Garmin watches get better iPhone notifications with iOS 26.3
iOS 26.3 introduces a new “Notification Forwarding” option that lets iPhone users in Europe send app alerts directly to third-party wearables like Garmin watches. The feature disables Apple Watch notifications while active and allows per-app control over what gets forwarded.
Apple cracks the door open
iOS 26.3, which is currently in Beta, adds a new setting that allows iPhone notifications to be forwarded to a non-Apple smartwatch (via Macrumours). It’s buried inside the Notifications menu under a newly added “Notification Forwarding” toggle.
Users can pick which apps are allowed to push notifications through, and the alerts will show full content and the app name. This might not sound groundbreaking on the surface, but for Garmin users, it could signal the start of a long-overdue shift in Apple’s stance.
For now, the feature only works in the European Union. The reason is no mystery. Apple is under pressure from EU regulators to play fair under the Digital Markets Act. That law demands they stop treating the Apple Watch as the only real option for iPhone users. So Notification Forwarding is Apple’s first step, likely designed to tick a regulatory box with the least amount of friction.
What this means for Garmin users
Garmin watches already receive notifications via Bluetooth, but it’s been limited and a bit clunky. You get basic alerts pushed through the Garmin Connect app, but there’s little control. Once this new system plugs directly into iOS notification routing, it could offer far more consistency and customization. Think Android-style app-by-app notification toggles, not just a blanket on/off setting.
From what’s been shared online, the new forwarding system already works on some Garmin models like the Forerunner 970, although Apple hasn’t officially mentioned Garmin by name. It’s also unclear whether this will require any updates from Garmin’s side. Some users suspect Garmin Connect will need to formally support the new framework, while others say it’s already functioning without updates.
Either way, this should eventually improve reliability. Fewer missed calls. Notifications arriving without delay. Proper previews. It’s also possible that this new system might unlock richer interactions in the future, though Apple seems unlikely to allow message replies from third-party watches anytime soon.
Limitations and a few lingering questions
It is worth noting – only one device can receive forwarded notifications at a time. If a user has an Apple Watch, it will stop receiving alerts while the Garmin or another device is active. That’s Apple’s way of preventing users from getting double alerts, but it also reinforces the one-device ecosystem they’ve built.
This also brings up a few practical concerns. Will this be limited to newer models like the Fenix 8 Pro or the upcoming Fenix 9? Garmin has yet to comment, but knowing how slowly these integrations roll out, don’t expect widespread support immediately.
And of course, this only matters for users in Europe. The rest of the world still gets the same limited, somewhat janky Garmin notification support they’ve had for years.
Apple hasn’t opened the floodgates. This isn’t a free-for-all. But it is a crack. And given the direction of European regulation, more of these cracks are likely to appear.
If you are on the iOS 26.3 Beta, open Settings, head to Notifications, and take a look for “Notification Forwarding.” One checkbox might be all it takes to make your Garmin or other non-Apple watch feel more at home on an iPhone.
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