Apple Reportedly Plans Third-Party Wireless Casting Support in iOS 27
Apple is reportedly preparing a major iOS change that would let users try third-party wireless casting systems instead of relying only on AirPlay. With iOS 27, users in the European Union are expected to gain the ability to choose services such as Google Cast as their default option for sending videos, photos, and audio from iPhones and iPads to TVs, speakers, and other connected devices.
That would mark a notable shift for Apple’s mobile software. AirPlay has long been built deeply into Apple devices, making it the default way to wirelessly stream media across compatible hardware. Under the reported change, iPhone and iPad users in the EU may finally be able to switch to competing casting technologies rather than staying entirely inside Apple’s ecosystem.
Why iOS 27 Casting Changes Matter for iPhone and iPad Users
For years, AirPlay has been the familiar path for wireless media sharing on Apple devices. It works across compatible hardware and sits at the center of how many users send content from an iPhone or iPad to another screen or speaker.
The reported iOS 27 update would change that experience in the European Union by giving users more control over their default casting option. Instead of AirPlay being the main built-in route, competing systems like Google Cast could become selectable alternatives for streaming:
- Videos from iPhones and iPads
- Photos from Apple devices
- Audio to speakers and other connected devices
- Media to TVs and compatible hardware outside Apple’s ecosystem
The key point is choice. Apple users in the EU may no longer have to depend solely on AirPlay when sending media wirelessly from their devices.
iOS 27, AirPlay, and the European Union’s Digital Markets Act
The reported AirPlay changes are tied to Apple’s broader efforts to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. The DMA is designed to limit the level of control large technology companies have over their platforms and ecosystems.
Apple has already had to make other EU-specific changes as part of DMA enforcement. These include allowing:
- Third-party app stores
- Alternative payment systems
- Software sideloading
Adding third-party wireless casting support would extend that broader shift beyond apps and payments. It would affect how iPhones and iPads connect with TVs, speakers, and other devices for everyday media streaming.
Apple’s EU Dispute Is Expanding
The reported change arrives during a tense period between Apple and European regulators. Apple is accusing the European Commission of deliberately delaying approval of its proposed compliance changes while continuing investigations into the company’s App Store policies.
The dispute became more visible after Setapp, a third-party app marketplace developed by MacPaw, announced plans to shut down its EU iOS marketplace next month. MacPaw pointed to “complex business terms” as one reason the model no longer made financial sense.
Apple pushed back strongly against the idea that its own policies were responsible for the shutdown. In a public statement, the company accused the European Commission of using “political delay tactics” and said regulators had failed to respond to proposed changes Apple submitted months earlier.
Third-Party App Marketplace Fees Remain a Key Issue
A major point in the controversy is the fee structure Apple still applies to third-party app marketplaces operating on iOS. Alternative app stores currently have to pay Apple €0.50 per install after passing one million downloads.
Apple previously proposed replacing that structure with a 5% revenue-sharing system. That proposal sits at the center of the wider debate over how Apple should comply with EU platform rules while still controlling parts of the iOS ecosystem.
The reported iOS 27 casting change adds another layer to that same regulatory story. Apple is not only dealing with app stores, payment systems, and sideloading. It may also have to open parts of the media-sharing experience that have traditionally been closely tied to AirPlay.
What Third-Party Casting Could Change on iPhones
If the reported iOS 27 update moves forward, the practical change for EU users would be the ability to set a non-AirPlay casting service as the default. Google Cast is one example named in the report.
That could make iPhones and iPads work more easily with non-Apple devices. Instead of having AirPlay remain the only deeply integrated casting path, users could choose another wireless streaming system for media playback across connected TVs, speakers, and other hardware.
The change would be especially notable because AirPlay has been one of Apple’s long-standing ecosystem features. Letting users select competing casting services would represent a meaningful opening in how iOS handles wireless media sharing.
The Bigger Picture for Apple’s iOS Ecosystem
The reported iOS 27 update fits into a broader pattern of EU-driven changes to Apple’s platform. The company has already had to loosen restrictions around app distribution, payment systems, and sideloading in the region.
Now, wireless casting may become another area where Apple gives users more control. For EU users, that could mean more flexibility when connecting an iPhone or iPad to TVs, speakers, and connected devices that work better with other casting technologies.
For Apple, it adds to an already complex regulatory battle. The company is trying to navigate DMA compliance while also challenging how European regulators are handling proposed changes, investigations, and approval delays.