watchOS 26.4 Now Available With Workout Update and New Emoji

Tuesday March 24, 2026 10:02 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released watchOS 26.4, the fourth major update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.4 comes a month and a half after Apple released watchOS 26.3.

watchos 26 gradient light
watchOS 26.4 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.4 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the watch. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

The update makes it quicker to start a workout in the Workout app by tapping on a Workout type icon, plus it has eight new emoji characters that include orca, trombone, treasure chest, fight cloud, hairy creature, landslide, ballet dancer, and distorted face. Apple's release notes are below.

This update introduces 8 new emoji, along with other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your Apple Watch This update also includes the following enhancements:

- Support for AirPods Max 2
- Workout type icon in the Workout app lets you start a workout with a single tap
- 8 new emoji including an orca, trombone, landslide, ballet dancer, and distorted face are available in the emoji keyboard

More on what's new in ‌watchOS 26‌ can be found in our watchOS 26 roundup.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11, watchOS 26, watchOS 27

Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy)

Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Sketchy Rumor Claims Apple Watch Series 12 Could Introduce Sensor in Band

Friday July 3, 2026 8:54 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

The Apple Watch Series 12 could ship with a new health sensor built directly into one of its bands, according to a sketchy rumor from a known leaker. The leaker known as "Kosutami" says the sensor will be injection-molded into a silicone band, and only a silicone band, apparently because Apple has not yet solved how to embed similar hardware in bands made from other materials. No detail was...

• 49 comments

Siri AI Comes to Apple Watch in watchOS 27 Beta 3

Monday July 6, 2026 1:24 pm PDT by Juli Clover

With watchOS 27 beta 3, Apple added support for Siri AI and the Siri app, so Apple Watch users can now use the features right from their wrist. Apple said Siri AI would be coming to the watch back when watchOS 27 was first introduced, but the feature wasn't live until now. The Dynamic App Grid that pops up when the Digital Crown is pressed displays the Siri app in the center, and the...

• 83 comments

Apple Watch Series 13 Rumored to Mark the End of an Era

Wednesday July 8, 2026 1:29 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol

While the Apple Watch Series 12 is still a few months away, a new rumor suggests that next year's Apple Watch Series 13 will mark the end of an era. According to a recent post from a known leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the Apple Watch will be receiving a major redesign next year, and this will apparently include a new way of attaching bands to the watch. As a result, the ...

Top Rated Comments

AppleWes

19 weeks ago

Does it require the phone to be on 26.4 first? I can't seem to initiate the update from the watch, phone still on 26.3

Yep you have to update iPhone first this is what happens if you try to update through Watch app

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

repoman016

19 weeks ago

Apple convinces us to integrate the watch with our routines and then changes the interface after we've used it for years out in public while performing other activities. At least they listen to feedback and put things back, mostly. Eager to update this today.

SAME omg the new workout layout is abysmal and I cannot stand it. Why does it insist on taking me to a metric screen 4 days after I ended my last workout, when I'm just trying to start a new workout?Why is selecting a workout so damn difficult now and take precision aim with the wheel? Why is it draining my battery asking me to type in my apple ID password when I'm in the middle of a workout and my watch is WATER LOCKED

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

CharlesShaw

19 weeks ago

The update makes it quicker to start a workout in the Workout app by tapping on a Workout type icon

Apple convinces us to integrate the watch with our routines and then changes the interface after we've used it for years out in public while performing other activities. At least they listen to feedback and put things back, mostly. Eager to update this today.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)