Apple apparently listened to user feedback and brought back the App Switcher screen in the latest watchOS 27.2 beta, but accessing it is a little different than before.
In watchOS 26 and earlier, double-tapping the Digital Crown would bring up the App Switcher, where you could easily switch to the last used app and view and open other recently used apps. You can also swipe left on a misbehaving app to force it to close.
In watchOS 27, the Digital Crown double-tap gesture is now reserved for Apple’s new Live Rewind AI feature, so it no longer displays the App Switcher screen. Some feared this would mean the App Switcher would disappear forever, but Apple brought it back in the second beta of watchOS 27.2, released yesterday.
The gesture to open it has however changed.
As shown in the video below, you now access the App Switcher by long-pressing the bottom of the screen while you’re in an app.
Apple has brought back the App Switcher! On watchOS 26 and earlier, you can access the App Switcher by double-clicking the Digital Crown, then rotating the Digital Crown to navigate your recently used apps. You can also swipe left on an app and press the “X” button to… pic.twitter.com/G5fa0TeTR9
– (@limpless_skelly) September 22, 2026
Apple says Live Rewind, which offers a transcript of what was said in the last 15 seconds, will be available later this year on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
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