Apple Watch Apps Begin Showing Up in the App Store Ahead of Apple Watch Launch - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Watch Apps Begin Showing Up in the App Store Ahead of Apple Watch Launch

Ahead of the Apple Watch's upcoming April 24 launch, apps that include Apple Watch support are beginning to be released in the App Store. As of today, several popular iOS apps have been updated with built-in Apple Watch apps, including Evernote, Dark Sky, Things, and Target.

Additional apps with Apple Watch support will be rolling out over the course of the day, giving us a first look at how many of the apps on the device will function. We'll be updating this post with a list of Apple Watch apps that are available as they come out in the App Store.

Apple has already shared information on many third-party apps that will be available for the Apple Watch, but the updates coming today will give us a lot more information on how some of our favorite apps will take advantage of the App Store.

According to Evernote's app description, for example, users will be able to dictate notes into the Apple Watch, which will be transcribed and synced to Evernote. Users will also be able to see recently created, updated, and viewed notes, and get reminders about items that are due. Dark Sky's weather information will be brought to the wrist, and according to the app release notes, it's been designed from scratch to fit on the smaller screen of the Apple Watch.

thingsevernote
As we've mentioned before, Apple Watch apps are bundled into existing iPhone apps because the iPhone powers the app while a UI is extended to the Apple Watch. This helps to preserve battery and it controls the amount of access developers have to the watch. Apps that run fully on the Apple Watch are coming in the future, but are not available yet.

The Apple Watch will be available for pre-order and try-on sessions at Apple retail stores beginning on April 10. Third-party Apple Watch apps have likely started popping up today to allow Apple Store employees to install content on demo Apple Watches that will be shown off to customers.

Here's a comprehensive list of Apple Watch apps available with a brief description of what they'll do:

- Evernote: Users can dictate notes, get reminders on to-do tasks that are due, and see recently created/updated notes.

- Sky Guide: Displays a calendar of upcoming astronomical events, like the full moon, meteor showers, and eclipses. Also sends notifications when an event is about to happen nearby and gives alerts when the International Space Station is flying over you.

- Dark Sky: Displays Dark Sky's weather information on your wrist.

- Target: Lets you build a shopping list on your Apple Watch, and tells you where to find items in the store. Also has a glance view for seeing when a local store is open, how many items are on a list, and what deals are available.

- NYTimes: The New York Times' iPhone app gained Apple Watch support, and while there's no info in the release notes, Apple has previously shared that you'll be able to swipe through breaking news and short stories, use Handoff to read articles on your iPhone or iPad, and use "Save for Later" to build a reading list.

- Procreate Pocket: Procreate Pocket turns your Apple Watch into a remote control and color palette for painting on the iPhone. You can select brush, eraser, and effects, and perform tasks like undoing and redoing from your watch.

- WeChat: WeChat lets you read and reply to messages with text or stickers, read Moments from your friends, and make friends through Friends Radar.

- SPG Starwood: This app for Starwood Hotels & Resorts lets you unlock your door from your Apple Watch, get directions to the hotel, check in, and see reservation details.

- Kitchen Stories: Lets you discover recipes on your wrist, make and view shopping lists, and set timers to time baking and cooking.

- Redfin: This real estate app will display nearby listings with photos of homes, prices, number of bedrooms, square footage, and more. You can dictate notes into the app and share info with family members. There's also an option to contact a real estate agent to schedule a tour directly from the watch.

- Babbel: Language app Babbel is available on the Apple Watch, and will let you discover new words, unlock words by visiting different locations, and complete practice exercises to learn new vocabulary.

- Yahoo Tourney Pick'em: This fantasy app lets you see team overviews at a glance, get breaking news notifications, and check scores on your wrist.

- ECB Cricket: ECB Cricket's Apple Watch app displays live matches, offers scorecard information, delivers notifications after a Force Touch to enable them, and has a glance view for getting a quick look at scores.

- The Wall Street Journal: The Wall Street Journal's app delivers top news stories, alerts on when breaking news is posted, and market data.

- Transit: Lets users see departure times for public transportation directly on their wrists.

- MLB.com at Bat: Gives live stats, pitch-by-pitch updates, player details, highlights, and scores from your favorite teams.

- Runtastic Six Pack: This fitness app delivers workout instructions directly to a user's wrist and lets you know when a set has started and ended with vibrations.

- Expedia: Expedia's Apple Watch app will give notifications for flight status and gate changes, display hotel room reservation information, and it will offer upcoming travel details with maps and locations right on your wrist.

- Peak Brain Training: Peak's Apple Watch app lets you play brain games on your wrist. You can assess your attention and visual memory in 45 seconds from the app and play three brain improvement games.

- Lifesum: Lifesum's Apple Watch app lets you log meals, water, and exercise, plus it delivers tips, reminders, and exercise suggestions. You'll also be able to see your daily activity at a glance.

- Twitter: Twitter's Apple Watch app lets you Tweet, Retweet, reply, and favorite tweets from your wrist. You can also see recent Tweets and top trends, plus you can share your location, a song, or your thoughts from the app. "It's Twitter, but littler," reads the app description.

- Green Kitchen: This vegetarian recipe app lets you set timers on your wrist for whatever you're cooking.

- British Airways: British Airways will offer flight status, destination weather, and scheduled/estimated departure times via an Apple Watch glance. It will also deliver notifications on flight status and when a flight's gate changes (Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5).

- Hailo: Hailo for Apple Watch lets users request a taxi and track its progress as it approaches. The app also lets you see driver details and adjust a tip at the end of a ride. Hailo is available in select locations in the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Singapore.

- Wunderlist: The popular to-do app brings lists, agendas, and reminders to the Apple Watch with a new Home View, Reminders, easy Glance access to the Today Smart List and notifications for shared lists.

- Citymapper: Transit app Citymapper will show transportation information on your wrist, displaying A to B journeys and departure times. It'll also send status alerts.

- Air Canada: Air Canada's Apple Watch app lets you view flight status, boarding time countdown, check-in and boarding time notifications, and Passbook boarding passes, and also use Handoff to easily complete check-in from your iPhone.

- Tangerine Mobile Banking: Canada's Tangerine Bank is the first bank we've seen to launch Apple Watch support, with users able to view transactions and account balances through the device.

- Rules!: Puzzle game Rules! is bringing a daily brain workout mini game to the Apple Watch, which includes daily goals.

- Equinox: Fitness club chain will allow Apple Watch users to view club hours and info, book and view cycling classes, and track calories during classes.

- Japanese Translation: Speak English to your Apple Watch and your iPhone will translate it to spoken Japanese.

- The Globe and Mail: Canadian national newspaper will offer breaking news and top stories on the Apple Watch.

- CNN: Get breaking news alerts in twelve different categories on the Apple Watch, with easy handoff of articles and launching of live video on an iPhone.

- Weibo: Massive Chinese microblogging site Weibo is ready for Apple Watch with message notifications integration with WeiboFit exercise tracking system.

Other Apple Watch apps available that have not yet shared features include Qantas Airways, Onefootball, Line, Alipay, South China Morning Post, Invoice2go and, Pacer pedometer, Moneytree, and Things.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 12
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Surprise and Shine Live Coverage Article

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and More

Wednesday September 9, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the foldable iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, new AirPods 5 earphones, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We...
apple surprise and shine event

Apple Event Today: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo Cheat Sheet

Tuesday September 8, 2026 10:24 am PDT by
Apple's biggest event of the year is almost here, and all eyes are on Cupertino. With the first foldable iPhone expected to headline Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, the rumor mill has been running full throttle, fuelled by the biggest single design change in the life of the iPhone. To get you up to speed, here's a quick reference...
apple watch series 12

Leak Hints at Four New Features for Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

Monday September 7, 2026 8:57 am PDT by
Ahead of the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 later this week, code in the watchOS 27 and iOS 27 betas points to a series of new features for the product line. The information comes from a new post from MacRumors forums member "pdfu." The findings include: New "Readiness" app: An all-new separate Watch app referred to in code as "Readiness," distinct from the...

Top Rated Comments

sualpine Avatar
151 months ago
Will the "I Am Rich" app be available for Edition?
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
saving107 Avatar
151 months ago
Kitchen Stories also got an Apple Watch extension update.



Dictation, siri etc is stupid. Unless your blind or don't have fingers to type then just get your phone out and type.
My mom is not a U.S. native, she speaks english well (slight accent) but she struggles with the typing/spelling/writing but she's able to dictate her messages to me using Siri, she finds it a tremendous tool to not just sent me a text but look up an address on Maps, take notes or set reminders to name a few.

Open your mind just a bit.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oneMadRssn Avatar
151 months ago
So app sizes will continue to grow, even if those assets will never be used by the user?

I also don't like it that each app includes all the assets for all supported screen sizes. (A universal app will contain iPad assets even if its downloaded to an iPhone).

To some degree this makes sense. Apps are simpler to manage, but at the expensive of app sizes. Eventually it becomes inefficient to pack all those assets into a single app when only 10% of them will be used. I think that time is approaching now that there are 3 categories of devices (tablet, phone, watch).

Maybe it's time to update the app store to be smarter, where it can package the app downloads with only the relevant assets for the device downloading it, on the fly. Shouldn't be too hard, aren't .app files just containers anyway?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
151 months ago
It's real when you see the developers jumping on this ASAP! :)
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
151 months ago
I'm with Dark Sky. Yeah, where are the flying cars, power laces, size adjusting cloths, HYDRATING PIZZAS? Well we do have pay with your thumb (Apple Pay)

As a scientist, I R disappoint.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diddl14 Avatar
151 months ago
And.... you have 45min to try them all out before the battery dies.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Drops Intel Macs From Magic Mouse/Trackpad Compatibility Lists
Apple Drops Intel Macs From Magic Mouse/Trackpad Compatibility Lists
5 minutes ago
Apple Reportedly Waiting on Samsung for Ultimate Bezel-Free iPhone Display
Apple Reportedly Waiting on Samsung for Ultimate Bezel-Free iPhone Display
31 minutes ago
Apple's Own Home Security Camera Still Coming Next Year
Apple's Own Home Security Camera Still Coming Next Year
2 hours ago
Unfolded iPhone Duo Lets You Preview Documents in a Two-Page Layout
Unfolded iPhone Duo Lets You Preview Documents in a Two-Page Layout
3 hours ago
Formula 1 Coverage on Apple TV to Get Dolby Atmos Later This Month
Formula 1 Coverage on Apple TV to Get Dolby Atmos Later This Month
4 hours ago
LG Making Doorbell, Lock, and Cameras for Apple's Home Hub
LG Making Doorbell, Lock, and Cameras for Apple's Home Hub
15 hours ago
Apple to Report Q4 2026 Earnings on November 2
Apple to Report Q4 2026 Earnings on November 2
15 hours ago
Three Years of 80% Charge Limits on iPhone: The Results
Three Years of 80% Charge Limits on iPhone: The Results
17 hours ago
macOS 27.2 Further Hints at MacBook With Touch-Enabled OLED Display
macOS 27.2 Further Hints at MacBook With Touch-Enabled OLED Display
18 hours ago
The 15 Best Apple Deals Under $200 for Prime Day
The 15 Best Apple Deals Under $200 for Prime Day
19 hours ago
AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 Get Big Price Drops for Prime Day
AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 Get Big Price Drops for Prime Day
20 hours ago
Apple Releases Second Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
Apple Releases Second Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
20 hours ago
'Crossy Road Rush' Launching Exclusively on Apple Arcade in November
'Crossy Road Rush' Launching Exclusively on Apple Arcade in November
20 hours ago
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
21 hours ago
Prime Day Savings: TVs, Headphones, Chargers, and Other Tech Accessories
Prime Day Savings: TVs, Headphones, Chargers, and Other Tech Accessories
21 hours ago
Apple TV 4K Rumored to Support Four HomePods for Surround Sound
Apple TV 4K Rumored to Support Four HomePods for Surround Sound
22 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro and Duo Were Once Planned With 16GB RAM, Leaker Says
iPhone 18 Pro and Duo Were Once Planned With 16GB RAM, Leaker Says
23 hours ago
Apple's Entire Mac Lineup Gets Massive Discounts for Prime Day
Apple's Entire Mac Lineup Gets Massive Discounts for Prime Day
23 hours ago
Prime Day iPad Deals Include Low Prices on iPad Air, iPad Mini, and More
Prime Day iPad Deals Include Low Prices on iPad Air, iPad Mini, and More
23 hours ago
Apple's $634 Million Apple Watch Patent Bill Just Got Even Bigger
Apple's $634 Million Apple Watch Patent Bill Just Got Even Bigger
1 day ago
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Offers Major Discounts on AirPods, iPads, and Much More
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Offers Major Discounts on AirPods, iPads, and Much More
13 minutes ago
Microsoft OneDrive to Drop Support for These iPhone Models
Microsoft OneDrive to Drop Support for These iPhone Models
1 day ago
HomePod Mini Waits Reach Eight Weeks Ahead of Rumored Refresh
HomePod Mini Waits Reach Eight Weeks Ahead of Rumored Refresh
1 day ago
Apple Music Is Getting a New Logo
Apple Music Is Getting a New Logo
1 day ago
Apple Quietly Boosts Email Feature for iCloud+ Subscribers
Apple Quietly Boosts Email Feature for iCloud+ Subscribers
6 hours ago
iOS 27.2 May Let You Hide Specific Suggested Actions in Messages
iOS 27.2 May Let You Hide Specific Suggested Actions in Messages
1 day ago
Sources: Apple Planning Two Sets of Product Launches in October
Sources: Apple Planning Two Sets of Product Launches in October
1 day ago
Apple Announces iPhone Duo Apps Can Now Be Submitted to App Store
Apple Announces iPhone Duo Apps Can Now Be Submitted to App Store
1 day ago
macOS 27.2 Adds Touch Gestures Ahead of MacBook Ultra
macOS 27.2 Adds Touch Gestures Ahead of MacBook Ultra
2 days ago
Apple and AT&T Have Yet to Explain Cause of iPhone 18 Pro Max Issue
Apple and AT&T Have Yet to Explain Cause of iPhone 18 Pro Max Issue
2 days ago