How to turn Apple Watch into a walkie-talkie

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watchOS 5
watchOS 5 turns Apple Watch into a walkie-talkie
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

You don’t need to buy the new Apple Watch Series 4 to get one of this year’s coolest new features on it.

As part of the watchOS 5 update released earlier this week, Apple introduced a new Walkie-Talkie app that lets you chat back-and-forth with other Apple Watch owners. The Walkie-Walkie app works no matter the distance between you and your friend. And it’s so easy to use, it might become your favorite new way to communicate.

Apple’s new video shows exactly how to use it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Op_I_dKS_k

Not all Apple Watches work with Walkie-Talkie app

Apple Watch owners will need to upgrade to watchOS 5 in order to send and receive Walkie-Talkie messages. The feature works on the Apple Watch Series 1 and above; if you have an original Apple Watch, you’re out of luck.

Along with the Walkie-Talkie how-to video, Apple came out with a new support document today detailing all the ins and outs of the new feature. The app isn’t available in some countries. Users also will need to install the FaceTime app before they can see Walkie-Talkie on their Apple Watches.

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