watchOS 26

Apple previewed watchOS 26 on June 9, 2025, and released it on September 15. The announcement cited Series 6 and later, second-generation SE and all Ultra models, with iPhone 11 or later and iOS 26. No intermediate versions are invented to fill the numbering jump from watchOS 11.

Family

watchOS

Version

26

Platform

Apple Watch Series 6+ (Apple release register)

Apple · Security release register · Apple · watchOS 26 preview · 2025-06-09 · Apple · Platform release · 2025-09-15

Liquid Glass changed controls, navigation and Smart Stack; Notes came to the watch. Workout Buddy generated spoken motivation from workout history. Initially it was in English with Bluetooth headphones and a nearby Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone, not standalone intelligence on every updated watch.

Apple · watchOS 26 preview · 2025-06-09 · Apple · Platform release · 2025-09-15 · Apple · watchOS 26 notes

Sleep score summarized duration, consistency and interruptions. Hypertension notifications used signs observed over 30-day periods, for Series 9 and later and Ultra 2 and later with regional limits; not intended for people under 22, pregnant users or those already diagnosed. They are not a numeric blood-pressure reading.

Apple · Platform release · 2025-09-15 · Apple · watchOS 26 notes

Messages translation and wrist flick had their own model and language limits, not the full OS compatibility range. The table keeps 26.0.1 for Ultra 3 only. 26.2 notes refined sleep-score classification and alerts; 26.2.1 added second-generation AirTag support and 26.5 fixed dual-SIM Messages issues.

Apple · Security release register · Apple · watchOS 26 preview · 2025-06-09 · Apple · Platform release · 2025-09-15 · Apple · watchOS 26 notes