Apple will be adding support for Google Cast and other alternatives to AirPlay as part of iOS 27, in order to appease the EU's Digital Markets Act.

The Digital Markets Act is viewed by Apple as a problem, due to a lack of clarity about regulatory requirements and their effects. While this has so far meant the blocking of some features from reaching the continent, Apple is meeting halfway by abiding by some elements.

One of those will apparently be a change to iOS 27 for connecting to other devices. While Apple already has AirPlay for that, it will be moving to add more support for other solutions.

Sources told Mark Gurman that third-party streaming support is on the way, according to his "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg on Sunday. This would chiefly include supporting Google Cast, the Android-centric alternative.

Users will be able to set AirPlay or another framework as the default way of beaming content between devices.

It isn't made clear whether the third-party solutions would be available as a global option or just for users in the EU. Apple hasn't been consistent with how it implements such regulatory-based features, like with alternative app stores in the EU versus emulators being available everywhere.

There will be more changes on the way for iOS 27 to appease more EU demands, too. This apparently involves third-party app storefront support as well as sideloading.

Giving a digital inch

Apple's compliance with the DMA with iOS 27 changes are inevitable, despite Apple's defiance on the matter. Apple has been concerned about being pushed to comply, especially when dealing with the inherent security risks of opening up access.

The dislike of DMA and the EU's push to comply has already led to various features not being available to European users.

This includes macOS Tahoe's Live Activities, mirroring those from the user's iPhone. There's also iPhone mirroring, a feature that displays the iPhone display on a Mac's screen, which has been absent since 2024.

While the iOS 27 changes won't necessarily include already-blocked elements, it is a step on the long road for Apple to do so.