watchOS 26 May Finally Bring Third-Party Widgets to Apple Watch Control Center

A long-requested feature is finally on the horizon: Apple is reportedly adding support for third-party widgets in Control Center with watchOS 26, according to a new report from 9to5Mac.

This upgrade would be one of the most notable enhancements to Apple Watch user experience in years. Currently, the Control Center only offers built-in toggles like Wi-Fi, Battery Status, Focus Modes, and audio controls. With the update, developers could soon create custom widgets that users can access with a single swipe—unlocking a whole new tier of usability.

What Could Third-Party Widgets Do?

Think hydration logging, smart home device toggles, or quick-access workout starters—all made possible through personalized widgets designed by third-party apps. Developers might also tap into health, productivity, and lifestyle categories, giving Apple Watch users powerful customization tools on their wrist.

Custom Layouts via iPhone

The report also notes that widget layout will be fully customizable via the Watch app on iPhone. This would make it easier to add, remove, or reorder Control Center options—an improvement over the current method, which requires doing so directly on the Watch with more limited flexibility.

Part of a Bigger Update

This Control Center revamp is expected to be part of Apple’s broader “Solarium” redesign, which will reportedly unify the visual language across all Apple platforms. Solarium, heavily influenced by visionOS, will modernize watchOS alongside iOS 26, macOS 26, and others.

Apple is also expected to debut a new year-based naming convention for all operating systems. So rather than watchOS 11, we’re likely to see the update branded as watchOS 26 to reflect a 2025–2026 software cycle.

When Will We Know for Sure?

Apple is expected to officially unveil watchOS 26 during the WWDC25 keynote on June 9 at 10 a.m. PT. The keynote will also include previews of iOS 26, macOS 26, and iPadOS 26, and will place a heavy focus on AI enhancements and the new Solarium design language.

As always, features may change before the fall release, but if this one lands, it’s a big win for Apple Watch power users and developers alike.