Apple has introduced a new Notification Forwarding feature in iOS 26.3 beta 1. The update lets third-party accessories show notifications from your iPhone. As a result, Apple is preparing iOS for the upcoming European Union rules that require broader access to notifications.
At the same time, the change signals a shift in how iPhone notifications work outside Apple’s own devices. Until now, Apple Watch has handled this role almost exclusively. Now, you can expect other accessories to join in.
Why Apple is adding Notification Forwarding
First, the European Union’s Digital Markets Act requires Apple to open key system features to third-party hardware. Because of this, Apple must allow external devices to access user notifications.
Apple has publicly raised concerns about privacy and security.
Apple says notification data can include message content, emails, medical alerts, and other sensitive information. Apple also argues that this data would go to companies that even Apple itself cannot fully access today.
How Notification Forwarding works
Now, you can find Notification Forwarding under Settings, then Notifications. From there, you can choose one third-party accessory to receive notifications from your iPhone.
Next, you control which apps are allowed to forward notifications. This setup works much like per-app notification controls on Apple Watch. You decide what gets shared and what stays on your phone.
Key limitation you should know
Importantly, Notification Forwarding supports only one accessory at a time. When you turn it on, notifications will stop appearing on your Apple Watch.
During setup, Apple clearly tells you that notifications include app names and full content. Even so, Apple avoids framing the feature as a direct privacy risk.
For now, Notification Forwarding remains limited, but it marks a major change. Over time, you can expect more accessories to take advantage of it as Apple expands support.
