Apple is building a new tool that will allow third-party accessories to connect across your devices, just like its own audio products do today. This update means gear like the Ray-Ban glasses and Quest headsets from Meta could soon link to your iPhone and instantly become available on your iPad. The change stems from recent European tech regulations aimed at opening up closed software systems.
Apple responds to a request from Meta about easier pairing
In October 2025, Meta asked Apple to make its hardware easier to use across multiple screens. Under the European Union Digital Markets Act, the company requested that once a headset or pair of smart glasses connects to a single device, it should automatically work with a user’s other screens without needing extra setup.
Apple responded in February, agreeing to build a secure way for third-party apps to handle this process. The new system will use cryptographic materials and require a one-time permission from the user for each accessory. This upgrade aims to give outside hardware the same instant connection treatment that the AirPods and Apple Watch already enjoy.
The new software update might arrive by spring next year
Development of this new pairing tool is expected to wrap up by spring 2027. It will likely roll out as an update to iOS 27, though the exact version number is not yet confirmed. The technology relies on infrastructure built to satisfy European Commission rules, meaning it currently only functions within the European Union.
Meta pointed out a catch with this approach. To use the new system, Meta would have to drop its standard Bluetooth setup, which it uses everywhere else in the world. The company asked to separate the two methods, but Apple declined for now.
However, Apple mentioned it is still thinking about bringing this quick pairing support to countries outside of Europe in the future.
