### Apple Eases Control on Local Wireless Sharing with iOS 26
Apple’s stronghold on local wireless sharing is finally relaxing, albeit somewhat reactively. With iOS 26, developers will have access to a new API that enables third-party applications to discover and connect with nearby devices over Wi-Fi, independent of an internet connection. Here’s how it functions.
#### Wi-Fi Aware
As noted by iHelpBR, the essence of this news revolves around Wi-Fi Aware, which will enable nearby devices to locate one another and establish a direct peer-to-peer connection via Wi-Fi, even if they aren’t on the same network.
This is the same basic principle that Apple’s AirDrop has utilized for years, but now it’s being made available to all. Here’s what Apple’s Swetank Saha has to say about the new feature:
> “With Wi-Fi Aware, you can unlock new experiences and enable your apps to seamlessly discover and connect to nearby devices. Some examples include: media streaming, high-speed file transfer, accessory control, screen sharing, and if necessary, you can do all of these simultaneously.”
During the WWDC25 session “Supercharge device connectivity with Wi-Fi Aware”, Saha showcased its practical application: you launch an app on both devices, view a list of nearby peers, and tap to start a connection. There’s even an optional confirmation code step, similar to AirDrop, to ensure you’re connecting to the correct device.
#### Not Just for File Transfers
While rapid local file sharing is the clear primary use case, Apple is positioning this API as a resource for much more than just that. Developers could leverage it for virtually any application that would benefit from a swift, local connection without reliance on the cloud, including screen sharing, streaming media between devices, and updating or configuring accessories such as smart glasses or drones.
And since Wi-Fi Aware is an open standard, apps aren’t confined to Apple-to-Apple transfers. In theory, a developer could create something that enables functionality between iPhones and Android devices that run the same app. It’s not AirDrop for Android, but it’s the closest Apple has come to facilitating that type of cross-platform interaction.
#### Reading Between the (Regulatory) Lines
Officially, Apple isn’t linking this action to regulatory pressure, but the timing is hardly coincidental. The European Union has been urging Apple to enhance iOS’s interoperability with third-party hardware and services, specifically highlighting local sharing as an area that needs to become more accessible.
This API allows Apple to tick that box without actually opening up AirDrop itself.
