BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsTECHNOLOGY deskApple Is Bringing Back an Apple Watch Feature It Took Away With watchOS 27
Typically, software updates introduce new features rather than taking them away. So, when you install watchOS 27 on your compatible Apple Watch, you probably aren't surprised to see updates like Siri AI or a step counter on the watch face. But you might be taken aback by what's missing—a multitasking feature that your Apple Watch has had for years. watchOS 27 removed the app switcher on Apple Watch As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple quietly removed the app switcher from Apple Watches with watchOS 27. As a result, users running the beta over the summer, or those who updated in September, were likely confused when double-clicking the Digital Crown: On watchOS 26 and earlier, that gesture pulls up a menu with all open apps, similar to the app switcher on iPhone. This allows you to quickly return to a previously used app without needing to dive into the "honeycomb" main app menu.With watchOS 27, that's no longer the case. Not only is the app switcher gone, but the honeycomb app menu has been sidelined. In their place, Apple is pushing its new "Dynamic app grid." When you press the Digital Crown once, you'll see this new menu, which features the apps Siri thinks you're most likely to use. That might include recently used apps, but also apps you frequently use, even if you haven't used them in a while. That might prove to be useful. The honeycomb menu can certainly make apps difficult to find, especially if you have a lot of them on your watch. But replacing the app switcher entirely doesn't make much sense: There's no guarantee Siri is going to list the recently used app you want to use on the new menu, so you might be forced to manually hunt for it anyway, whereas with the app switcher, you could quickly bounce back to any app, provided you had opened it recently. This isn't the