Apple Watch Walkie-Talkie App Removed in watchOS 27 Update

This fall, the upcoming watchOS 27 update will eliminate the Walkie-Talkie app from Apple Watch, removing the device’s push-to-talk voice communication feature.

Apple has not provided an explanation for discontinuing the Walkie-Talkie app, which has been part of the Apple Watch software for several years.

Throughout its history, Apple Watch has hosted various experimental features that were later discontinued. For example, rotating the Digital Crown once allowed users to scroll through data on complications such as weather or calendar events. The side button initially opened a circle of friends, and Digital Touch, originally exclusive to Apple Watch, now exists only as an iMessage app.

Apple Watch faces have also undergone changes, with some replaced by watchOS features like the Smart Stack widgets that effectively took the place of the Siri watch face. Other faces have disappeared due to expired licensing deals, such as the Toy Story watch face, which did not continue to Toy Story 5. Some watch faces have been removed without explanation or replacement, including the Explorer watch face that debuted with the cellular Apple Watch Series 3.

The Walkie-Talkie app was the latest feature to be removed with the watchOS 27 update. This push-to-talk function allowed voice communication exclusively between Apple Watches but required users to add contacts specifically for the app and to keep Walkie-Talkie mode enabled to receive messages.

Designed for real-time voice exchanges, Walkie-Talkie operated between a live call and sending voice memos. However, it required the yellow app icon to be visible on the watch face to indicate active Walkie-Talkie mode, ensuring users were aware when voice messages could be received.

Some users found the feature unreliable, uncertain if recipients were in a position to hear messages as they played. The playback experience lacked a sense of deliberate control, which affected its practicality.

Given these limitations, it is notable that Walkie-Talkie remained a system-level feature for so long, likely benefiting from being pre-installed rather than an optional app downloaded from the App Store.

Despite this, there is a known group of users who depend on the Walkie-Talkie app for practical communication, as discussed in various podcasts over the years. This suggests that its removal from the Apple Watch system might not be permanent. It may return as a standalone app on Apple platforms, or third-party developers might fill the gap left by its removal in watchOS 27.

Users are invited to share their experiences with the Walkie-Talkie app and their thoughts on its discontinuation.