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Will Your Apple Watch Support watchOS 26?

By / Tech / June 13, 2025

Find out which Apple Watch models support the new watchOS 26 update, as well as other requirements you need to fulfil.

Will your Apple Watch support watchOS 26? (Image via Apple | Deltia's Gaming)
Will your Apple Watch support watchOS 26? (Image via Apple | Deltia’s Gaming)

In WWDC 25, we saw Apple finally announce several major software updates, including watchOS 26. With this release, Apple plans to introduce a refreshed interface, a new smart fitness feature known as Workout Buddy, along with better notification management.

Sounds pretty enticing. But naturally, you must wonder whether you will be able to experience this software update and the major changes it brings with it. Do not worry. In this post, we will share whether your Apple Watch will support watchOS 26, as well as all the compatible Apple Watch models. Let’s dive right in.

Overview of Key Features

watchOS 26 is a collection of changes that aim to improve usability, and fitness tracking. Some of the new features include Workout Buddy, which is an intelligent tool that seeks to take users through daily workouts.

Also, the new notification center provides a simplified method to deal with notifications. These are among a wider update cycle that involves iOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26.

Supported Apple Watch Models

A new software design enables a vibrant and expressive experience that reflects and refracts content using real-time rendering, which brings even more focus to content. (Image via Apple | Deltia's Gaming)
A new software design enables a vibrant and expressive experience that reflects and refracts content using real-time rendering, which brings even more focus to content. (Image via Apple | Deltia’s Gaming)

Let us go over which Apple Watch models will support running on the watchOS 26. The list below gives an outline of the compatible models:

  • Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
  • Apple Watch Series 6
  • Apple Watch Series 7
  • Apple Watch Series 8
  • Apple Watch Series 9
  • Apple Watch Series 10
  • Apple Watch Ultra
  • Apple Watch Ultra 2

This compatibility list makes it clear that only recent models can get the update. Users who own older models of Apple Watch may have found their device to be compatible with earlier OS versions, however their watches will not get the update.

The update is expected to be seamless to users whose Apple Watch models are on the compatibility list. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that not every feature presented in watchOS 26 will be supported on every device that is compatible with this software.

Older hardware on the compatibility list may have some limitations compared to those who have the newest models. Such a subtle strategy enables Apple to strike the right balance between introducing new features and the hardware limits of a broad clientele.

System Requirements for Installation

When a user is waiting for a live agent, Hold Assist in the Phone app recognizes once a live agent is available and notifies the user to return to the call. (Image via Apple | Deltia's Gaming)
When a user is waiting for a live agent, Hold Assist in the Phone app recognizes once a live agent is available and notifies the user to return to the call. (Image via Apple | Deltia’s Gaming)

There are a few prerequisites that you need to ensure that you fulfil in order to enjoy watchOS 26 on your Apple Watch. In addition to the compatibility of the Apple Watch models themselves, watchOS 26 needs an iPhone with iOS 26.

To be more precise, the update requires the paired iPhone to be iPhone 11 or later. As a result, the devices like iPhone X are not supported as a minimum requirement anymore. This is required to maintain consistency with the performance experience across the newer ecosystems.

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