Apple Removes 2018 Walkie-Talkie App From watchOS 27 Beta After 8 Releases of Neglect
Updated
Updated · MacRumors · Jun 10
Apple Removes 2018 Walkie-Talkie App From watchOS 27 Beta After 8 Releases of Neglect
3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jun 10
Summary
watchOS 27’s first developer beta removes Walkie-Talkie from the Apple Watch app list and Control Center, with no option to reinstall it.
The feature launched in 2018 with watchOS 5 and let Apple Watch users send push-to-talk voice messages over Wi-Fi or cellular via FaceTime infrastructure.
Eight major watchOS releases brought no meaningful updates, reinforcing the view that the beta removal is a quiet retirement rather than a temporary omission.
A security flaw soon after launch had already hurt the app’s momentum by briefly allowing microphone eavesdropping before Apple fixed it in watchOS 5.3.
watchOS 27 remains in early testing, with a public beta due next month and a fall release likely alongside new Apple Watch models.