With iOS 27, Apple will finally let you try other streaming options beyond AirPlay
Apple is reportedly preparing one of the most surprising changes to iOS in years: support for third-party wireless streaming systems as alternatives to AirPlay. According to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman, iOS 27 will allow users in the European Union to choose services like Google Cast as their default option for streaming videos, photos, and audio from iPhones and iPads to TVs, speakers, and other connected devices.
The move is said to be part of Apple’s ongoing efforts to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a draconian regulation designed to limit the control large tech companies have over their platforms and ecosystem.
For years, AirPlay has been deeply integrated into Apple devices, making it the default way to send media wirelessly to all compatible hardware. Under the upcoming changes, users in the EU may finally be able to switch to competing technologies instead of relying entirely on Apple’s ecosystem.
Apple’s battle for the EU is getting bigger
The reported AirPlay changes come at a tense time between Apple and European regulators. The company is already forced to allow third-party app stores, alternative payment systems, and side-loading of software in the EU following the implementation of the DMA.
Now, Apple is accusing the European Commission of deliberately delaying approval of proposed compliance changes while it continues an investigation into the company’s App Store policies. The dispute escalated after Setapp, a third-party app marketplace created by MacPaw, announced plans to close its EU iOS market next month. MacPaw cited “complex business terminology” as one reason the model no longer makes financial sense.
Apple has vehemently denied suggestions that its policies caused the shutdown. In a public statement, the company accused the European Commission of using “political delay tactics” and said regulators failed to respond to proposed changes submitted by Apple months ago.
At the center of the dispute are the fees Apple still charges third-party app marketplaces that run on iOS. Currently, some app stores have to pay Apple €0.50 for each installation after they exceed one million downloads. Apple had previously proposed replacing that structure with a 5% dividend plan, which some developers considered manageable.
Why this is important for users
For consumers, the biggest immediate impact could be a big shift. If iOS 27 allows for automatic streaming alternatives, users can seamlessly stream media to all non-Apple devices without being locked into AirPlay compatibility.
Broadly speaking, the EU’s pressure campaign is slowly reshaping Apple’s popular ecosystem. Features that once seemed impossible for iPhones – third-party app stores, sideloading, and now the possibility of other emulators – are slowly becoming a reality in Europe.
However, Apple continues to argue that many of these changes create unnecessary hardship and security risks for users while unfairly targeting the company compared to competitors.
Still, the broad direction seems to be getting clearer: regulators want users, developers, and hardware makers to have more control over how Apple devices connect, distribute apps, and share content. And with iOS 27, that change may be more noticeable to everyday users.
