Apple is preparing a major transformation to the Apple Watch interface with watchOS 26 introducing support for third-party widgets in Control Center. This long-awaited change would mark the first time that developers can integrate their apps into this crucial part of the Apple Watch experience, potentially reshaping how users interact with their devices.
Third-party widgets come to Control Center
According to sources, watchOS 26 will open up Control Center to third-party developers, allowing them to embed widgets that display data or enable quick actions. These will appear alongside existing system toggles such as Wi-Fi, Battery, and Focus Mode, offering a more flexible and personalized user experience. The update is expected to support full customization through the Watch app on iPhone, making it significantly easier to arrange widgets compared to the current on-device method.
Long-overdue upgrade to Apple Watch usability
This new feature would represent one of the most significant usability upgrades in recent Apple Watch history. Until now, Control Center has been limited to Apple’s own tools, but this move opens the door to a variety of real-world applications: fitness tracking shortcuts, smart home controls, or instant hydration logs, among others.
The move brings Control Center functionality closer to the flexibility of watchOS complications, but with greater visibility and immediate interaction possibilities. It’s a sign that Apple may finally be rethinking areas of watchOS that have remained untouched for years.
While Apple could delay the launch or alter details before WWDC25, the inclusion of third-party widgets in Control Center would be a historic and highly demanded step forward.