watchOS 7 Removes Force Touch Support From Your Apple Watch, Here's Everything That's Changed

[Smigit]

It’s odd they decided to kill the feature for devices that support it, where the iPhone still supports 3D Touch for models with the hardware. I can only assume they felt the watch needed more UI changes.

when I upgrade my phone I think I’ll miss 3D Touch for bringing up a cursor. Don’t think I’ll miss it in my watch however.

 

[211]

I won’t miss it on Watch, but do miss it on iPhone. What is irritating on iPhone is that when I want to use long press, quite often it goes to jiggle mode. If there is a way to switch off jiggle mode so there’s no way to accidentally activate it, I’d be happy with the long press solution on iPhone

 

[Westside guy]

It's not the watch, it's the OS, so even older models upgraded to watchOS 7 would have it removed.

#watchOS6Forever

 

[goobot]

That’s like demanding refund because they did not tell you the 2020 iMac does not include an scuzzy port and a floppy drive. LOL

No it’s more like Apple disabling the floppy disk drive because their new computers don’t come with them anymore.

 

[thefourthpope]

Force touch was a favorite on my phone, and though I’ve only had my series 5 for about four months, force touch has been a favorite there too. I would just press hard on a screen to see what would happen.

Now instead of that I will have to scroll up, down, into settings, or look for a button, all depending on the app. That’s a total loss in the UX department.

I have always liked Apple products in large part because they have historically enabled more consistency across the entire product line than other tech companies—not just the walled garden but the basic approach. I assumed the removal of force touch was a move to bring phones in line with iPads, and now I’m guessing the same is true with the watch. It’s a shame because the three devices have very different input options.

 

[Jeremy A-H]

Surely, if you pay for an advertised feature, you should get a refund if it is then removed?

 

[incoherent_1]

The handling of the Force Touch feature has to be one of the most bungled features by Apple in recent years. Inconsistent implementation. Poor education/support for users. Beloved by some and unknown to many. And now, the final indignity of having it deactivated on devices that previously had it. What a mess.

 

[incoherent_1]

They really made me not want to buy this model. And I’m in the market for a new Apple watch...
- no force touch
- no major upgrades
- no redesign (same style as previous 2 cycles)
- no pure black stainless steel (?!!??)

Seriously Apple what is wrong with you guys.

Complacency I think.

Wait there’s seriously no black stainless anymore?! Good grief... ::cradles black stainless S5::

 

[autrefois]

Remember when Apple charged people $1.99 so they could start using 802.11n on previously-purchased Macs because it was a “significant feature enhancement”? If they’re taking away Force Touch on Apple Watch, shouldn’t people be getting a refund then for a significant feature removal?

 

[sirozha]

I’ve got Watch OS7 on my AW5 and force touch still works to change the watch face

Same here with Apple Watch Series 3.

 

[spartan1967]

In the long run, probably getting the masses used to not using this feature anymore so next years AW can remove the hardware needed and make room for a larger battery to get at least 24-48 hours of use without charging. In the short run, with the software engineers not having to deal with this this feature anymore probably makes for a much easier experience updating the software including the squashing of bugs and improving battery life.

 

[RabidMacFan]

Force touch was the iPhone/Apple Watch equivalent of right-click on Mac/Windows. Where they went wrong was that they utilized it in a Windows-like way. That is, it provided extra features that were hidden unless you knew where to use it.

Right-click on Mac is very different than on Windows. It hardly ever provides new functionality, since Apple mice don't even include right-click by default. Instead, it merely provides shortcuts for features available else-where. That's how force-touch should have been implemented for both iPhone and Apple Watch.

 

[Chompineer]

Force touch was the iPhone/Apple Watch equivalent of right-click on Mac/Windows. Where they went wrong was that they utilized it in a Windows-like way. That is, it provided extra features that were hidden unless you knew where to use it.

Right-click on Mac is very different than on Windows. It hardly ever provides new functionality, since Apple mice don't even include right-click by default. Instead, it merely provides shortcuts for features available else-where. That's how force-touch should have been implemented for both iPhone and Apple Watch.

I guess if you're a really basic user this is true.

 

[falainber]

Force Touch / 3D Touch was one of the cooler subtle features Apple introduced that made devices more enjoyable to use, and it was unique to Apple devices. I wonder why Apple felt the need to get rid of it? I still miss it when using my phone; tapping and holding just doesn't feel as cool and interactive as pushing harder.

When you push harder you inevitably hold it longer. The latter should suffice. You were just wasting your efforts.

 

[nickdalzell1]

News such as this are why I have updates blocked at my router (and use LTE outside of my own wifi):

Block these servers:

mesu.apple.com
softwareupdate.apple.com

Enjoy your features continuing to work!

 

[myrtlebee]

This was my favorite feature of the Apple Watch when I had one. (UI feature I should say. I enjoyed the haptic feedback.)

 

[Veinticinco]

It’s odd they decided to kill the feature for devices that support it, where the iPhone still supports 3D Touch for models with the hardware.

No it doesn't unless you're still running iOS12. They silently disabled it (on the X/XS/8/7/6S) with the release of iOS13, lowering the common denominator to the 1-year old haptic-only XR and new SE2 and 11s. The exact same stunt they've pulled yet again with watchOS7 update for those with AW5/4/3. The removal is bad enough but to do it silently without warning via an OS update, is utterly reprehensible.

 

[joelhinch]

Not happy about this. I asked AppleCare about why this is a thing, they are escalating to software engineering because apparently this isn't documented anywhere internally as being removed in older watches..... typical.... I use force touch every day and don't see why they should remove a hardware feature that my watch has via software just because it suits their new product. I didn't purchase a series 6 i have an older gen that has this hardware, why cant I continue using it? The product I was sold used the hardware, it should continue that way.

 

[JM]

Force touch does not work on watchOS 7 on any Apple Watch anymore

Speak for yourself. My series zero on watch OS 4 is doing quite well ?

 

[UltimaKilo]

Wait a second, so I can no longer force touch my weather app to see rain and temp conditions?

First it was 3D Touch, now this. Step in the wrong direction.

 

[bchery21]

I would use Force Touch all the time to clear all notifications :/

 

[Smigit]

No it doesn't unless you're still running iOS12. They silently disabled it (on the X/XS/8/7/6S) with the release of iOS13, lowering the common denominator to the 1-year old haptic-only XR and new SE2 and 11s. The exact same stunt they've pulled yet again with watchOS7 update for those with AW5/4/3. The removal is bad enough but to do it silently without warning via an OS update, is utterly reprehensible.

It’s still there. I’m on iOS 14. Here’s a screenshot I took just now with the option on an Xs

 

[cesko]

Won't miss it. With arthritic hands, required pressure to activate was uncomfortable.

 

[ikramerica]

Despite the pain of loss, this is the correct move.

Force Touch is not discoverable, at all. It’s truly a poor UX. In an ideal world, this feature is amazing. We don’t live in that ideal world.

Sure, once you’ve learned something, it’s difficult to revert, because now something seems missing.

Alas, sacrifices must be made. Apple has the data. The data clearly shows that it’s best to remove this feature.

Could Apple handle the removal better? Yes, absolutely. They could handle a lot of decisions they make by bringing more light to the subject.

But if you are an Apple consumer, you should know by now Apple has little to no transparency.

True. It’s why I barely used it. I would forget.

And who searches for shortcuts by squeezing their electronic device?

On the iphone I always forgot it was even a thing. And if you experiment most of the time nothing happens. So you feel foolish after a while.

On my watch, I only knew about using it for watch faces. It’s pretty awkward to push hard against your own wrist all the time.

 

[ikramerica]

Force touch was the iPhone/Apple Watch equivalent of right-click on Mac/Windows. Where they went wrong was that they utilized it in a Windows-like way. That is, it provided extra features that were hidden unless you knew where to use it.

Right-click on Mac is very different than on Windows. It hardly ever provides new functionality, since Apple mice don't even include right-click by default. Instead, it merely provides shortcuts for features available else-where. That's how force-touch should have been implemented for both iPhone and Apple Watch.

This.

It should have been a poweruser shortcut rather than something people were required to use for functionality.

But then, would it have been worth the cost and internal space for just a few power users?