Apple has released watchOS 27 for compatible Apple Watch models, bringing Siri AI, a new dynamic app grid, Workout Buddy improvements, a new tap gesture, expanded cycle tracking, and several other changes. The update also refines Liquid Glass and changes how some familiar Apple Watch features work.
Siri AI is the biggest addition, bringing a more capable conversational assistant to Apple Watch. watchOS 27 also adds useful fitness insights, smarter Smart Stack suggestions, and new ways to interact with the watch when your other hand is occupied.
Siri AI Comes To Apple Watch
watchOS 27 brings Siri AI to Apple Watch, powered by Apple Intelligence. Siri can now handle more open-ended questions, support natural back-and-forth conversations, find information from your personal context, and take actions in supported apps.
You can ask Siri to find information stored on your iPhone, play a song, set an Activity goal, share flight details, or handle other tasks without manually searching through apps.
Siri AI can also answer questions using information from the web, making it more useful when you need an answer while on the go. The feature is rolling out in English and requires a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled device.
A Dedicated Siri App
watchOS 27 also introduces a dedicated Siri app on Apple Watch. It brings conversations together in one place and lets users continue conversations started on their iPhone.
You can also pin conversations for easier access or start a new Siri AI conversation directly from the Apple Watch.
Dynamic App Grid
The app grid gets a major change in watchOS 27. The new dynamic layout automatically highlights Siri-suggested apps based on your usage and what is relevant at the time.
The Siri app also stays front and center, making it easier to access the new assistant from the Apple Watch.
Workout Buddy Gets Smarter
Workout Buddy now provides more personalized motivation based on your fitness history. New insights can cover progress in areas such as pace, distance, and workout duration.
Workout Buddy can also work without the iPhone nearby, allowing users to receive motivation during workouts without carrying their phone.
The feature is also expanding to Spanish, although it requires a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and Bluetooth headphones.
Better Indoor Run And Walk Tracking
watchOS 27 improves motion tracking for indoor workouts. Updated algorithms can measure distance during treadmill runs and indoor walks more accurately directly from the Apple Watch.
The change should provide more reliable distance data for workouts where GPS is unavailable.
Expanded Cycle Tracking
Cycle Tracking gains new support for perimenopause and menopause. The Health app can now provide notifications when logged cycle patterns suggest perimenopause.
Users can also track related symptoms and access educational resources through the Health app.
New Tap Gesture
watchOS 27 introduces a new tap gesture that lets users tap their index finger and thumb together to select a widget in the Smart Stack.
The gesture is designed for situations where the other hand is occupied, giving users another way to interact with the Apple Watch without touching the display.
Smarter Smart Stack Suggestions
The Smart Stack becomes more proactive in watchOS 27. Relevant widgets can now appear based on what you are doing or what information may be useful at the time.
Suggestions can include wishing a contact happy birthday, finding your parked car, changing a sleep alarm around selected holidays, or quickly accessing a transit card.
Walkie-Talkie Is Removed
watchOS 27 removes the Walkie-Talkie app from Apple Watch entirely. The feature is no longer available on the watch after updating to the new operating system.
Apple is also changing the behavior of the Digital Crown in watchOS 27. A single click now opens the Home Screen, while a double click brings up the app switcher, replacing the previous Walkie-Talkie-related behavior.
Find My Gets A New Design
The Find My experience on Apple Watch has been reorganized into a more map-focused interface.
Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items are now brought together in the Find My app, making it easier to locate people and objects from your wrist.
Liquid Glass Gets Refined
watchOS 27 continues Apple’s Liquid Glass design introduced with the previous generation of its operating systems. Apple says the updated design improves readability with more consistent refraction and better contrast.
The refinements appear throughout the Apple Watch interface, including Control Center and other system elements.
More Useful Information During Calls
Call Context can proactively surface relevant information from your apps when you call a business.
For example, if you call an airline, the Apple Watch can show relevant information such as a confirmation code from Mail while the call is active.
Other watchOS 27 Changes
Apple has also made several smaller improvements across watchOS 27.
Music playback starts faster, step counts in the Fitness app now sync with steps recorded in the Health app, and the system can suggest battery optimizations when appropriate.
The Wallet app also lets users create custom passes for memberships or cards that use QR codes or barcodes, such as library cards. These passes can be accessed from Wallet or pinned in the Smart Stack.
watchOS 27 Compatible Apple Watch Models
watchOS 27 requires an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) running iOS 27. It supports the following Apple Watch models:
- 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
Siri AI and other Apple Intelligence features require a compatible Apple Watch paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone nearby. Siri AI is currently rolling out in English.
How To Install watchOS 27
To install watchOS 27, open the Watch app on your paired iPhone and go to General > Software Update. You can also check for the update directly from Settings > General > Software Update on the Apple Watch.
Make sure the Apple Watch has sufficient battery and remains within range of the paired iPhone while the update is installed.
