Apple Watch Walkie-Talkie App Disappears in watchOS 27 Beta
Apple appears to have removed the Walkie-Talkie app from the Apple Watch in the initial watchOS 27 developer beta. Introduced in 2018, the feature allowed push-to-talk voice messages. Its removal, unconfirmed by Apple, comes as the beta also introduces Siri AI and other features, with a public release expected this fall.
Key points
- Apple has removed the Walkie-Talkie app from the first developer beta of watchOS 27.
- The Walkie-Talkie feature, launched with watchOS 5 in 2018, enabled push-to-talk voice messaging between Apple Watch users.
- The app is missing from the app list and Control Center in the watchOS 27 beta.
- Apple has not officially confirmed the removal, and the feature could potentially be reintroduced before the public release.
- watchOS 27 is currently in early beta testing, with a public release anticipated this fall.
Apple appears to be discontinuing its Walkie-Talkie application for the Apple Watch, as the feature is absent from the initial developer beta of the upcoming watchOS 27. The app, which allowed users to send push-to-talk voice messages to one another over Wi-Fi or cellular, was first introduced with watchOS 5 in 2018.
Users testing the first watchOS 27 beta have noted that the Walkie-Talkie app has vanished from both the main app list and the Control Center interface. While Apple has not issued an official statement confirming its removal, the disappearance suggests a potential retirement for the feature. The company did face a temporary disabling of the app shortly after its debut due to a security vulnerability that allowed unauthorized listening, though this was resolved with a subsequent update.
The removal comes as watchOS 27 is set to introduce other significant enhancements, including new Siri AI capabilities, a redesigned app grid, and custom Wallet passes. The beta software is expected to receive further updates before its official release to the public later this year. Compatibility for watchOS 27 includes Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE 3.
Sources
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