A dedicated Apple Watch communication app is missing in watchOS 27

While the Apple Watch is gaining a handful of helpful features with watchOS 27, it’s also losing one that some users might miss.

Walkie-Talkie app appears to be discontinued in watchOS 27

As MacRumors noticed, watchOS 27 beta 1 no longer includes the Walkie-Talkie app or Control Center tile.

While it’s possible this will change in a future beta, it seems more likely that the experience, which is only offered on the Apple Watch, is just going away this year.

Walkie-Talkie was introduced as a bit of a novelty feature in watchOS 5 in 2018, though some Apple Watch users have found it useful in practical scenarios.

The Apple Watch app still works in watchOS 26. Walkie-Talkie requires adding connections through the app and leaving the app status on to receive voice messages.

Unlike the Messages app, Walkie-Talkie is only on the Apple Watch, and voice messages aren’t saved.

We’ll update our coverage if Apple clarifies the situation around Walkie-Talkie’s absence in watchOS 27.

watchOS 27 is currently available as a developer beta. A public beta will follow in July ahead of the official release this fall.

Apple Watch Series 11 is currently priced from $299, a 25% discount on the regular $399 price, on Amazon. watchOS 27 requires Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE 3.