Apple may be quietly preparing to retire one of the Apple Watch’s most forgotten features.
Users running the first developer beta of watchOS 27 have noticed that the Walkie-Talkie app has disappeared entirely.
It has vanished from both the app list and Control Center with no obvious way to reinstall it. Apple hasn’t officially commented on the change. However, its absence suggests the company may finally be ready to move on from a feature that never really caught on.
Walkie-Talkie first arrived with watchOS 5 back in 2018, offering a push-to-talk communication tool that let Apple Watch owners send short voice messages over Wi-Fi or cellular. Unlike traditional walkie-talkies, it wasn’t limited by range. Instead, it allowed users to instantly connect with friends and family from virtually anywhere without reaching for their iPhone.
At the time, it felt like one of the more playful additions to the Apple Watch. The reality, however, was that Apple rarely revisited the feature after launch. Across eight major watchOS releases, Walkie-Talkie received little attention and few meaningful upgrades. Meanwhile, newer health, fitness and communication tools took centre stage.
Its history hasn’t been entirely smooth either. Less than a year after launch, Apple temporarily disabled Walkie-Talkie after discovering a security flaw. This flaw could potentially allow someone to listen through another user’s microphone without their knowledge. The company fixed the issue in watchOS 5.3. However, the incident arguably did little to boost confidence in a feature that was already struggling to find a regular audience.
While it’s still possible that Walkie-Talkie could return before watchOS 27 launches publicly, the removal feels deliberate rather than accidental. Apple is known for trimming underused features over time. This is particularly true when they no longer align with the company’s broader software priorities.
The disappearance also comes as Apple shifts more attention toward Apple Intelligence and smarter communication features across its devices. With watchOS 27 expected to focus heavily on AI-powered experiences and deeper ecosystem integration, removing rarely used apps could help simplify the overall experience.
watchOS 27 is currently available in developer beta, with a public beta expected next month. The final release should arrive this autumn alongside the next generation of Apple Watch models.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
