Apple launched a moderately drastic change to its operating-system naming conventions this yr. What would’ve been watchOS 12 is now watchOS 26, because the firm determined to cease labeling its working techniques sequentially and as an alternative identify them in accordance with the fiscal yr 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 seem like frosted glass and different options seem like raindrops.
WatchOS 26 has new Apple Intelligence options, that are small and measured moderately than huge and sweeping—however for Apple Watch followers, the truth that there may be now Apple Intelligence in your wrist in any respect may be sufficient. Right here, I am going to stroll by among the new ideas 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 replicate that, added particulars on easy methods to obtain it, and added extra information on new options.
Is Your Apple Watch Suitable?
The right way to Set up WatchOS 26
First, verify that your cellphone and watch are absolutely charged and linked to Wi-Fi. Go to the Watch app in your iPhone and click on Settings > Normal > Software program Replace. Choose watchOS 26 (if it hasn’t already routinely up to date!). You are accomplished!
The Prime WatchOS 26 Options
Liquid Glass
Courtesy of Apple
Many 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—can even make the most of Liquid Glass in order to not obscure the display screen.
Exercise Buddy
Courtesy of Apple
Exercise Buddy makes use of all of the train knowledge gathered by the Apple Watch—coronary heart price, tempo, distance, and many others.—and makes use of it to supply customized, upbeat encouragement (“you crushed it!”) throughout your train session. Apple Intelligence analyzes your knowledge to offer these insights and to make use of voice encouragement derived from Health+ trainers. It could additionally mark key moments, like operating a mile significantly quick. It is out there for only a few workout routines, like indoor and out of doors strolling or operating, out of doors biking, purposeful and conventional power 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 throughout the Exercise app, and Apple Music can both choose music or present recommendations for an applicable playlist.
Sleep Rating and Hypertension
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WatchOS 26 now provides 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. Once you click on on Sleep Rating within the Well being app, it’s also possible to see your coronary heart price and respiratory price whereas sleeping.
The replace additionally provides the flexibility to trace potential 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 verify your knowledge over 30 days for potential indicators of hypertension and can notify the person. The research had been developed with research of over 100,000 folks, and the function is now FDA-cleared.
Good Stack
Courtesy of Apple
Good Stack now incorporates extra contextual knowledge, like location and the person’s routine, to offer extra useful ideas. For instance, should you arrive on the gymnasium at your traditional time, your Apple Watch could mark your location and slide a exercise routine to the highest of your Good Stack.
Messages and Notifications
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Should you personal a Watch Sequence 9, Watch Sequence 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 person’s wrist motion.
The Apple Watch now additionally helps Reside Translation in Messages (once more, you have to an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone). In case your language is about to English, the watch will provide prompts in Messages, like suggesting Apple Money if the person is requested for a donation. Name Screening and Maintain Help can even come to the cellphone 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. Stream is the brand new watch face that takes benefit of Liquid Glass, with blobs of shade that swirl by the clear glass numerals. Exactograph appears to be like 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 conventional 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.
