The upcoming version of watchOS reportedly will shake up the Apple Watch’s Control Center by adding support for third-party widgets. Right now, it only surfaces toggles for Wi-Fi, Battery, Focus mode, and other system settings.
However, like the iPhone, Apple supposedly will open the watchOS Control Center and allow for greater customization.
Apple Watch Control Center upgrade may unlock new tricks
Apple opened the iPhone’s Control Center to third-party toggles with iOS 18 in 2024. It instantly made the Control Center a lot more useful. The company will likely take a similar approach with the Apple Watch’s Control Center this year.
9to5Mac reports that the next version of watchOS (either called watchOS 12 or watchOS 26, if the company adopts the year-based OS naming system that’s been rumored) will allow third-party widgets in the Control Center. Plus, Apple will purportedly allow users to customize the layout to their liking directly through the Watch app on their iPhone. Currently, you can only edit the Control Center layout directly from the Apple Watch.
Custom widgets would make the Apple Watch’s Control Center more functional than ever. Imagine being able to trigger Shortcuts, directly trigger actions within an app, start a workout, and directly control a specific smart home accessory, etc.
watchOS 12/26 could focus on subtle improvements
Alongside iOS 19 and macOS 16 (or iOS 26 and macOS 26), Apple reportedly will introduce the visionOS-inspired UI to watchOS, providing a unified experience. Another report from earlier in the year suggests Apple will also bring Apple Intelligence to the Apple Watch this year.
Apple already highlighted some of the accessibility features coming to watchOS 26 this year, including controls for Live Listen and live transcriptions of conversations. Barring these improvements, watchOS 26 might end up a modest release, especially after the big leap Apple made with watchOS 11.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
