Not just Apple Intelligence: iOS 18 blocks these new functions in the EU
Apple is deactivating two central innovations of the systems in Germany, including the so-called iPhone synchronization. There is an inconvenient workaround.
(Image: Screencap Apple Präsentation)
The simmering conflict between Apple and the EU Commission has already had tangible consequences: Users in Germany and other EU member states are currently being denied two key innovations in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS 15 Sequoia – not to mention Apple Intelligence.
iPhone mirroring and remote access blocked
One of the functions blocked in this country is iPhone mirroring: This allows you to mirror your iPhone on your Mac and control it from there. In addition, macOS also signals incoming iPhone messages, which you can then conveniently open in the corresponding app on your virtual iPhone without having to pick up the phone yourself.
If you try the associated Mac app presently, you will only see a terse warning dialog ("iPhone synchronization is not available in your country or region"). A piquant fact: Apple advertises the blocked function prominently in the German App Store, among other places, in a reference to the new features of iOS 18. "Mirror all content on your Mac", it says there – thus exploiting "the full potential" of your devices. The small print then states that "some features may not be available in all regions or languages".
In addition to "iPhone Mirroring", the new remote access or remote maintenance function, which is part of iOS and iPadOS 18, is also missing: for the first time, it is possible to remotely access and, above all, control another iPhone or iPad. An old hat for desktop operating systems, but an absolute novelty for Apple's mobile operating systems.
Apple refers to new EU regulations
It was foreseeable that these two functions would be missing: Back in June, the manufacturer pointed out that - like Apple Intelligence - it did not want to bring them to the EU for now due to "regulatory uncertainties" caused by the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This has obviously not changed since June. Apple merely referred to the far-reaching interoperability requirements of the new EU regulations. Indirectly, this also affects a macOS function, although the desktop operating system, unlike iOS and iPadOS, is not covered by the new DMA rules.
As is currently the case in the Apple Intelligence beta, geo-locking is linked to the App Store account: To unlock the functions, an Apple ID or an Apple account for "Media and Purchases" must be set up on all devices whose billing address is assigned to a non-EU country –, i.e. a US account, for example. Such an account change is possible, but has side effects: For example, users can then no longer access the subscription services booked with the German account, such as Apple Music.
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