Apple is developing a way for iPhone users to copy text or other supported material on their phones and paste it on Windows computers, extending a convenience that has largely been limited to Apple’s own devices.
The work follows an interoperability request from Microsoft under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, according to technology reports and Apple’s public process for handling such requests. The law requires designated technology gatekeepers to provide certain competitors with effective access to operating-system features.
Apple already offers Universal Clipboard between compatible iPhones, iPads, Macs and Vision Pro devices signed in to the same Apple account. Windows users can connect iPhones through Microsoft’s Phone Link, but clipboard synchronization has not offered the same automatic cross-platform experience available within Apple’s ecosystem.
Key details remain unsettled, including which data types will be supported, the security model, the devices and software versions required and whether the feature will be available outside the European Union. Apple has not announced a public release date.
The development illustrates how European competition rules are affecting consumer technology beyond app stores and payments. Apple has argued that some interoperability mandates create privacy and security risks, while European regulators say the rules can expand consumer choice without requiring companies to lower security standards.
Sources: Gizmodo, Apple Developer documentation and Apple Support. Published Aug. 4, 2026.
