Apple’s tight grip on native wi-fi sharing is lastly loosening, even when quite reactively. With iOS 26, builders are getting a brand new API that permits third-party apps to find and join close by units over Wi-Fi, with no need an web connection. Right here’s the way it’ll work.
Wi-Fi Conscious
As noticed by ihelpbrthe core of this information boils right down to Wi-Fi Conscious, which is able to enable close by units to seek out one another and create a direct peer-to-peer connection over Wi-Fi, even after they’re not on the identical community.
That’s the identical underlying idea Apple’s personal AirDrop has used for years, besides now, it’s being opened as much as everybody else. Right here’s Apple’s Swetank Saha on the brand new characteristic:
With Wi-Fi Conscious, you may unlock new experiences and permit your apps to seamlessly uncover and connect with close by units. Some examples embrace: media streaming, high-speed file switch, accent management, display screen sharing, and if wanted, you are able to do all of those concurrently.
In the course of the WWDC25 session “Supercharge gadget connectivity with Wi-Fi Conscious”, Saha confirmed the way it works in follow: you open an app on each units, get an inventory of close by friends, and faucet to provoke a connection. There’s even an optionally available affirmation code step, similar to with AirDrop, to be sure you’re connecting to the fitting gadget.
Not only for file transfers
Whereas quick native file sharing is the plain use case, Apple is pitching this API as a device for lots greater than that. Builders might use it for principally something that advantages from a fast, native connection with no need the cloud, together with display screen sharing, streaming media between units, and updating or configuring equipment like sensible glasses or drones.
And since Wi-Fi Conscious is an open customary, apps aren’t restricted to Apple-to-Apple transfers. Theoretically, a developer might construct one thing that works between iPhones and Android units operating the identical app. It’s not AirDrop for Android, but it surely’s the closest Apple’s come to permitting that sort of cross-platform circulate.
Studying between the (regulatory) strains
Formally, Apple isn’t tying this transfer to regulatory calls for, however the timing can hardly be known as a coincidence. The European Union has been pushing Apple to make iOS extra interoperable with third-party {hardware} and companies, and particularly flagged native sharing as an space that should open up.
This API lets Apple examine that field, however with out truly cracking open AirDrop itself.
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