With Watchos 26, major changes come to the Apple Watch, making one part completely different. This is going to change.
Watchos 26
Apple Watchos 26 announced at the WWDC 2025! The company makes the step from Watchos 11 to Watchos 26 in one go, where Apple refers to the year in which the software is mainly used. With Watchos 26, major changes are coming to the Apple Watch. The operating system will have a completely new interface, so that almost all applications will look different.
That is not all, because Apple has overhauled the control panel in Watchos 26. The part of the Apple Watch becomes completely different in the next software version, because Apple adds many more options. Earlier, users were given more freedom when classifying the control panel on the iPhone and iPad, now it is the turn of the Apple Watch. That is good news, because you will finally decide for yourself which regulators you add and where you place them.
Renewed control panel
In Watchos 26, the control panel receives support for the first time for controllers of third parties. At the moment you can only add switches from Apple’s own applications to the part on the Apple Watch. With Watchos 26 that changes, because you can then add a shortcut of each app to the control panel. This way you have many more functions within reach on your Apple Watch.
At the moment there are few applications that support the new feature, because developers need time to adjust the software. The release of Watchos 26 is only in September, by that time many more apps have support for controllers in the control panel. That part of the Apple Watch looks completely different from Watchos 26, because you can add many more switches.
More about Watchos 26
From Watchos 26 you are no longer limited to Apple’s applications in the control panel on the Apple Watch. Developers do not have to develop a special regulator for the part on the Apple Watch, because the smartwatch from Watchos 26 also recognizes the switches on your iPhone. With the settings of the control panel you will soon also be able to add regulators of applications on your iPhone to the Apple Watch, even if those of third parties are.
The Control Panel gets many more options and a new design in Watchos 26. Apple releases the update in September, along with all other important software versions from 2025. Are you curious if your Apple Watch has support for Watchos 26? Read here which smartwatches can update in September. Do you want to know more about Watchos 26? View all about the biggest update of 2025 for the Apple Watch here!
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