Apple’s most significant Siri update will not arrive for users in the European Union when iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 launch later this year. The delay affects one of the company’s main software highlights and creates an uneven rollout across major markets.
The issue is especially notable because the smarter Siri has been positioned as the biggest change in Apple’s new operating system push. The upgrade was also something Apple had promised nearly two years ago, making its absence more conspicuous for iPhone and iPad users in the region.
What will be missing at launch
Apple said the affected package is broader than a single Siri feature. It includes a dedicated Siri app for reviewing conversations, expanded Visual Intelligence, integrated writing assistance, Siri mode in the Camera app on iPhone, and other AI-driven experiences announced at WWDC 2026.
The impact extends beyond the iPhone and iPad. Siri AI on watchOS 27 depends on a paired iPhone to run the AI model, so Apple Watch users in the EU will also miss access to those capabilities at launch.
For developers, the delay means they will not be able to test or use the new Siri AI features across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, and related firmware in the region. That could slow the rollout of apps built around Apple’s new AI experience.
Why Apple says the delay happened
Apple says the problem comes from the European Commission’s interpretation of the Digital Markets Act, or DMA. According to the company, the current reading of the rules would force it to open very broad access to third-party virtual assistants across user data and device functions.
The company argues that such a setup could allow external AI systems to read and send messages, access files, make purchases, and carry out cross-app actions without enough protection. Apple says the core issue is not just platform competition, but also security and privacy boundaries that must remain intact.
To address those concerns, Apple said it proposed a framework called Trusted System Agent. In theory, the system would act as a bridge so third-party assistants could reach device capabilities without compromising user privacy.
Apple also said it offered a phased Siri AI launch in the EU. Under that plan, extra protections would be added gradually over 18 months, but Apple says the European Commission did not approve the proposals.
No confirmed timeline for European users
Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, said he was disappointed by the situation. He said Apple had spent months working with European regulators to find a solution that would allow Siri AI to launch in the region.
Apple still says it remains committed to bringing the feature to EU users in the future. Even so, Federighi said there is no launch date that can be announced, leaving iPhone and iPad owners with no clear timetable.
That creates a staggered rollout for Siri AI, with other regions moving ahead while the EU waits. As Apple tries to make the new Siri a central part of its software refresh, users in Europe will have to rely on the standard experience for now.
Some Apple platforms will still get it
Apple said Siri AI will not disappear entirely from the EU. The company said the feature will still be available there through macOS 27 and visionOS 27.
Even with that exception, the most noticeable gap remains on the iPhone and iPad, which are the primary entry points to Apple’s ecosystem for many users. For that reason, the delay will likely be felt most strongly on the devices people use every day.
The result is a launch that looks different in Europe than in other markets. iOS 27 will still arrive, but the feature Apple is most eager to showcase will remain out of reach for some of its biggest customers.