Apple launched a relatively drastic change to its operating-system naming conventions this 12 months. What would’ve been watchOS 12 is now watchOS 26, for the reason that firm determined to cease labeling its working methods sequentially and as an alternative identify them based on the fiscal 12 months they’re launched. Each OS now, from iOS 26 to macOS 26, additionally has a brand new, overhauled show aesthetic referred to as Liquid Glass, which makes sure apps, icons, buttons, and pop-ups appear like frosted glass and different options appear like raindrops.
WatchOS 26 has new Apple Intelligence options, that are small and measured relatively than huge and sweeping—however for Apple Watch followers, the truth that there’s now Apple Intelligence in your wrist in any respect could be sufficient. Right here, I am going to stroll by way of among the new suggestions and methods now you can see in your Apple Watch. (If you wish to examine it straight from Apple, you are able to do so right here.)
Up to date September 15, 2025: WatchOS 26 is now out. We tweaked the language on this story to mirror that, added particulars on tips on how to obtain it, and added extra data on new options.
Is Your Apple Watch Appropriate?
The way to Set up WatchOS 26
First, test that your telephone and watch are totally charged and linked to Wi-Fi. Go to the Watch app in your iPhone and click on Settings > Common > Software program Replace. Choose watchOS 26 (if it hasn’t already mechanically up to date!). You are completed!
The Prime WatchOS 26 Options
Liquid Glass
Courtesy of Apple
A lot of the Liquid Glass redesigns have been optimized for the larger screens of the Mac, iPhone, and iPad. However hey, look, the numerals on the clock face now have a translucent frost! You can too see slight specular highlights across the edges of the buttons whenever you look carefully. Good Stack—Apple’s layered widget system—will even make the most of Liquid Glass in order to not obscure the display.
Exercise Buddy
Courtesy of Apple
Exercise Buddy makes use of all of the train knowledge amassed by the Apple Watch—coronary heart price, tempo, distance, and so forth.—and makes use of it to supply personalised, upbeat encouragement (“you crushed it!”) throughout your train session. Apple Intelligence analyzes your knowledge to supply these insights and to make use of voice encouragement derived from Health+ trainers. It might probably additionally mark key moments, like working a mile significantly quick. It is out there for only a few workout routines, like indoor and out of doors strolling or working, out of doors biking, purposeful and conventional energy coaching, and HIIT—and sure, you’ll be able to flip it off if the concept of a cheerleader in your ear is hell for you, too.
The Exercise app itself has additionally undergone a redesign, with 4 buttons within the 4 corners of the watch face to make it simpler to faucet on every function. Customers can arrange music and podcasts inside the Exercise app, and Apple Music can both choose music or present options for an applicable playlist.
Sleep Rating and Hypertension
Courtesy of Apple
WatchOS 26 now affords two new well being options. The primary is a brand new Sleep Rating, which takes into consideration the time you went to mattress, the length of your sleep, and the variety of interruptions to categorise your sleep on a five-point scale—both Wonderful, Excessive, OK, Low, or Very Low. While you click on on Sleep Rating within the Well being app, you can even see your coronary heart price and respiratory price whereas sleeping.
The replace additionally provides the flexibility to trace attainable indicators of hypertension. Undiagnosed hypertension, or hypertension, impacts round one-third of all adults and may trigger kidney illness, coronary heart assaults, or stroke. The Watch now makes use of knowledge from the optical coronary heart price monitor to test your knowledge over 30 days for attainable indicators of hypertension and can notify the consumer. The research have been developed with research of over 100,000 individuals, and the function is now FDA-cleared.
Good Stack
Courtesy of Apple
Good Stack now incorporates extra contextual knowledge, like location and the consumer’s routine, to supply extra useful suggestions. For instance, should you arrive on the health club at your standard time, your Apple Watch might mark your location and slide a exercise routine to the highest of your Good Stack.
Messages and Notifications
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When you personal a Watch Collection 9, Watch Collection 10, or Apple Watch Extremely 2, you’ll now be capable to use a brand new wrist-flick gesture (very similar to Double Faucet) to dismiss notifications or incoming calls, silence timers, and return to the clock face. A machine-learning mannequin makes use of knowledge from the accelerometer and gyroscope to catch the consumer’s wrist motion.
The Apple Watch now additionally helps Dwell Translation in Messages (once more, you will have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone). In case your language is ready to English, the watch will supply prompts in Messages, like suggesting Apple Money if the consumer is requested for a donation. Name Screening and Maintain Help will even come to the telephone app on the watch, letting customers determine whether or not to take or decline calls or ask for extra info.
New Watch Faces
Courtesy of Apple
There are new watch faces to select from. Circulate is the brand new watch face that takes benefit of Liquid Glass, with blobs of shade that swirl by way of the clear glass numerals. Exactograph appears a bit just like the Waypoint face that has been out there on Apple Watch Extremely for a while, however is definitely a reinterpretation of a standard clock face. It separates the hours, minutes, and seconds, and additionally, you will be capable to see the ticking second hand on different watch faces.
Lastly, it is possible for you to to make use of the Notes app on the watch, which can be extra essential to a few of us than others.
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