit, the framework that manages user consent for sharing the pasteboard with an accessory.
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Currently, an app can only read an iPhone's clipboard if it is running in the foreground and the user grants clipboard access with each copy and paste action. This limitation was central to Microsoft's complaint, which pointed out that it prevents continuous background synchronization of clipboard content, a key requirement for productive workflows across devices. With the new system, synchronization will be a lightweight, continuous capability rather than a manual, app-driven operation.
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A Significant Engineering Effort That Will Take Years
Apple has described the implementation of cross-device copy and paste as a significant engineering effort, with work expected to be complete by fall 2027. The feature will first ship in a developer beta for testing ahead of a public release. If it rolls out toward the end of fall 2027, public availability could slip to early 2028.
This timeline reflects the complexity of ensuring a seamless experience across two very different platforms like iOS and Windows while maintaining high standards for privacy and security. The solution will need to comply with European data protection regulations, especially since the clipboard can contain sensitive information.
Adoption Likely Limited to the EU
The feature is likely to be initially limited to iPhone and Windows users in the European Union, where regulatory pressure is strongest. However, Apple has historically extended some DMA-driven features globally, such as eSIM transfers from iPhone to Android and simplified data transfer from Android devices. Other features, like AirPods-style pairing and notification forwarding for third-party wearables, have remained EU-only.
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This news comes at a time when regulatory scrutiny on Apple is high, not only in Europe but also in the United States, where the Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the company for alleged monopolistic practices. In this context, interoperability has become a central theme for regulators worldwide.
For those following Apple's ecosystem developments, this move connects with other recent initiatives, such as integrating Google Drive with ChatGPT and Gemini to boost AI with personal files. Additionally, cybersecurity experts have recently highlighted growing risks related to personal data protection, as demonstrated by the UK data breach that exposed over 100,000 police profiles.
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The prospect of universal copy and paste between iPhone and Windows represents a step forward toward greater interoperability in the digital world. Users will finally be able to eliminate the cumbersome intermediate steps required to transfer text or images between their devices, enhancing productivity and daily usability.
While waiting for final details, it is clear that regulatory pressure is pushing Apple to reconsider its closed policies, opening up scenarios that seemed unlikely until recently. Once available, this feature will serve as a test of how tech companies adapt to an evolving regulatory landscape.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-iphone-windows-copy-paste
