How to Use Walkie-Talkie on Apple Watch

Is Walkie-Talkie Still on Apple Watch?

Not on watchOS 27. Apple says "With watchOS 27, Walkie-Talkie has been discontinued", and what still works depends on the watchOS version on both watches:

Your watch and your friend's	What happens
Both on watchOS 5.3 through watchOS 26.6	Walkie-Talkie works
You're on watchOS 27	The app no longer appears and isn't available to download from the App Store
You're on watchOS 26 or earlier, your friend updated to watchOS 27	You can't start a Walkie-Talkie conversation with them

watchOS 27 is compatible with Apple Watch SE 3, Series 9 and later, and Ultra 2 and later. Other watches get the newest version they can use, so by our reading of Apple's two pages, an older watch on watchOS 26.6 or earlier keeps the app. Apple's article doesn't name a replacement. The watchOS 27 User Guide still covers FaceTime audio calls, which you start from the Messages app. If you still rely on Walkie-Talkie, check known watchOS issues before you update your Apple Watch.

How to Add a Friend on Walkie-Talkie

To add a friend on Walkie-Talkie, send an invitation from the app:

1. Open the Walkie-Talkie app on your Apple Watch.
2. Scroll through the list of contacts, then tap a name to send an invitation.
3. Wait for your friend to accept. Their contact card stays gray under Friends You Invited until they do, then turns yellow.

To remove a friend, swipe left on them in the app, then tap the Delete button. On iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, tap Walkie-Talkie, tap Edit, tap the minus button, then tap Remove.

How to Accept an Invitation

Tap Always Allow in the notification that appears when someone invites you. If you miss that notification, look for it in Notification Center; invitations also appear in the Walkie-Talkie app.

How to Talk on Walkie-Talkie

To talk on Walkie-Talkie, hold the talk button while you speak:

1. Open the Walkie-Talkie app and tap a friend.
2. Touch and hold the talk button, then say something. If you see "connecting" on the screen, wait for Walkie-Talkie to connect.
3. Let go when you're done. Your friend instantly hears what you said.

Turn the Digital Crown to change the volume. Your friend gets an alert when you want to talk, as long as they're wearing their Apple Watch and have Walkie-Talkie turned on.

Turn Walkie-Talkie Off or On

Open the Walkie-Talkie app and switch Walkie-Talkie off or on, or tap the Walkie-Talkie button in Control Center. While you're unavailable, a notification asks if you'd like to talk when someone tries to reach you. Silent Mode still lets you hear chimes and your friend's voice, but Theater Mode makes you unavailable automatically.

How to Check It Worked

It worked when your friend's contact card turns yellow: they accepted, and once Walkie-Talkie connects, your friend can hear your voice and talk with you instantly.