What to know

  • watchOS 26 introduces a new gesture to dismiss notifications on Apple Watch.
  • This feature aims to make handling notifications quicker and more convenient.
  • The update is part of several enhancements announced at WWDC 2025.
  • watchOS 26 is currently available in developer beta, with a public release expected later this year.

Apple has announced a new feature in watchOS 26 that lets you dismiss notifications with a simple gesture on your Apple Watch. This update is designed to help you manage notifications more efficiently, reducing the need to interact with the screen directly.

The new gesture allows you to quickly clear notifications as they appear, making it easier to keep your watch face uncluttered. Apple says this improvement is part of its ongoing efforts to streamline the user experience and make everyday tasks faster on the Apple Watch.

watchOS 26 was introduced during the company's WWDC 2025 keynote. Alongside the new notification gesture, Apple also announced other updates for its platforms, but this feature is specifically aimed at improving how you interact with notifications on your wrist.

The update is currently available as a developer beta. Apple plans to release a public beta in July, with a general rollout expected later in the year. If you use an Apple Watch, you can look forward to trying out the new gesture when watchOS 26 becomes widely available.

Via: macrumors.com