Apple has added a new one-handed flick gesture to watchOS 26 that allows users with newer Apple Watch models to easily dismiss notifications.
Notifications are even easier to manage with a simple wrist flick gesture on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. When a user raises their wrist to check a notification but isn’t ready to respond, they can quickly turn their wrist over and back to dismiss the notification. The wrist flick gesture can be used to dismiss notifications and incoming calls, silence timers and alarms, and return to the watch face. It uses the accelerometer and the gyroscope — along with a machine learning model — to analyze a user’s wrist movement. Wrist flick joins the double tap gesture to allow users to do even more on Apple Watch with only one hand, for times when the user’s other hand is occupied, such as when walking the dog, cooking, or holding a cup of coffee.
watchOS 26 also brings several other new and improved features to the Apple Watch, including a new Workout Buddy feature designed to keep you motivated with personalized, spoken comments, a new layout for the Workout app, and the ability to play music based on your tastes and the type of workout. Live translation is also now available in Messages.
watchOS 26 is available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program in July. watchOS 26 will be available this fall as a free software update for Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and all Apple Watch Ultra models, paired with iPhone 11 or later, running iOS 26. The Apple Intelligence features detailed require supported devices, which include all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max that have Apple Intelligence enabled and Siri and device language set to the same supported language. Features are subject to change.
