watchOS 26 is Out! - What's New?

WatchOS 26 introduces a liquid glass design, new watch faces, updated workout features, and accessibility enhancements.

• WatchOS 26 features a liquid glass design and new watch faces.

• The update enhances workout functionalities and adds health monitoring tools.

• New accessibility features include wrist flick gestures and live listen captions.

WatchOS 26 brings a redesigned interface with a liquid glass design, similar to iOS 26, along with new features and improvements. The update includes four new watch faces, enhanced workout functionalities, sleep score tracking, hypertension alerts, and accessibility options such as wrist flick gestures and live listen captions.

New Liquid Glass Design

• 00:00:34 The new update features a liquid glass design throughout the operating system, including in the control center and notifications. Icons have been updated to match iOS 26, providing more depth. The redesign is present in various aspects of the OS, including the App Store and other shortcuts.

New Watch Faces

• 00:01:17 WatchOS 26 includes four new watch faces: Waypoint, Flow, Exactograph, and Photos, along with Pride Harmony. The new categories on the watch and iPhone app make it easier to find specific faces. The Exactograph face counts seconds around a dial, while Flow complements the liquid glass theme and moves with wrist motion.

Workout Updates

• 00:08:49 The workout app has been redesigned with new features, including music autoplay, workout buddy voices for encouragement, and customizable goal and target settings. The workout buddy feature celebrates accomplishments and is initially available only in English. The update also includes a new workouts tab on the iPhone fitness app, allowing users to start workouts without using the watch.

Accessibility Enhancements

• 00:11:29 WatchOS 26 introduces wrist flick gestures, allowing users to dismiss notifications or return to the watch face by quickly turning their wrist. There are also new options for live listen, enabling captions to be displayed in real-time on the Apple Watch. Users can also disable the liquid glass design in accessibility settings to reduce transparency and increase contrast.

New Apple Notes App

• 00:14:06 Apple Notes is now available as an app on the Apple Watch, allowing users to create new notes, pin or unpin them, and unlock locked notes directly from the watch. Users can input text from their iPhone, but creating notes directly from the watch is possible. Haptic feedback is provided for all actions within the app.