Apple rolls out watchOS 26 with Sleep Score, Liquid Glass, and other improvements

After a couple of months of rigorous testing, Apple is ready to release watchOS 26 for compatible Apple Watch models. The operating system is now rolling out alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, and other operating systems that were announced in June at WWDC 2025.

Despite a big number jump from watchOS 11 all the way to watchOS 26 (Apple unified all of its operating systems under one number to match the current year), the update is not the biggest one the Apple Watch has seen. Key updates include the Liquid Glass redesign, sleep tracking improvements, workout improvements, changes to iMessage, and more.

The biggest health change in watchOS 26 is Sleep Score, a new metric that shows the quality of your sleep based on its duration, time, and interruptions. Workout improvements include a redesigned user interface and the new Workout Buddy, a digital coach that gives you insights into your workouts and motivates you throughout them.

As for Liquid Glass, buttons, surfaces, icons, and other elements now have transparency, light reflections, and different kinds of visual candy. Sadly, if you have been waiting for new watch faces, watchOS 26 will disappoint you: there are only two new watch faces for the regular Apple Watch models and two more for those owning one of the Apple Watch Ultra models.

Other improvements in watchOS 26 include updates for Smart Stack, which now offers actions that might be most useful for you right here and right now, suggested smart actions in iMessage, and the ability to dismiss notifications, silence calls, and do other actions with a flick of your wrist. Your Apple Watch can now automatically adapt notification volume to your surroundings, plus you can view and create new notes with the Notes app, which is now available on watchOS.

watchOS 26 is available on the following Apple Watch models:

If you want to update your Apple Watch to watchOS 26, you have to update your iPhone to iOS 26 first (now available for download). After that, head to the Watch app and tap General > Software Updates.

Source

Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.

Posted Tuesday 16 September 2025 at 6:32 pm AEST (my time).

News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of August): 4,048

RIP Matrix