iOS 27 May Add Google Cast Support and Default Casting Options in the EU

Apple’s next iPhone update, iOS 27, is expected to arrive after its preview at WWDC 2026 in June, with a public release typically following in the fall after several months of testing.

Early reports suggest the update may include a notable shift in how wireless casting works on iPhone—particularly for users in the European Union. The changes appear connected to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires large platform companies like Apple to open certain system features to third‑party interoperability.

Here’s what’s confirmed by regulation, what’s rumored for iOS 27, and how the pieces fit together.

Why Apple Is Being Pushed to Open iOS

The Digital Markets Act designates Apple as a "gatekeeper" for iOS and requires the company to provide developers with effective interoperability with hardware and software features controlled by the operating system.

As part of the EU’s implementation process, the European Commission issued specifications covering several iOS connectivity features that must support interoperability. These include:

• notifications
• proximity‑based pairing
• background execution
• high‑bandwidth peer‑to‑peer Wi‑Fi
• wireless file transfers
• media casting
• automatic Bluetooth audio switching
• NFC controller access

These requirements are designed to ensure third‑party devices and services can interact with iOS on more equal terms with Apple’s own ecosystem.

Apple has already begun implementing other DMA‑related changes in recent releases, such as allowing alternative app marketplaces, alternative browser engines, and expanded developer access to NFC capabilities in the EU.

The Rumored Casting Changes in iOS 27

Several reports based on Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggest that iOS 27 may introduce native support for third‑party wireless casting protocols at the system level.

If implemented, this could allow technologies such as Google Cast—the protocol used by Chromecast and many smart TVs—to integrate directly with iOS as alternatives to Apple’s AirPlay.

Key aspects mentioned in these reports include:

• Third‑party streaming protocols could integrate natively into iOS, rather than only through individual apps.
• Users might be able to set a default casting method instead of AirPlay.
• The feature could be limited to EU devices, similar to other DMA compliance changes like third‑party app stores.

In practice, this could mean that tapping the iOS cast button might show devices compatible with multiple protocols, allowing iPhones to stream video, audio, or photos to TVs or speakers that support Google Cast or other standards.

However, it’s important to note that Apple has not officially confirmed this functionality, and current reporting frames it as a potential response to regulatory pressure rather than a finalized feature.

How Casting Could Work Without Third‑Party Apps

Today, many casting workflows on iPhone rely on app‑specific integrations. For example, YouTube or Spotify can cast to devices because those apps include their own casting implementations.

If iOS 27 enables system‑level protocol support, compatible devices could theoretically appear directly in the system casting interface—similar to how AirPlay works today. That would allow streaming to supported TVs or speakers without needing a specific app to enable the connection.

Such a system would align with the DMA’s requirement that platform owners give third parties access to key operating‑system features under fair conditions.

Reported AirPods Settings Redesign

Separate reporting suggests Apple is also redesigning the AirPods settings interface in iOS 27.

Instead of launching a standalone AirPods app, Apple is expected to reorganize the existing settings panel inside the Settings app.

The updated interface is described as:

• more structured and easier to navigate
• better organized for the growing number of AirPods features
• designed to surface controls like gesture recognition and audio tools more clearly

The goal appears to be simplifying management of AirPods features as the earbuds gain more advanced capabilities.

Part of Apple’s Broader DMA Strategy

The rumored casting changes would fit into a larger pattern of adjustments Apple has already made in response to EU regulation.

Examples of existing DMA‑related changes include:

• Alternative app marketplaces on iOS in the EU
• Support for non‑WebKit browser engines in iOS apps
• Expanded NFC access for contactless payment apps
• new developer tools for distributing and managing apps outside the App Store

These changes are part of Apple’s compliance efforts as the European Commission continues to evaluate whether the company meets DMA requirements.

What to Watch at WWDC 2026

Apple typically unveils major iOS updates during the WWDC keynote in June, with developer betas arriving immediately afterward and the final version releasing in the fall.

If the casting changes are real, WWDC 2026 will likely clarify:

• whether iOS 27 actually supports Google Cast or other protocols
• whether users can choose a default casting method
• whether the feature is limited to the European Union

Until Apple announces the update officially, these casting capabilities remain reported but unconfirmed—though the regulatory groundwork created by the Digital Markets Act makes such interoperability changes increasingly plausible.