watchOS 27 is now available, bringing Siri AI, a dedicated Siri app, a dynamic app grid, a new tap gesture, smarter Smart Stack suggestions, Workout Buddy improvements, expanded cycle tracking, and several changes to the Apple Watch experience.
The update also refines Liquid Glass, improves Find My, adds Call Context, expands Wallet, and introduces new child safety features. There are also smaller changes to fitness tracking, Music playback, battery management, and everyday Apple Watch interactions.
Here are more than 40 watchOS 27 features and changes worth knowing about.
watchOS 27 Features At A Glance
- Siri AI with personal context and cross-app actions
- Dedicated Siri app
- Synced and pinned Siri conversations
- Dynamic app grid
- New tap gesture
- Smarter Smart Stack suggestions
- Workout Buddy
- Workout Buddy without an iPhone nearby
- Workout Buddy in Spanish
- More accurate indoor workout distances
- Perimenopause notifications
- Cycle symptom tracking
- Menopause education resources
- Find My app redesign
- Call Context
- Liquid Glass refinements
- Faster Music playback
- Improved Fitness and Health step syncing
- Battery optimization suggestions
- Custom Wallet passes
- Wallet passes in Smart Stack
- Child Account protections
- Apple Watch For Your Kids without an iPhone
Siri AI On Apple Watch
1. Siri AI Comes To Apple Watch
Siri AI is powered by Apple Intelligence and adds more conversational capabilities to compatible Apple Watch models. It can answer open-ended questions, help with ideas, and support natural back-and-forth conversations.
Siri AI is available in beta and is initially rolling out in English. Server-based Apple Intelligence features may also have daily usage limits.
2. Siri Can Use Personal Context
Siri can use relevant personal information to answer requests. This can include details saved in Notes or information available through supported apps.
For example, Siri can help find a driver’s license number, retrieve a door code saved in a note, or surface other information relevant to a request.
3. Siri Can Take Actions Across Apps
Siri can handle supported requests that involve multiple apps. This includes sharing flight details with family, playing a trainer-recommended song, setting an Activity ring goal, and other actions.
4. Siri Can Answer With Online Information
Siri AI can use online information when answering questions that require current or more detailed knowledge. This can include workout ideas, wellness information, travel details, and other questions.
5. Dedicated Siri App
watchOS 27 introduces a dedicated Siri app that puts Siri AI conversations in one place. You can start a new conversation directly from your Apple Watch and access previous conversations.
6. Siri Conversations Sync Across Devices
Siri conversations can continue across supported Apple devices. You can start a conversation on iPhone and continue it from your Apple Watch.
7. Pin Siri Conversations
Important Siri conversations can be pinned in the Siri app for quicker access later.
App Grid And Smart Stack
8. Dynamic App Grid
The Apple Watch app grid becomes more dynamic in watchOS 27. Apps can be surfaced based on Siri suggestions, recent activity, and what is relevant at the time.
9. Siri App Gets Prominent Placement
The dedicated Siri app is placed prominently within the dynamic app grid, making it easier to access Siri AI from the wrist.
10. New Tap Gesture
watchOS 27 adds a new gesture that lets you tap your index finger and thumb together once to select a widget in the Smart Stack.
11. One-Handed Smart Stack Control
The new tap gesture makes it easier to interact with Smart Stack when your other hand is occupied, such as while carrying something or exercising.
12. Smarter Smart Stack Suggestions
Smart Stack can now surface more relevant widgets based on your context. Suggestions can include a birthday, the location of a parked car, a sleep alarm before certain holidays, or a transit card balance.
Health And Fitness
13. Workout Buddy
Workout Buddy provides personalized motivation during workouts using information from your fitness history and current progress.
It can provide encouragement based on metrics such as pace, distance, and workout duration.
14. Workout Buddy Works Without An iPhone Nearby
Workout Buddy can work without an iPhone nearby during a workout. The Apple Watch needs Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity when the iPhone is not available.
15. Workout Buddy Comes To Spanish
Workout Buddy expands to Spanish, allowing supported users to receive personalized workout motivation in Spanish.
16. More Accurate Indoor Run And Walk Distances
watchOS 27 improves motion-tracking algorithms for indoor workouts, making distance measurements more accurate during treadmill runs and indoor walks.
17. Perimenopause Cycle Notifications
Cycle Tracking can notify users when their logged cycle patterns are suggestive of perimenopause.
18. Track Perimenopause And Menopause Symptoms
Cycle Tracking can be used to log symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause, giving users a way to keep those changes alongside their cycle history.
19. Menopause Education Resources
watchOS 27 adds educational resources related to perimenopause and menopause within the Cycle Tracking experience.
20. Fitness Step Counts Sync With Health
The step count shown in Fitness now syncs with the step count recorded in the Health app, helping keep activity information consistent across the two experiences.
Design And System Changes
21. Liquid Glass Gets Readability Improvements
watchOS 27 refines the Liquid Glass design with improved readability, more consistent refraction, and better contrast throughout the interface.
22. Find My Gets A Unified App Experience
Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items are brought together inside the Find My app, replacing separate experiences with a more unified interface.
23. Find My Uses A Map-Centric View
The redesigned Find My experience places greater emphasis on the map, making it easier to view the location of people, devices, and items.
24. Call Context Surfaces Relevant Information
Call Context can proactively surface useful information from other apps during business calls. For example, it can bring up an airline confirmation code stored in Mail when it is relevant to the conversation.
25. Music Playback Starts Faster
The Music experience receives an everyday performance improvement, with music playback starting faster in watchOS 27.
26. Battery Optimization Suggestions
Apple Watch can suggest battery optimizations when it detects opportunities to improve battery life.
Wallet And Everyday Features
27. Create Custom Wallet Passes
Wallet can create custom passes for memberships and cards using a QR code or barcode. This can be useful for cards such as library memberships that do not have an official Wallet pass.
28. Custom Passes Can Be Accessed From Wallet
Once created, custom passes can be accessed directly from Wallet on Apple Watch.
29. Pin Wallet Passes To Smart Stack
Frequently used custom passes can be pinned in Smart Stack for faster access without opening the full Wallet app.
Child Safety
30. Child Account Protections
watchOS 27 expands child safety features for Apple Watch users with Child Accounts, adding protections designed for younger users.
31. Apple Watch For Your Kids Can Work Without An iPhone
Apple Watch For Your Kids can set up an Apple Watch for a child who does not have their own iPhone, allowing them to stay connected and use supported health, activity, and safety features.
32. Cellular Connectivity For Apple Watch For Your Kids
Apple Watch For Your Kids can use cellular connectivity to keep a child’s Apple Watch connected when they are away from their family member’s iPhone. A supported wireless service plan is required.
More watchOS 27 Changes
33. Smart Stack Can Surface Birthday Information
Smart Stack can suggest a relevant widget when a birthday is approaching, making personal information easier to access at the right time.
34. Smart Stack Can Show Parked Car Location
The Smart Stack can surface the location of a parked car when that information is relevant, reducing the need to manually search for it.
35. Smart Stack Can Surface Holiday Sleep Alarms
Before select holidays, Smart Stack can suggest a sleep alarm widget when it is relevant to your schedule.
36. Transit Card Balances Can Appear In Smart Stack
Smart Stack can surface a transit card balance when the information is relevant, providing quick access without requiring you to open another app.
37. Siri Can Help With Workout Ideas
Siri AI can provide workout suggestions and ideas based on questions asked directly from Apple Watch.
38. Siri Can Provide Wellness Information
Siri can answer supported wellness-related questions using Apple Intelligence and online information.
39. Siri Can Help With Travel Information
Siri can provide travel-related information, including details such as ferry schedules, when the required information is available online.
40. Siri Can Share Information With Contacts
Supported Siri requests can involve sharing information with family or contacts, such as sending flight details.
41. Siri Can Control Activity Goals
Siri can handle supported Activity requests, including setting an Activity ring goal directly from Apple Watch.
42. Siri Can Start Recommended Music
Siri can act on supported music requests, including playing a song recommended by a trainer during a workout.
watchOS 27 Siri AI Availability
Siri AI is available in beta in watchOS 27 and is initially rolling out in English. Apple Intelligence features require a compatible Apple Watch paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, with Siri and the device language set to a supported language.
Apple Intelligence is available on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE 3 when paired with a compatible iPhone. Some features also require the iPhone to be nearby.
Workout Buddy has additional requirements, including an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and Bluetooth headphones, with the device and Siri language set to English or Spanish. Workout Buddy can work without the iPhone nearby when the Apple Watch has Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity.
Availability can vary by language and region, and Siri AI is initially unavailable in the European Union.
watchOS 27 Compatibility
watchOS 27 requires an iPhone 11 or later or an iPhone SE 2nd generation or later running iOS 27.
Compatible Apple Watch models include:
- Apple Watch SE 3
- Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch Series 11
- Apple Watch Series 12
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Apple Watch Ultra 3
- Apple Watch Ultra 4
Some watchOS 27 features are limited to newer Apple Watch models because they depend on Apple Intelligence or other hardware capabilities.
When Was watchOS 27 Released?
Apple released watchOS 27 on September 14, 2026, alongside its major software updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro.
The update is available as a free software update for compatible Apple Watch models paired with an iPhone that supports iOS 27.
