Image sources: Gadgets & Wearables, Garmin

3 min read

iPhone users might finally get more control over how notifications show up on their Garmin watches. iOS 26.1 beta includes a new feature called Notification Forwarding that could narrow the gap between the iOS and Android experience.

A long-requested iOS upgrade

Garmin watches already support iPhone notifications. But the current system is limited. On Android, you can fine-tune which apps push alerts to your wrist. You can block noisy apps while keeping important ones active. iOS doesn’t offer that flexibility. If it’s on your phone’s lock screen, it shows on your Garmin. If it isn’t, it won’t.

You also miss out on visuals like emojis or images in messages when using iPhones. Android users do get those extras. It’s a small thing, but it adds up. Garmin hasn’t been able to change this because the limitation is on Apple’s side.

That could soon change.

Notification Forwarding changes the game

The latest iOS 26.1 beta includes something called Notification Forwarding. This would allow iPhone users to send notifications to third-party accessories directly from Settings. And not just wearables. It appears to cover a broader set of Bluetooth devices, possibly including bands or smart glasses.

But it’s not a free-for-all. Only one connected device will be allowed to receive forwarded notifications at a time. And enabling this will disable notifications on the Apple Watch, which makes sense from Apple’s point of view.

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Garmin users are likely to benefit here. They already have notification support, so this would layer in richer control and possibly new types of data. If the rollout is clean, you might even start seeing message previews or inline images on your watch screen. That would bring the iPhone experience closer to what Android users have enjoyed for years.

Not just Garmin, but they stand to gain

Other smartwatch makers like Huawei, Suunto, Pebble or Zepp Health could also benefit. But the most interesting question for Garmin users is which watches might be supported. Will this be a perk for newer models like the Venu 4 or Fenix 8 series? Or will older watches get the same functionality?

Garmin hasn’t commented, and Apple hasn’t officially announced the feature yet. So we’re in speculation territory. But the Digital Markets Act in Europe is clearly pushing Apple toward more openness. In early 2025, the European Commission adopted rules that require iPhones to work better with third-party accessories. That includes allowing notifications to appear on non-Apple wearables.

Apple is likely laying the groundwork now with iOS 26.1. The code is there, but the feature may not go live in October when the update ships. It might get activated in a later release or only in specific regions. Europe is the most likely candidate, given the legal pressure.

Still, it’s a step in the right direction. Garmin users on iPhones might finally get notification control that feels more complete. And if Apple keeps opening the door, we could see better cross-platform support for other features too.

Source: MacWorld

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