Your Ultimate Guide to Pairing and Using Third-Party Wearables with iPhone in the EU (iOS 26.5)

Overview

With the release of iOS 26.5, European iPhone users can finally enjoy a seamless experience with third-party wearables—think non-Apple earbuds, smartwatches, and headphones—thanks to new interoperability features mandated by the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Previously, features like proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities were exclusive to Apple's own devices, such as AirPods and Apple Watch. Now, accessories from brands like Samsung, Google, or Sony can tap into these capabilities, provided they support the updates.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know: from checking prerequisites to completing the pairing process, enabling notification forwarding, and using Live Activities on your third-party wearable. We'll also cover common pitfalls and privacy considerations so you can make the most of these changes without surprises.

Prerequisites

Before you dive in, make sure you meet these requirements:

• iPhone running iOS 26.5 or later – The features are part of the final release, though preliminary testing began in iOS 26.3 betas.
• Apple ID registered to an EU country or region – The DMA compliance only applies within the European Union. If your account is set to a non-EU region, even if you're physically in the EU, you won't see the options.
• Compatible third‑party wearable – Accessory makers must add support for these features themselves. Not all existing devices will work; check with the manufacturer for firmware updates or look for products advertised as compatible with iOS 26.5 interoperability.
• Location within the EU – While your Apple ID region is the key, being physically in the EU also matters for some features (especially Live Activities that rely on local services).

Step‑by‑Step Instructions

Pairing Third‑Party Earbuds Using Proximity Pairing

Modern third‑party earbuds that support proximity pairing will now behave almost exactly like AirPods. Here's how to do it:

1. Ensure your iPhone has Bluetooth enabled and is unlocked.
2. Open the charging case of your earbuds (or bring them near the iPhone if they're already taken out).
3. A system notification should appear on your iPhone screen, showing a card with the name of the earbuds and a "Connect" button.
4. Tap Connect. The pairing completes automatically, often within seconds. No need to navigate to Settings > Bluetooth manually.
5. Once paired, the earbuds appear in your Bluetooth settings and can be managed like native accessories (e.g., renaming, choosing audio output).

Tip: If no pop‑up appears, make sure the earbuds are in pairing mode (refer to their manual) and that your iPhone's Bluetooth is active. Some older models may still require manual pairing via Settings.

Enabling Notification Forwarding to a Third‑Party Smartwatch

Interactive notifications—previously Apple Watch only—can now be forwarded to third‑party wearables. Follow these steps:

1. Install the companion app for your wearable (e.g., Samsung Galaxy Wearable, Google Pixel Watch app, etc.).
2. Pair your wearable via that app (this is still required for most watches).
3. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
4. Go to Notifications > Notification Forwarding (the exact name may vary in beta builds; look for "Forward to Wearables" under Bluetooth settings).
5. You'll see a list of connected third‑party devices that support this feature. Toggle the switch for the wearable you want to receive notifications.
6. If you have an Apple Watch paired, you'll see a warning: "Notifications can only be forwarded to one device at a time. Turning on forwarding for [wearable name] will disable notifications on Apple Watch." Confirm your choice.
7. Once enabled, your iPhone will push notifications—including interactive ones like reply, Like, or dismiss actions—to your third‑party watch. You can interact directly from the watch.

Note: Not all apps support interactive notifications; the feature works for apps that support notification actions on iOS. Check your wearable's companion app for compatibility.

Displaying Live Activities on Third‑Party Wearables

Live Activities (sports scores, ride‑sharing status, etc.) can now appear on third‑party smartwatches or even some headphones with screens. Here's how to enable it:

1. Ensure the wearable's companion app is installed and the device is paired.
2. Open Settings > Live Activities (or search for "Live Activities").
3. Find your wearable in the list and toggle on Allow Live Activities.
4. For each app that supports Live Activities, you may need to grant permission individually. Go to Settings > [App Name] > Live Activities and enable it.
5. Once active, a Live Activity (e.g., a running timer) will appear on your wearable's screen in a glanceable format, just like on the Apple Watch.

Important Privacy Restrictions (from Apple's Developer Program License):

• Forwarded notifications and Live Activities cannot be used for advertising, profiling, training AI models, or monitoring your location.
• The forwarded data cannot be sent to any other app or device besides the authorized wearable, nor can it be modified to "materially change the meaning."
• This means your wearable cannot share your notifications with its own cloud service or use them for its own analytics.

Common Mistakes

Mistaking Physical Location for Apple ID Region

The most frequent issue is assuming that being in the EU is enough. You must have your Apple ID set to an EU country/region. To check: go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > View Account > Country/Region. If it's not EU, you won't see the features even if you're standing in Paris.

Forgetting to Update the Wearable's Firmware

Even if your iPhone is on iOS 26.5, your third‑party accessory needs its own update to support proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities. Check the manufacturer's app for firmware updates. Without them, you'll get the old manual pairing and read‑only notifications.

Assuming All Third‑Party Wearables Work Out of the Box

While the features are available to any developer, not every accessory maker has implemented them yet. Early adopters may find only flagship devices (e.g., Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Pixel Watch 2) supporting these features. Always check the product specifications or contact the manufacturer.

Enabling Notification Forwarding While Wearing an Apple Watch

As Apple warns, notifications are forwarded to only one device at a time. If you enable forwarding to a third‑party watch, your Apple Watch will stop receiving notifications from your iPhone. You'll have to manually switch off forwarding to go back to the Apple Watch. Plan accordingly if you use both.

Overlooking Privacy and Data‑Use Restrictions

Some third‑party apps might try to collect more data than allowed. Apple's updated Developer Program License Agreement strictly prohibits using forwarded information for advertising, profiling, training models, or location monitoring. If you suspect a wearable is violating these terms, you should report it. Also, be aware that the notification content is encrypted in transit, but once on the wearable, its own security applies.

Summary

iOS 26.5 brings AirPods‑like proximity pairing, interactive notification forwarding, and Live Activities to third‑party wearables for EU iPhone users. To take advantage, ensure your Apple ID is set to an EU region, your accessory supports the new features, and you've installed any necessary firmware updates. Follow the pairing steps for earbuds, enable notification forwarding for watches (remember it's a one‑device limit), and activate Live Activities for a richer glance experience. Avoid common pitfalls like region misconfiguration or ignoring privacy restrictions. With these changes, Apple is opening its ecosystem to competition, giving you more choices while maintaining a high level of user control.