Apple’s next major iPhone software release, iOS 26, is expected to arrive later this year, bringing a refreshed design and improvements across apps like Maps, Photos, Messages, and Wallet. But if you live in the European Union, you may have to wait longer for some of those features.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple plans to delay the rollout of several iOS 26 capabilities in the EU, citing the need to comply with the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
One of the affected features is “Visited Places” in Apple Maps, which will let users privately track and store an encrypted history of places they’ve been. Apple’s lawyers said this and other tools are postponed because the DMA could create compliance and security risks.
Apple’s VP of legal, Kyle Andeer, confirmed in a recent workshop that some WWDC-announced features won’t arrive in the EU at launch, partly due to concerns over user privacy and safety.
This isn’t the first time EU regulations have delayed Apple software. Earlier this year, the company’s AI-powered Apple Intelligence features arrived in Europe months after the US rollout.
The Digital Markets Act, which came into force last year, aims to rein in Big Tech by requiring companies to open their ecosystems to competitors. So far, Apple has had to allow sideloading apps, supporting third-party browser engines, and enabling other payment apps to use the iPhone’s NFC chip.
Apple has pushed back on these rules, arguing they could undermine security. The company has even filed a legal challenge over the latest order to further open its systems to rivals. However, Apple must comply while the case makes its way through EU courts.
For now, iPhone users in Europe should expect iOS 26 to roll out with fewer features than in other regions, though Apple says it’s still assessing which updates will be delayed.
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