Apple Developing Native ‘Copy to Windows’ Feature Following Microsoft EU Request
The system-level clipboard sharing feature stems from European Union Digital Markets Act requirements and is targeted for a 2027 release.
Apple is developing a native “Copy to Windows” feature for the iPhone that will enable direct clipboard sharing between iOS devices and Windows PCs. The development follows an interoperability request submitted by Microsoft under the European Union‘s Digital Markets Act, according to technical plans reported by MacRumors.
The proposed capability extends Apple’s Universal Clipboard functionality beyond its closed ecosystem. Under the request outlined by Microsoft, users will be able to copy text and compatible content from an iPhone to a Windows PC and vice versa without running a specific application in the foreground or approving individual clipboard transfers each time.
Apple plans to integrate the capability directly into iOS as a system-level function rather than an app-dependent utility. The technical setup relies on a one-time authorization model modeled after Apple’s smartwatch notification sharing feature, which launched in May with the iOS 26.5 update for European Union users.
Development timelines outlined by Apple target completion by the fall of 2027. The long-term schedule indicates the feature will likely debut with an iOS 28 update in late 2027 or early 2028. While Apple has not formally specified regional limits, the integration is expected to be restricted initially to the European Union due to its regulatory origin.
