### EU to Experience Postponed Introduction of iOS 26 Features Due to DMA Issues
Earlier this month, Apple introduced iOS 26, highlighting a variety of new features and enhancements. However, the corporation has confirmed that specific features will not be accessible to users in the European Union (EU) at the time of launch, mainly due to regulatory issues tied to the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Apple’s dedication to adhering to the EU’s DMA implies that EU users will forfeit certain functionalities in iOS 26, at least in the beginning. According to a report by Edith Hancock in *The Wall Street Journal*, Apple disclosed that it would postpone the deployment of some proposed features in the EU due to regulatory obstacles.
One significant feature that will not be available in the EU is the “visited places” service, which monitors and logs users’ locations. This functionality is part of the updates being made to Apple Maps in iOS 26 and is regarded as a stepping stone to more advanced Apple Intelligence features.
While the “visited places” feature is the only one explicitly referenced by Apple as being absent from the EU launch, the company has suggested that other features might also encounter delays. Hancock reports that Apple is still assessing which features might not be accessible in the EU and is working on strategies to deliver them as promptly as possible.
Kyle Andeer, Vice President of Apple Legal, remarked, “We’ve already had to make the decision to delay the release of products and features we announced this month for our EU customers.” He stressed that users’ security may be at risk if the company is compelled to open its ecosystem to rivals.
This is not the first instance where EU users have faced delays in accessing particular iOS features. Since last year, functionalities like Apple Intelligence were not available in the EU until months following their initial launch, and the iPhone Mirroring feature for Macs remains unavailable.
As Apple navigates the intricacies of regulatory compliance in the EU, users in the region may continue to face delays in accessing new features that are readily available to their peers in other regions.
