Apple’s iOS 27 Could Finally Embrace Google Cast — And It May Change How iPhones Stream Forever

Apple may be preparing one of the most surprising changes to the iPhone ecosystem in years. According to multiple reports, the company is working on adding native support for third-party streaming protocols — including Google Cast — in iOS 27.

If the reports are accurate, iPhone users could soon stream videos, music, and photos directly to Chromecast-enabled TVs and speakers without relying solely on Apple’s AirPlay system. More importantly, users may even be allowed to set Google Cast as the default wireless streaming method on their devices.

The move would represent a significant shift in Apple’s long-standing strategy of tightly controlling its ecosystem. And while the change appears to be driven largely by European Union regulation, the impact could extend far beyond Europe.

The rumored feature is expected to be unveiled during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) beginning June 8, where iOS 27 is anticipated to make its official debut.

Why This Matters

For years, Apple users have been locked into AirPlay as the only native wireless casting protocol integrated at the system level in iOS.

That means streaming content from an iPhone to a television or smart speaker has generally required AirPlay-compatible hardware. Although apps like YouTube and Netflix already support Google Cast on iOS, developers currently have to build Chromecast functionality manually into each app.

Under the existing system:

• AirPlay works natively across iOS
• Google Cast only works inside supported apps
• Alternatives like Miracast lack deep system integration

The rumored iOS 27 update could fundamentally change that balance.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is developing support for “third-party AirPlay streaming alternatives,” with Google Cast specifically mentioned as one of the supported technologies.

The report says users may be able to choose these alternatives as the default solution for “beaming video, photos and audio from an Apple device to a speaker or TV.”

That would put Google Cast on much closer footing with AirPlay than ever before.

The EU’s Digital Markets Act Is Driving the Change

The biggest force behind the reported shift appears to be regulation rather than competition.

Apple is reportedly making the change to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a sweeping set of rules designed to increase interoperability and reduce the dominance of large technology platforms.

The DMA has already forced Apple to make several major concessions in Europe, including:

• Allowing alternative app marketplaces
• Supporting emulator apps on the App Store
• Opening parts of iOS to third-party systems
• Expanding default app customization

Now, wireless streaming appears to be next on the list.

Mark Gurman’s report states:

“Apple, looking to satisfy the latest requirements of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, is building support into iOS 27 for third-party AirPlay streaming alternatives.”

This aligns with the EU’s broader goal of preventing ecosystem lock-in and giving consumers greater freedom to choose competing services and technologies.

Google Cast Could Become a Native iPhone Feature

If implemented globally, the addition of Google Cast could dramatically improve compatibility between Apple devices and the broader smart home ecosystem.

Google Cast is already widely supported across:

• Smart TVs
• Streaming dongles
• Smart displays
• Wireless speakers
• Hotel entertainment systems

Manufacturers including Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips, and many others have integrated Chromecast functionality directly into televisions and home audio devices.

Today, iPhone users often encounter limitations when attempting to stream content outside Apple’s ecosystem. In many mixed-device households — where Android and iPhone users share the same TVs and speakers — AirPlay compatibility can become an issue.

Native Google Cast support could eliminate much of that friction.

For example:

• An iPhone user could cast directly to a Chromecast-enabled TV without app-specific support
• Hotels with Chromecast-equipped televisions could become easier to use with iPhones
• Shared households using both Android and Apple devices would gain smoother interoperability
• Smart speakers without AirPlay support could become fully accessible from iOS

This could make the iPhone significantly more flexible in environments dominated by Google-powered hardware.

Will This Feature Be Available Worldwide?

One major question remains unanswered: whether Apple will limit the feature to Europe.

Reports suggest the functionality is primarily being developed to satisfy EU regulators, and Apple has previously restricted several compliance-related features to European markets only.

That creates uncertainty about the global rollout.

However, maintaining separate versions of iOS for different regions can create additional engineering complexity. Some analysts believe Apple may ultimately choose to release the feature worldwide rather than maintain different system-level streaming frameworks.

There is precedent for both outcomes.

Certain EU-driven changes have remained regional, while others — such as support for emulator apps — eventually expanded more broadly.

At the moment, Apple has not officially confirmed the feature or clarified geographic availability.

A Rare Shift in Apple’s Ecosystem Strategy

Apple has historically prioritized tightly integrated proprietary technologies.

AirPlay has long been positioned as the preferred way to stream media from Apple devices, much like iMessage, FaceTime, and AirDrop are designed to function best within Apple’s ecosystem.

Allowing Google Cast to operate as a native, default-level alternative would represent a meaningful philosophical change.

It would also acknowledge a reality Apple users increasingly face: modern households rarely rely on a single ecosystem anymore.

Consumers today often mix:

• iPhones
• Android phones
• Smart TVs from multiple manufacturers
• Google Home devices
• Apple TVs
• Alexa speakers

Supporting multiple streaming standards natively could make iOS feel more adaptable in those environments.

iOS 27 Is Shaping Up to Be a Major Update

The Google Cast integration rumor arrives alongside several other reported iOS 27 upgrades.

According to recent reports, Apple is also working on:

• A standalone Siri app
• AI-powered writing tools
• An upgraded Shortcuts app
• AI image-generation improvements
• New photo editing tools
• Camera app customization
• Enhanced AirPods settings
• AI-generated wallpapers

The company is additionally rumored to be developing broader AI extension systems for third-party models across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Taken together, the reports suggest Apple is preparing one of its most ambitious software updates in years.

What Happens Next

Apple is expected to preview iOS 27 during WWDC 2026, which begins on June 8.

Historically, Apple releases developer betas immediately after the keynote announcement, followed by a public launch later in the year — typically around September alongside new iPhone hardware.

That timeline means developers and users may soon discover:

• Whether Google Cast support is truly system-wide
• Which third-party protocols are supported
• Whether the feature is limited to the EU
• How deeply integrated casting alternatives become within iOS

Until Apple formally announces the feature, the reports remain unofficial. But if accurate, the addition of native Google Cast support could become one of the most consequential interoperability changes in iPhone history.

For users who have long wanted Apple devices to work more naturally with non-Apple hardware, iOS 27 may finally deliver the flexibility they’ve been waiting for.