Apple announces watchOS 26

Apple just announced watchOS 26, the latest version of its Apple Watch operating system, at WWDC 2025. It’s been updated with Liquid Glass, Apple’s new transparent design language; a new wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications; and an AI-powered “Workout Buddy” that gives you pep talks as you exercise.

watchOS 26 is the follow-up to last year’s watchOS 11 release, but Apple has jumped its numbering up to match the upcoming year in a bid to standardize its operating system names, so that the watchOS numbering now matches iOS, macOS, and Apple’s other software platforms. As in previous years, developer access starts today, with a public beta to follow next month. The full release is coming this fall alongside the new Apple Watches.

Liquid Glass, the new design language Apple is introducing across its software this year, applies throughout the OS. The new transparent aesthetic will apply to widgets, notifications, the Control Center, in-app controls, and more. It’s also coming to the Photos watch face, which will now display transparent numerals that won’t block your view of the photos.

Notification management should be a little smoother thanks to a new gesture control. On an Apple Watch 9 or later, a flick of the wrist will dismiss notifications or incoming calls, silence timers and alarms, and take you back to your watch face. The OS can also track ambient noise levels and adjust the volume of notifications and incoming calls to match, reducing how often you need to set the watch to silent.

There are also new fitness features. The Apple Intelligence-powered Workout Buddy uses workout and fitness data to generate not only personalized insights and advice, but pep talks, too. It’ll remind you what you’ve achieved in recent workouts and how close you are to your goals as you kick off an exercise session, let you know along the way if you cross a milestone, and recap your results at the end, letting you know if you hit a personal record along the way. It’ll work in English to start with, and across “the most popular” workout types.

The Workout app has had a redesign, too, with new corner buttons that serve as shortcuts to customize your workout or control your music. Apple Music will also do its best to recommend playlists based on the type of workout you’re doing and what it knows about your taste.

Apple Intelligence appears elsewhere too. If you have a Series 9 or later, and an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, watchOS will support instant, automatic translation in Messages, both for incoming texts and any replies you send. Smart Replies are going to be a little smarter, and Messages will make contextual suggestions like starting a Check In if a friend asks you to let them know when you get home.

That sort of contextual behavior is coming to the Smart Stack as well, with Liquid Glass “hints” appearing on the display to suggest apps you might want to open. Apple says it could prompt you to start a Pilates workout when you arrive at the studio at your regular class time, or suggest Backtrack — which helps you retrace your steps — if you’re in a remote location with no signal.

Other updates include bringing the Notes app over to watchOS, allowing you to pin notes, create new ones, and tick off checklist entries. Hold Assist and Call Screening will work from your wrist too, and the watch can display live captions or offer remote controls when using Live Listen, Apple’s set of tools for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

“Apple Watch is an indispensable companion for millions of people around the world, and watchOS 26 uses intelligence to offer an even more personalized experience,” said David Clark, Apple’s senior director of watchOS engineering. “From a gorgeous new design, to Workout Buddy with Apple Intelligence, personalized music suggestions in the Workout app, and more intelligence in the Smart Stack and Messages, we’re excited about the many ways watchOS 26 will support each user in staying active, healthy, connected, and safe throughout their day.”

When watchOS 26 arrives this fall, it will be compatible with any Apple Watch from Series 6 onward, the second-generation Watch SE, and any Watch Ultra, and will have to be paired with an iPhone 11 or later. The Apple Intelligence features will only be available on certain models, however, and also require an iPhone capable of running Apple’s take on AI.