News and journalism

Apple Plans iPhone-to-Windows Copy and Paste in EU After Microsoft Request

MacRumors, 2026

Read on October 17, 2026

What it is: A news report dated August 3, 2026, on Microsoft's request, under the EU Digital Markets Act, for copy and paste between an iPhone and a Windows PC, and on the timeline Apple gave for that work.
How much weight it carries: A specialist Apple news site that reports on Microsoft's request and Apple's response on Apple's EU interoperability portal. It is press coverage, not Apple's own text, and we found no Apple or European Commission document that sets the dates, so check the portal before relying on them.

Facts taken from this source

Apple says building copy and paste between iPhone and Windows is a significant engineering effort, with the work expected to be finished by fall 2027, as MacRumors reported in August 2026.
“Apple says introducing cross-device copy and paste is a significant engineering effort, with work expected to be complete by fall 2027.” (Article body, paragraph on Apple's response to the request)
Today, an app can read an iPhone's clipboard only while it is running in the foreground, and only when the user grants access, as MacRumors reported in August 2026.
“Right now, an app can only read an iPhone's clipboard if the app is actively running in the foreground and the user grants clipboard access with each copy/paste action.” (Article body, paragraph on iOS clipboard restrictions)
MacRumors expects iPhone to Windows copy and paste to be limited to the European Union at first, although Apple could release it worldwide.
“It is likely that cross-device copy and paste will be limited to iPhone and Windows users in the European Union, though it is possible Apple could implement it worldwide.” (Article body, final paragraph before the tags)