Apple Watch
Apple removed Walkie-Talkie. Here is what to use now.
With watchOS 27, the Walkie-Talkie app is gone from Apple Watch, with no way to bring it back. KeyUp keeps push-to-talk going: on iPhone in Safari today, on Android phones and Wear OS watches, and on Apple Watch once our native app is ready.
The short answer
Apple removed the Walkie-Talkie app from Apple Watch in watchOS 27 (released in September 2026). KeyUp is a push-to-talk walkie-talkie that works on iPhone in Safari right now, with no install, and talks to Android phones and Wear OS watches too. A native iPhone and Apple Watch app is planned after the beta: leave your email and we’ll tell you when it’s ready.
How it works.
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On iPhone today
Open KeyUp in Safari and add it to your Home Screen. Hold the button and everyone in the room hears you.
How to -
Not just Apple
Apple’s Walkie-Talkie only reached other Apple Watch owners. KeyUp rooms mix iPhone, Android phones, Wear OS watches and computers.
How to -
Rooms, not one-to-one
Talk to the whole family or crew at once, in rooms you set up, instead of one contact at a time.
How to -
Apple Watch app on the way
A native iPhone and Apple Watch app is planned after the beta. Join the list with Apple Watch as your watch and we’ll email you first.
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Switching to Wear OS?
On a Wear OS watch, KeyUp has a full standalone app: turn the crown or raise your wrist to talk, even with the screen off.
How to
The honest limits.
- There is no KeyUp Apple Watch app yet. It is planned after the beta, with no date promised.
- On iPhone, KeyUp runs in Safari and only listens and talks while the page is open in front. It can’t talk from the lock screen.
- KeyUp needs Wi-Fi or mobile data. It is not an offline radio.
- It is a work and family tool, not an emergency or safety device.
Questions.
Did Apple really remove Walkie-Talkie?
Yes. watchOS 27 removed the Walkie-Talkie app from every supported Apple Watch, from both the app list and Control Center. Apple hasn’t said why.
Can I use KeyUp on my Apple Watch now?
Not yet. Use it on your iPhone in Safari today. The Apple Watch app is planned after the beta; join the list to hear first.
Can my Android friends join?
Yes. Android phones, Wear OS watches, iPhones and computers can all be in the same room.
What does it cost?
Free during the beta. After that: Free for up to 3 people, Family $5.99 a month for 6, and Crew from $24.99 a month for 10 people. The Space owner pays; members and guests never do.
Free during the beta.
Join the beta for Android phones and Wear OS watches, or try a shift in your browser first.