Apple may add to iOS 28 the ability to copy text and other supported data between an iPhone and Windows computers. The Universal Clipboard feature currently works only within Apple’s ecosystem, allowing clipboard content to move, for example, from an iPhone to a Mac.
The development is linked to European Union requirements for interoperability under the Digital Markets Act. On March 25, 2026, Microsoft sent Apple a request to create an equivalent of Universal Clipboard for iOS and Windows. The request entered review on April 27, and on June 26 Apple presented a plan for a possible implementation.
Microsoft proposed making synchronization a permanent system feature. Users would not need to open Phone Link or start syncing manually each time: data copied on an iPhone could be transferred automatically to a connected computer and back.
To enable the feature, third-party developers would be allowed to create extensions that receive notifications from iOS when supported content is copied. Data would be sent to Windows through the Accessory Transport Extension platform, while users would approve the computer connection through AccessorySetupKit.
Apple expects to finish developing the mechanism by autumn 2027. That timing may coincide with the expected release of iOS 28, so the feature could potentially be included in the operating system update. For now, the mechanism is being developed only for users in the European Union. It could appear in other regions later if local regulators introduce similar requirements.