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In the EU, AirPlay could lose its special status starting with iOS 27. According to a new report, Apple is working on allowing users to select Google Cast or other third-party protocols as the system-wide default for streaming – as the next step in complying with the Digital Markets Act.
Currently, streaming audio, video, or photos from iOS to a speaker or TV almost always involves AirPlay. With iOS 27, this could fundamentally change in the EU. According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on an interface that would integrate streaming protocols like Google Cast directly into the system – including the option to set them as the default. This would be the next step in a series of moves by which Apple is opening up interfaces, previously exclusive to third-party providers, to third-party developers in the EU.
What iOS 27 changes in terms of streaming
The report from the Power On newsletter describes a feature that supports third-party streaming protocols on iOS devices at the system level. This would allow AirPlay to be replaced as the default solution by an alternative service. Specifically mentioned is Google Cast, formerly known as Chromecast. Users would then be able to stream video, photo, and audio content from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac to compatible speakers and TVs – without going through AirPlay or using Bluetooth.
The implications extend beyond Google Cast. Theoretically, any manufacturer of smart speakers or streaming devices could natively integrate their own protocol into iOS. This creates a technical foundation on which Apple's devices can, for the first time, connect with competing streaming platforms at the system level.
Why Apple is taking this step
The opening up of AirPlay is not a voluntary product decision, but a direct response to the recent requirements of the Digital Markets Act. EU regulations oblige so-called gatekeepers like Apple to dismantle exclusive system advantages if they disadvantage competing services. AirPlay, as the only natively supported streaming protocol, falls into this category.
Apple is following a pattern already seen in other iOS adjustments. Features previously reserved exclusively for its own hardware are being gradually opened up to third-party providers in Europe – not globally, but specifically for the market where the regulatory requirement exists.
Presumably limited to the EU
According to the report, global availability is not expected. As with alternative app marketplaces, which have been available exclusively in the EU since iOS 17.4, the opening of streaming services is also likely to remain regionally limited. There is no explicit confirmation of this, but the parallel line of reasoning – DMA requirement rather than product choice – suggests it.
For users outside the EU, this means that AirPlay will remain the only system-wide streaming standard for the time being. Those who want to use Google Cast or other protocols will still have to rely on apps that establish this connection themselves.
How this changes everyday life
For many Apple users in Europe, the impact would be noticeable. Hotel TVs, conference room screens, and numerous smart TV models currently rely on Google Cast instead of AirPlay. So far, this has meant cumbersome, workarounds for streaming via individual apps or foregoing full functionality. Native integration in iOS 27 would eliminate this inconvenience in everyday use.
The effect would also be significant for manufacturers. Those who previously had the choice of either licensing AirPlay or excluding iOS users could in the future integrate their own protocols into iOS. This lowers the barrier for speakers, AV receivers, or TV streamers that are on the market without Apple certification.
Another piece of DMA architecture
The opening up of streaming capabilities is part of a series of adjustments Apple has made for the EU in recent iOS versions. These include opening up AirPods functionality to third-party wearables and preparing for sideloading mechanisms in markets like Brazil. Each measure addresses a different aspect of the previously closed iOS architecture. Together, they paint a picture of Apple dismantling its platform exclusivity in areas where regulators are exerting pressure.
The official unveiling of iOS 27 will take place at WWDC 2026. The keynote begins on June 8th at 7 PM CEST. Whether Apple will address the opening of streaming capabilities during the keynote or only reveal it in the accompanying developer documentation and beta phases remains to be seen. The exact rollout date – with the first iOS 27 version or in a later point update – is also not specified in the report. What other plans Apple has for iOS 27 will become clearer in the remaining weeks leading up to the event.
AirPlay is losing its home advantage – at least in Europe
For years, AirPlay was one of the strongest lock-in mechanisms in the Apple ecosystem. Anyone wanting to seamlessly connect a speaker or television needed Apple-certified hardware. With iOS 27, this advantage could end in the EU. For Apple, this is another compromise; for users, a bit more flexibility; and for competing platforms like Google Cast, the chance to connect to iOS devices for the first time without the Bluetooth workaround. (Image: Shutterstock / DANIEL CONSTANTE)
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