Apple Removes Walkie-Talkie From watchOS 27 Beta After 8 Releases Without Major Updates
Updated
Updated · Boy Genius Report · Jun 11
Apple Removes Walkie-Talkie From watchOS 27 Beta After 8 Releases Without Major Updates
3 articles · Updated · Boy Genius Report · Jun 11
Summary
The first watchOS 27 developer beta drops Walkie-Talkie from both the Apple Watch app list and Control Center, with no apparent way to restore it.
Apple has not said whether the removal is permanent, leaving open the possibility that the push-to-talk feature could return before the public release this fall.
Walkie-Talkie, introduced in watchOS 5 and dependent on FaceTime, had gone roughly 8 releases without substantial updates and was seen by some users as niche or cumbersome to set up.
User reaction is split: some say they rely on it, especially with kids, while others report it rarely worked well and was less convenient than texting or calling.
For now, the feature still exists on current public software, but watchOS 27 is also set to bring broader changes, including ending support for 5 older Apple Watch models.