Apple Drops 2018 Walkie-Talkie App From Apple Watch in watchOS 27

Q: What will replace the Apple Watch's instant, wrist-to-wrist voice connection now that Walkie Talkie is gone?

There is no announced Apple replacement for Walkie Talkie’s instant wrist-to-wrist voice link in watchOS 27. Based on the developer beta and related reporting, Apple appears to be removing the feature without introducing a new first-party tool that works the same way. The new watchOS 27 additions—such as Siri and Apple Intelligence improvements, health updates, and interface refinements—do not provide a direct push-to-talk substitute between Apple Watch users. In practical terms, users will likely have to fall back on existing communication options already available on the watch: phone calls, FaceTime Audio where supported, and Messages, including short voice clips. Those options can still handle quick communication, but they are not the same as Walkie Talkie’s one-tap, intercom-style exchange. For people who want a similar experience, the closest alternatives are third-party push-to-talk apps such as Zello or Two Way, assuming they remain supported on Apple Watch. Outside Apple’s ecosystem, dedicated radio walkie-talkies remain the more reliable option for instant communication, especially in remote areas because they do not depend on Wi-Fi or cellular service. So, at least for now, nothing inside watchOS 27 truly replaces Walkie Talkie. Apple appears to be retiring a niche feature rather than swapping it for a new one.

3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Jul 1

The first watchOS 27 developer beta removes Walkie-Talkie from the Apple Watch app list and Control Center, with users also reporting no option to redownload it.
The feature debuted in 2018 with watchOS 5 and let Apple Watch users send push-to-talk voice messages over Wi-Fi or cellular without distance limits.
Apple has not officially confirmed the removal, and the app could still return before watchOS 27 rolls out this fall, though the feature has seen little change since launch.
If the beta change sticks, Apple will quietly retire one of the Apple Watch's early marquee communication features as it reshapes the software for its next major release.