WatchOS 27 updates change Digital Crown shortcut behavior

The release of watchOS 27 has introduced a controversial change to the Apple Watch interface, specifically regarding the Digital Crown's double-click shortcut. Previously, this action allowed users to quickly switch between their current and most recently used apps. Under the new update, this functionality has been removed. For users with the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, the double-click will now trigger 'Live Rewind,' an AI-powered feature that transcribes audio from the previous 15 seconds. On older models that do not support this feature, the shortcut now defaults to opening the app grid. Apple has not provided a settings option to revert this change, causing frustration among users who prefer the previous app-switching behavior. As the company prepares for the September 18 launch of its latest hardware, it remains unclear if a future software update will restore user customization for this button.