Apple’s tight grip on local wireless sharing is finally loosening, even if rather reactively. With iOS 26, developers are getting a new API that allows third-party apps to discover and connect nearby devices over Wi-Fi, without needing an internet connection. Here’s how it’ll work.
Wi-Fi Aware
As observed by iHelpBR, the core of this news boils down to Wi-Fi Aware, which will allow nearby devices to find each other and create a direct peer-to-peer connection over Wi-Fi, even when they’re not on the same network.
That’s the same underlying concept Apple’s own AirDrop has used for years, except now, it’s being opened up to everyone else. Here’s Apple’s Swetank Saha on the new feature:
With Wi-Fi Aware, you can unlock new experiences and allow 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 needed, you can do all of these simultaneously.
During the WWDC25 session “Supercharge device connectivity with Wi-Fi Aware”, Saha showed how it works in practice: you open an app on both devices, get a list of nearby peers, and tap to initiate a connection. There’s even an optional confirmation code step, just like with AirDrop, to make sure you’re connecting to the right device.
Not just for file transfers
While fast local file sharing is the obvious use case, Apple is pitching this API as a tool for a lot more than that. Developers could use it for basically anything that benefits from a quick, local connection without needing the cloud, including screen sharing, streaming media between devices, and updating or configuring accessories like smart glasses or drones.
And because Wi-Fi Aware is an open standard, apps aren’t limited to Apple-to-Apple transfers. Theoretically, a developer could build something that works between iPhones and Android devices running the same app. It’s not AirDrop for Android, but it’s the closest Apple’s come to allowing that kind of cross-platform flow.
Reading between the (regulatory) lines
Officially, Apple isn’t tying this move to regulatory demands, but the timing can hardly be called a coincidence. The European Union has been pushing Apple to make iOS more interoperable with third-party hardware and services, and specifically flagged local sharing as an area that needs to open up.
This API lets Apple check that box, but without actually cracking open AirDrop itself.
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