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TechQuiet 46h · day 3

Apple restores Watch App Switcher in watchOS 27.2 beta 2 with new gesture

A press-and-hold shortcut brings back the App Switcher screen removed in watchOS 27, though the old Digital Crown double-click stays gone.

newest coverage 1d agosummary written 1d ago8 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • watchOS 27 had removed the ability to double-click the Digital Crown to open the App Switcher, angering some Apple Watch users.
  • watchOS 27.2 beta 2, released September 21, restores the App Switcher screen via a new press-and-hold gesture on the bottom of the screen instead of the old Crown shortcut.
  • Once open, the App Switcher still works as before: turning the Crown scrolls through recent apps, and swiping left with an 'X' tap removes one.
  • As with any beta, the exact gesture isn't guaranteed to ship in the final watchOS 27.2 release, expected next month.

“Have you been missing the App Switcher on watchOS 27? Let us know in the comments.”

Marcus Mendes, 9to5Mac journalist · 9to5Mac ↗ · Sep 21

Apple Developer of watchOSZac Hall 9to5Mac writerBones X user / Apple Den Discord memberMarcus Mendes 9to5Mac journalist

Apple restores Watch App Switcher in watchOS 27.2 beta 2 with new gesture
9to5mac.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 5 pieces in one hour at Sep 21, 9 PM; 8 pieces over 3 days (4 articles · 4 posts) Sep 21, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — 5 pieces · 2 articles · 3 posts — Mastodon 3, Google News 1, Newswires 1Sep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quiet 1
Sep 22yesterdaynow · 2:56 AM ET
  1. 1

    MacRumors confirms the App Switcher's return with the new gesture

    MacRumors independently reported the App Switcher's reappearance in watchOS 27.2 beta 2, noting the launch method now differs from the previous double-press of the Digital Crown used in watchOS 26 and earlier.

    “Apple has brought back the App Switcher! On watchOS 26 and earlier, you could access the App Switcher by double-clicking the Digital Crown, then turning the Digital Crown to navigate through your recently used apps.”
    — Bones, X user who spotted the change · source
    1. 2 outlets watchOS 27.2 beta 2 brings the App Switcher back with a new gesture

      first by 9to5Mac, 2d ago · also MacRumors

      1 more headline
  2. background

    Apple brings back the App Switcher in watchOS 27.2 beta 2 — watchOS 27.2 beta 2 restores the App Switcher screen, but instead of the old Digital Crown double-click it is triggered by pressing and holding the bottom of the screen; users can still turn the Crown to scroll or swipe left and tap 'X' to remove an app, as spotted via the Apple Den Discord server and shared by X user Bones.

  3. background

    Apple ships watchOS 27.2 beta 1 to developers — Apple released the first developer beta of watchOS 27.2, roughly a week before beta 2, without yet addressing the missing App Switcher.

  4. background

    watchOS 27 removes the Digital Crown App Switcher shortcut — Apple's watchOS 27 release eliminated the double-click of the Digital Crown that had opened the App Switcher, removing a quick way to jump between recent apps; 9to5Mac's Zac Hall wrote about the loss and hoped Apple would restore it.