Apple introduced its newest wearable software program platform, watchOS 26, at WWDC 2025 at a keynote on Monday. The most recent iteration of watchOS options the Liquid Glass design, bringing enhancements reminiscent of Good Stack, Management Centre, the Images watch face, and extra. Apple has added an AI-powered Exercise Buddy to watchOS 26, which makes use of the wearer’s health information historical past to offer real-time, personalised insights throughout a exercise. The replace introduces a brand new format for the Exercise app and an improved prediction algorithm for Good Stack. The watchOS 26 gives a wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications.
WWDC 2025: Right here Are the High Options in WatchOS 26
watchOS 26 comes with Apple’s new Liquid Glass design. Good Stack widgets, Good Stack hints, notifications, Management Heart, and in-app controls and navigation incorporate the brand new design. The Images watch face may have numerals manufactured from Liquid Glass. Apple is introducing this new design language throughout its software program this 12 months.
Apple Intelligence-powered Exercise Buddy makes use of a person’s exercise information and their health historical past to generate personalised, motivational insights throughout their session. This characteristic gives a pep discuss and marks key moments, reminiscent of their mile splits. When a person finishes a exercise, Exercise Buddy will recap their exercise stats and congratulate them on their achievements.
Exercise Buddy will roll out on Apple Watch with Bluetooth headphones and wishes an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone close by. It helps standard exercises, together with indoor and out of doors operating, strolling, biking, HIIT, and power coaching, and can initially be out there in English.
Additional, watchOS 26 provides 4 new buttons within the corners of the Exercise app. This could permit wearers to entry options to customize exercises, like Exercise Views, Customized Exercise, Pacer, Race Route, and extra. It additionally permits customers to arrange music and podcasts within the Exercise app to play throughout a exercise session. Apple Music will now recommend playlists primarily based on the kind of exercise and private style of the person.
Apple states that Good Stack is enhancing its prediction algorithms in watchOS 26 by incorporating extra contextual information, sensor information, and information from a person’s routine to offer Good Stack hints. The Good Stack hints undertake the Liquid Glass design, and it’ll seem on the show as a visible immediate.
watchOS 26 brings Stay Translation to Messages to Apple Watch with Apple Intelligence. This AI-based characteristic mechanically interprets incoming texts right into a person’s most well-liked language proper on their wrist. This characteristic might be out there on Apple Watch Collection 9, Apple Watch Collection 10, and Apple Watch Extremely 2, with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone.
Apple Watch now helps Stay Translation in Messages with Apple Intelligence
Picture Credit score: Apple
With watchOS 26, Apple Watch suggests good actions in Messages primarily based on dialog context. Customisable backgrounds set on the iPhone will sync to the Apple Watch. Additional, customers can reply to polls instantly from their wrists. Good Replies are additionally getting enhancements in English, with the assist of an improved on-device language mannequin that generates extra related responses primarily based on the content material of a dialog.
Notifications could be managed with a easy wrist flick gesture with the most recent replace. This characteristic, designed for dismissing notifications and calls, silencing timers and alarms, and returning to the watch face, will work on the Apple Watch Collection 9, Apple Watch Collection 10, and Apple Watch Extremely 2.
Different notable updates embody bringing the Notes app to watchOS. This permits customers to pin, create, and unlock notes. Options like Maintain Help and Name Screening are additionally coming to Apple Watch with the most recent replace. Moreover, Stay Pay attention helps dwell captions, providing improved accessibility for customers who’re onerous of listening to.
The Images face will now shuffle photos primarily based on Featured content material from Images in watchOS 26. Watch faces will seem on the redesigned watch face gallery on Apple Watch and within the Watch app on iPhone.
The watchOS 26 replace might be out there for builders in a beta model immediately by the Apple Developer Program, whereas a public beta might be launched subsequent month. The watchOS 26 might be out there this fall for Apple Watch Collection 6 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd era), and all Apple Watch Extremely fashions, paired with iPhone 11 or later, operating iOS 26.
