Together with iPadOS 26, iOS 26, and macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple has additionally introduced watchOS 26, which brings a number of updates to Apple Watch. Nonetheless, in contrast to iOS, iPadOS, and even macOS, Apple hasn’t dropped any help for watch fashions between watchOS 11 and watchOS 26.
In case your Apple Watch is already operating watchOS 11, it should additionally help watchOS 26.
Nonetheless, in contrast to iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, new watchOS 26 options are restricted to the most recent technology of fashions ranging from the S9 or later.
When you’ve got an Apple Watch and are questioning whether or not your watch helps the most recent watchOS 26, here’s a record of official Apple Watch watchOS 26 help, together with the highest 6 options coming to Apple watchOS and the anticipated rollout timeline.
Apple WatchOS 26 Supported record
All the most recent fashions from the watch sequence 6 or later are appropriate with the most recent Watch OS 26.
- Apple Watch SE (2nd technology)
- Apple Watch Sequence 6
- Apple Watch Sequence 7
- Apple Watch Sequence 8
- Apple Watch Sequence 9
- Apple Watch Sequence 10
- Apple Watch Extremely
- Apple Watch Extremely 2
Apple Watch OS 26: Anticipated rollout timeline
|
Date
|
watchOS 11 Timeline (2024)
|
watchOS 26 Timeline (2025, Anticipated)
|
|---|---|---|
|
June 10/11
|
Introduced at WWDC, Dev Beta 1 launched
|
Introduced at WWDC 25, Dev Beta 1 launched
|
|
Late June
|
Developer Beta 2
|
Developer Beta 2 (anticipated)
|
|
Early July
|
Developer Beta 3
|
Developer Beta 3 (anticipated)
|
|
Mid-July
|
Public Beta 1 (after ~3 Dev Betas)
|
Public Beta 1 (anticipated)
|
|
Late July–August
|
Extra Developer & Public Betas
|
Extra Developer & Public Betas
|
|
Early September
|
Launch Candidate (last beta)
|
Launch Candidate (last beta) (anticipated)
|
|
September 18-30
|
Official public launch (with iOS 18)
|
Anticipated public launch (Sept 16–205, 2025) (anticipated)
|
The right way to Improve to Apple watchOS 26
In case your Apple Watch is on the supported record, you possibly can improve it to the most recent watchOS 26 developer beta. Nonetheless, to replace, you must improve your iPhone to the most recent iOS 26 beta.
Guarantee your iPhone additionally helps iOS 26, and that you’ve got enrolled your iPhone within the iOS 26 beta. In case your iPhone is within the supported record, you possibly can go to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace, Beta Replace,a nd choose iOS 26 for beta and set up iOS 26 for beta in your iPhone.
Now you must set up the watchOS 26 beta in your watch. Open the Watch app in your iPhone, go to My Watch > Basic > Software program Replace. Right here, faucet on Beta Updates and select watchOS 26 beta.
Join your Apple Watch to your iPhone and guarantee your watch has greater than 50% of battery and Apple Watch is plugged in and charging, and guarantee each are related to the identical Wi-Fi community.
Now, in your watch, go to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace and faucet Obtain and Set up for the watchOS 26 beta.
Upon getting, it is possible for you to to entry watchOS 26 in your system, however earlier than that, since it’s a developer beta, it might probably have bugs and points that may spoil your each day expertise, particularly in case you use Apple Watch each day. And likewise, there isn’t any simple strategy to revert to the sooner model. So hold this in thoughts earlier than putting in watchOS 26 in your system.
5 Largest Adjustments Coming to Apple Watch OS 26
Liquid Glass Design
The most important change this 12 months for Apple’s OS is the brand new Liquid Design that provides a glassy, translucent design all through the system that brings translucent UI parts to widgets, notifications, Management Heart, and even navigation buttons.
Because the Liquid UI parts are designed to be massive and extra interactive, this new replace would possibly make WatchOS higher optimized for the touchscreen.
Apple Stay Translation is coming to Apple Watch
Apple Stay Translation can be making its strategy to Apple Watches. With this, you possibly can immediately translate textual content in your Apple Watch with out relying in your iPhone and or web connection.
Stay Translate is mechanically obtainable contained in the Messages, FaceTime Audio, and even for calls with Siri. watchOS 26 additionally provides help for display screen and maintain help, which is a part of iOS 26.
Because the Stay Translation is constructed into on-device, you’re required to have an Apple Sequence 9, 10, Extremely 2, and iPhone 15 Professional or later to make it work in your Apple Watch. You’ll be able to instantly translate and supply real-time translation in your Apple Watch with out. The interpretation additionally neatly integrates with good replies and is supported on third-party apps.
Exercise Buddy
Apple is rumored to be engaged on AI health help, and with watchOS 26, Apple has launched a tiny model of it.
With watchOS 26, Apple has launched a brand new Exercise Buddy that analyses your real-time exercise information and provides real-time AI-powered voice help. If you’re doing a exercise, it might probably analyze your tempo, coronary heart fee, weekly exercise traits, and your private aim, and supply help, and in addition talk with you about your achievements and targets whereas doing the exercise.
Exercise Buddy requires an iPhone with Apple Intelligence to work, that means that now you must have an iPhone 15 or later system and in addition an Apple Watch operating on S9 or later to make this characteristic work.
Smarter Good Stack
Apple Good Stack on Watch is a really helpful characteristic that allows you to place widgets instantly on the house display screen and entry them immediately everytime you want them.
Since these are widgets, they typically comprise helpful info and make it simple to get them with out going by advanced UI parts to open the app.
And with watchOS 26, it’s getting even smarter. Apple has launched new contextual intelligence to counsel widgets based mostly in your actions in your Apple Watch.
Apple says these widgets can adapt based mostly in your location, time, and conduct and counsel helpful actions comparable to opening a exercise app when you are on the health club, sleep test when you are at bedtime, instructions when you are on the bus cease or prepare station, and extra.
Wrist Flick Gestures
One other small however helpful replace is a wrist flick gesture on the watchOS 26 that permits you to dismiss calls, silence alarms, or dismiss notifications utilizing a gesture.
Nonetheless, this characteristic is barely obtainable on the Apple Watch Sequence 9, 10, and Apple Watch Extremely 2, and it makes use of movement sensors to detect your motion.
This can be a very helpful characteristic, and it eliminates the necessity for tapping in your display screen if you’re multitasking.
Once you obtain a notification you don’t need to see or an alarm buzzing in your wrist, you possibly can merely flick your wrist to dismiss notifications.
Notes App on Apple Watch
With watchOS 26, Apple is bringing the Notes app to the Apple Watch, permitting you to create new notes and consider all of your notes in a single place.
Whereas it might not be appropriate to take lengthy notes, with the helpful voice translation, you possibly can instantly convert your voice into textual content and jot down your concepts, particularly because it doesn’t require you to drag out your smartphone each single time.
You’ll be able to view all of your notes, they usually mechanically sync throughout your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. The Notes app additionally helps Scribble enter and can be utilized offline, with adjustments syncing later to your iPhone.
These are the six largest adjustments coming to watchOS 26. As well as, watchOS 26 brings a redesigned Exercise app matching the Liquid Interface design, a redesigned Management Heart with higher icons and sooner entry to frequent actions, and computerized voice changes based mostly in your surroundings.
Right here is the entire changelog of watchOS 26:
watchOS 26 Change Log
- Liquid Glass UI Redesign
- Translucent menus, notifications, and app backgrounds
- Up to date icons and smoother animations all through the system
Apple Intelligence
- On-device AI for textual content, options, and notifications
- Good reply and message options powered by AI
- Create and ship customized emoji utilizing Apple Intelligence (supported on Sequence 9, 10, Extremely, Extremely 2)
- Stay Translation
- Actual-time language translation for Messages and Telephone
- Immediately interprets incoming texts or spoken phrases in your watch
New Good Stack Options
- Smarter, extra related widgets based mostly on time, place, and habits
- New widgets for climate, sleep, and exercise
- Fast actions from the Good Stack
Exercise and Health Upgrades
- Redesigned the Exercise app with clearer stats and aim monitoring
- Computerized recognition for brand new exercise varieties
- Personalised teaching notifications
Well being & Security
- Enhanced cycle monitoring, sleep monitoring, and psychological well being instruments
- Fall detection and emergency options have been improved for higher accuracy
Messages & Communication
- Group chat polls, dialog backgrounds, and typing indicators
- Apple Money is built-in for simple funds in Messages
- Watch Faces & Personalization
- New watch faces with animated, glass-inspired visuals
- Extra customized shade and complication choices
Efficiency & Battery
- Adaptive energy modes for longer battery life
- Quicker app launch and smoother navigation
Accessibility
- Improved VoiceOver and bigger textual content choices
- Stay Captions for calls and media
