iOS 19: All the important information about Apple's new system

March 24, 2025

The European Union (EU) is requiring Apple to incorporate significant changes in its upcoming iOS 19 and iOS 20 operating systems in order to comply with the Digital Marketplaces Act (DMA), which fully applies from March 2024.

Under the new requirements, Apple must allow interoperability of its devices with third-party products.

This includes the ability for third-party smartwatches to display and interact with iOS notifications by the end of 2025, and the ability to automatically switch audio on third-party headsets by 1 June 2026.

In addition, Apple must allow third parties to offer alternatives to AirDrop by 1 June 2026 and AirPlay by iOS 20 or the end of 2026.

At the same time, iOS 19 is expected to bring a major redesign of the operating system, adopting elements from visionOS, Apple's Vision Pro software.

This includes more transparency in the graphics, new window and button types, and rounded app icons.

Apple has expressed its opposition to these requirements, arguing that they would slow down its ability to innovate and force the company to offer new features for free to competitors not subject to the same rules.

iOS 19 is expected to be announced at WWDC 2025 in June, with a release planned for September 2025, with iOS 20 following a year later.