Apple has brought back the App Switcher on Apple Watch with the second beta of watchOS 27.2, reversing one of the more noticeable changes introduced with watchOS 27.
The App Switcher previously allowed users to quickly view and move between recently opened apps, but Apple removed the feature with watchOS 27 alongside changes to the way the Digital Crown works.
In watchOS 27.2 beta 2, the App Switcher can once again be opened, although Apple has introduced a new gesture to access it. Rather than double-clicking the Digital Crown, users can press and hold at the bottom of the Apple Watch display while inside an app to bring up their recently used apps.
Once open, users can scroll through recently used apps with the Digital Crown and select one to return to it. Apps can also be swiped to the left and closed using the X button.
The change means the familiar Digital Crown shortcut used in watchOS 26 and earlier has not returned. Apple has repurposed the double-click gesture as part of changes introduced with watchOS 27.
The Apple Post reported earlier this month that watchOS 27 introduced a redesigned dynamic app grid alongside Siri AI, new gestures and other changes across Apple Watch.
The restored App Switcher was spotted by beta testers following the release of watchOS 27.2 beta 2 and is not currently documented in Apple’s release notes, meaning its implementation could still change before watchOS 27.2 is released publicly.
Apple is currently testing watchOS 27.2 with developers ahead of a public release later this year.