Microsoft Asks Apple to Enhance Cross-Platform Copy-and-Paste Capabilities

Microsoft has submitted a request to Apple to enhance copy-and-paste capabilities between Windows PCs and Apple devices in Europe. This move is in compliance with the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which requires Apple to allow broader compatibility between its platforms and third-party services.

The request from Microsoft asks that Apple introduce a feature allowing users to seamlessly copy text or other supported content on iPhones and paste it directly on Windows PCs and vice versa. This functionality would work in the background, unlike non-Apple services, which normally interact with the clipboard after manual consent for each action.

Cupertino has estimated that implementing this feature would be a significant undertaking and could take over a year to complete. The company plans to finish development by late 2027, followed by a developer beta, making it unlikely to release publicly before 2028. However, the request only applies to EU countries, so Apple is not obligated to implement the feature globally.