Meta and Apple have been in a back‑and‑forth over EU‑mandated third‑party device interoperability under the Digital Markets Act. Apple must let third‑party accessories access iPhone and iPad features that are currently tied to its own accessories, such as proximity‑triggered pairing introduced in iOS 26.5. Meta’s request is for a different feature: when a Meta device (e.g., Ray‑Ban Meta glasses or Quest headsets) pairs with one iPhone or iPad, it should automatically become available on all of the user’s other Apple devices, mirroring how AirPods sync across Apple hardware.

Since October 2025, Meta has submitted interoperability requests via Apple’s EU portal. Apple’s initial reply proposed a new API that would allow third‑party apps to sync pairing information across a user’s devices, but tied it to the Accessory Setup Kit. Meta objected, arguing that this could disrupt its existing pairing experience outside the EU and that its limited access to iOS Bluetooth pairing prevents it from building a similar system using its own cloud services.

Apple maintained that the proposed API would deliver the core functionality Meta seeks and that other developers have adopted the kit outside the EU without similar concerns. Meta reaffirmed its concerns and asked Apple to reconsider the implementation, citing potential negative impacts on the setup experience for Meta devices outside the EU.

The full exchange is publicly available through Apple’s EU interoperability portal.