August 4, 2026, 1:44 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Apple is working on a feature that will enable copying and pasting between iPhones and Windows PCs. This is based on a request from Microsoft through Apple’s interoperability system in the EU, which the company had to introduce following the Digital Markets Act. The solution is expected to be ready by fall 2027.
Microsoft Demands Access to System Interfaces
Microsoft submitted the request to Apple back in March 2026, as discovered by “MacRumors.” The company stated that “cross-device copying and pasting […] is a frequently requested productivity feature.” Apple devices have the so-called universal clipboard, which allows copy and paste between iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. This works with both text and a variety of file formats.
In its request, Microsoft criticized the current state: “Third-party platforms cannot offer a comparable experience with their devices due to restrictions on clipboard access in iOS.” Unlike Apple’s universal clipboard, PC users must actively consent to each copy operation. According to Microsoft, Apple’s support is necessary for implementing a seamless copy-and-paste function, as the required system interfaces are not available.
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Apple has moved Microsoft’s request to the next phase of its interoperability process after assessing its feasibility. In an update on June 26, the company announced what the solution will look like in the future. The planned implementation is similar to the notification forwarding that Apple introduced in the EU with iOS 26.5 for third-party wearables.
Microsoft must adopt Apple’s developer framework AccessorySetupKit. The framework “allows seamless, privacy-friendly user consent and control over permissions for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the local network.” Based on this, Microsoft can develop an extension “that allows clipboard content to be exchanged and imported with paired accessories.”
This solution requires only a one-time user consent to share the clipboard with a paired accessory. However, Apple anticipates a high development effort for implementation. The company plans to implement it by fall 2027, initially as a beta for developers. Depending on when the beta is ready, it could be released with iOS 28 as early as the end of 2027 or with iOS 29 in fall 2028.
Why Does Apple Have to Work for Microsoft?
Apple must partially open its iPhone and iPad ecosystem to third parties in the EU because the company is considered a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The law aims to promote fair competition and prevent Apple from favoring its own services and products over competitors.
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The interoperability requirements of the DMA oblige Apple to grant third parties access to certain functions of iOS and iPadOS that were previously reserved mainly for Apple products. This is intended to ensure that devices and apps from other manufacturers can work as seamlessly with iPhones and iPads as Apple’s own products. As in the current case, third parties can submit requests to Apple to open up the systems, which the company must implement if technically possible.