Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · Sep 3
Apple Drops Digital Crown Double-Click App Switching in watchOS 27 as 6-App Grid Expands
Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · Sep 3

Apple Drops Digital Crown Double-Click App Switching in watchOS 27 as 6-App Grid Expands

3 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · Sep 3

Summary

  • watchOS 27 no longer lets Apple Watch users double-click the Digital Crown to jump between recent apps, removing a long-standing shortcut before the software ships this month.
  • Single- and double-clicks now trigger the same launcher, reflecting Apple’s push for a dynamic app grid that shows the Siri icon, five suggested apps and a full-grid button.
  • That change leaves no direct replacement for quickly toggling between two apps or between an app and the watch face on a device with limited physical controls.
  • The side button’s double-click still opens Apple Wallet cards, while the report says feedback about restoring the Crown gesture was sent to Apple in June and again after the July public beta.

Insights

Could the removal of the Digital Crown double-click signal a massive shift towards AI-driven navigation on the newest Apple Watches?
Why did Apple quietly kill the Apple Watch's most useful multitasking shortcut in watchOS 27, and will user backlash force its return?