The watchOS 27 public beta is now available for Apple Watch. It gives users an early look at the software update coming to everyone this fall.
watchOS 27 includes one potentially transformative addition: Siri AI on your wrist. Apple also added a dynamic app grid, a one-handed tap gesture, and a more proactive Smart Stack. In addition, the update brings several health and fitness upgrades.
Here’s how to install the beta, which watches can run it, and what you should try first.
Table of contents #
How to join the watchOS 27 public beta #
Before installing watchOS 27, update your paired iPhone to the iOS 27 public beta. Then follow these steps:
- Visit the Apple Beta Software Program websiteand sign in with your Apple Account. - Accept the program terms and enroll your account if you haven’t already.
- Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone. - Tap My Watch > General > Software Update > Beta Updates. - Select watchOS 27 Public Beta. - Return to Software Update, then tap Download and Install when the beta appears.
Your Apple Watch must have at least a 50% charge. Keep it on its charger and leave the paired iPhone nearby during the update. The iPhone should also remain connected to Wi-Fi.
Think carefully before installing. Unlike an iPhone, an Apple Watch cannot be easily restored to an earlier watchOS release. If the beta causes problems, you must wait for Apple to issue a newer build.
The watchOS 27 compatibility list is much shorter than last year’s. It includes Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3. You also need an iPhone 11 or newer, or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27.
Siri AI comes to the watchOS 27 public beta #
Siri AI first arrived on Apple Watch in developer beta 3. As such, the experience is a little more rough around the edges than other public beta experiences. Still, it should improve over the next few weeks and releases.
Siri can answer broader questions, understand personal context, and take actions in apps. For example, ask it to find a door code from an email or change an Activity goal.
The dedicated Siri app syncs conversation history privately through iCloud. Start an exchange on iPhone, then continue it from your Apple Watch. You can also pin a conversation you expect to revisit.
To test it, ask a question on your watch that would normally make you reach for your phone. Then follow up without repeating the context. If it works consistently, watchOS 27 could turn Apple Watch into a full-fledged AI wearable.
Siri AI requires a compatible watch and a nearby Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone.
A dynamic app grid and smarter Smart Stack #
Pressing the Digital Crown now opens a new dynamic app grid. The Siri app stays in the center. Meanwhile, recently used and popular apps fill the surrounding positions.
Smart Stack is becoming more proactive, too. It can surface a parked car or a Siri conversation to continue. Before a holiday, it can also remind you to adjust tomorrow’s alarm.
Location adds more context. Theater Mode may appear at a concert, while an ID can surface at the airport.
New one-handed tap gesture in watchOS 27 #
Apple’s new one-handed tap gesture completes a useful navigation sequence. Double tap scrolls through Smart Stack widgets. A single tap of your index finger and thumb selects the highlighted widget. Finally, wrist flick returns to the watch face.
Try the full sequence while your other hand is occupied. You can now navigate, select, and dismiss a widget without touching the display.
Health and fitness upgrades in watchOS 27 #
watchOS 27 includes three notable health and fitness upgrades. First, Workout Buddy can deliver Apple Intelligence coaching without your iPhone in your pocket. It also recognizes longer-term progress in distance, pace, and workout duration. Spanish support is new as well.
Second, new machine-learning algorithms improve treadmill distance measurements from the first step. Step counts in Fitness and Health now sync, too.
Finally, Cycle Tracking can notify users age 40 and older when logged patterns may suggest perimeno. It also adds symptom logging and educational resources.
More watchOS 27 public beta features #
One map-centered Find My app replaces three separate apps. Precision Finding can locate a paired iPhone, second-generation AirTag, or AirPods Pro 3.
Wallet displays custom passes created on iPhone, and you can pin them in Smart Stack. Meanwhile, Call Context surfaces useful details during calls with businesses.
Apple refined Liquid Glass for stronger contrast and sped up Music playback. In addition, the system may suggest disabling features you rarely use to extend battery life. These could include gestures, Start Workout reminders, or Raise to Speak. You can restore each feature in Settings.
Apple Watch For Your Kids also gains redesigned Screen Time, app-availability schedules, and approved-contact controls.
The watchOS 27 public beta will receive more updates throughout the summer. Apple plans to release the final version this fall. You can submit Apple Watch feedback through Feedback Assistant on an enrolled iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
9to5Mac’s Take #
Siri AI coming to Apple Watch is a huge leap forward for the product. iPhone already works with all the major AI chatbot apps. Apple Watch, on the other hand, hasn’t been an input device for modern AI systems. That changes with watchOS 27 and Siri AI.
The experience is still rough around the edges, at least based on watchOS 27 developer beta 3. Still, you can see where Apple is headed, and it’s really promising.
The challenge will be making Siri AI as performant as it is on iPhone. Apple will also need to ensure that Siri AI doesn’t make existing Siri functions feel slower. Hopefully this all shakes out over the summer before watchOS 27 arrives for everyone this fall.
Siri AI aside, watchOS 27 includes some welcome additions. The new Liquid Glass look is a step in the right direction. There’s no slider, but the default look is an improvement on Liquid Glass in watchOS 26.
The new single tap gesture builds on the existing double tap gesture feature, making it easier to take actions without touching the screen.
I’d still like to be able to open Notification Center if I see a red dot on my watch face. That requires swiping down with a finger, still, or using the classic nose trick.
The new dynamic app grid takes getting used to, but it’s grown on me after a month of using it.
The only thing I find myself missing in watchOS 27 is double clicking the Digital Crown to jump between apps. Double clicking the side button still summons cards in Wallet, but double clicking the Digital Crown just opens the dynamic app grid — same as a single click. I hope double clicking the crown returns in a future update to watchOS 27.
Beyond these highlights, there are the things that watchOS 27 doesn’t include to discuss. Walkie-Talkie is gone. I only ever used it to experiment with the app, but I know it had its fans as well. I don’t think a third-party app can really duplicate the experience, but a push-to-talk solution that works across Apple devices would make more sense to me.
Meanwhile, watchOS 27 doesn’t include any new watch faces, and third-party watch faces still aren’t a thing. We’ll probably see some new options from Apple in watchOS 27 when it comes out this fall, but Apple likes to save those for marketing new hardware as well.
That’s the early verdict for me on watchOS 27 for now. There’s more work to do, but we’re still in the beta period. I hope to see Siri AI performance dramatically improve before reaching customers. In the meantime, I’m just excited that the Apple Watch has a modern AI experience at all.
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