WatchOS 27 removes a feature from your Apple Watch

Apple's latest operating system, WatchOS 27, has been officially released, but some users have noticed a change in functionality that affects the button shortcuts on their Apple Watches. The most notable alteration is the removal of a double-click action on the Digital Crown, which previously allowed users to switch between the current app and the one they were using prior to the double-click.

This feature has been a staple of Apple Watches for years, providing a quick and efficient way for users to navigate through their apps.

However, the new WatchOS 27 has introduced a different behavior for this action, depending on the model of the Apple Watch. For users who have recently purchased the new Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4, models that support Live Rewind, the double-click will instead activate this listening feature, which transcribes the previous 15 seconds of audio that the watch has heard.

Live Rewind is a hardware-exclusive feature, meaning it is only available on these newer models. This change has sparked frustration among users, as those with older Apple Watches, which do not support Live Rewind, will now have to navigate through the app grid instead of the previously familiar app-switching action.

There is currently no option in the settings to change this function for users of both new and older models. MacRumors reported that Apple has not addressed this issue in any software updates, leaving users to adapt to the new functionality or simply accept the loss of the familiar app-switching shortcut. It remains to be seen if Apple will consider making any adjustments to this change in a future software update.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are both set to launch on September 18, and both devices are currently available for preorder.