Apple’s locked-down streaming setup could loosen in iOS 27, with a new report claiming that users may get the option to set Google Cast or another third-party protocol as the default way to send video, photos and audio from an iPhone to a TV or speaker.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on his Power On newsletter:
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“Apple, looking to satisfy the latest requirements of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, is building support into iOS 27 for third-party AirPlay streaming alternatives, I’m told. This means that outside services, such as Google Cast, can be set by users as the default solution for beaming video, photos and audio from an Apple device to a speaker or TV.”
AirPlay has long been the native route for streaming from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to supported speakers, TVs and Apple TV devices, but Google Cast remains far more common in many hotels, shared spaces and Android-heavy homes.
If Apple adds this support at a system level, users would not need every app to build its own workaround. A Cast-supported TV or speaker could appear as a native destination inside iOS, making media sharing more practical in places where AirPlay support is missing.
The EU will likely get it first
The change appears tied to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which already pushed Apple to allow third-party app stores and sideloading in the region.
That regional link matters because Apple has not always expanded DMA-related features worldwide. Users outside the EU should keep expectations low until Apple confirms broader availability.
For now, the iOS 27 AirPlay alternatives story points to a small but meaningful shift: iPhone streaming could become less dependent on Apple-only hardware in Europe.
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