Apple Watch Adds Menopause Tracking and Smarter Siri

Apple just announced that your smartwatch will finally help track one of the most common yet overlooked health transitions women face.

The tech giant revealed watchOS 27 today, and its standout feature is menopause and perimenopause support. If you log your menstrual cycle on your Apple Watch, the system will now monitor patterns for irregularities that might signal perimenopause is beginning.

When the watch detects changes, it guides users to educational resources about what to expect next and which symptoms to watch for. It's a small addition that fills a massive gap in women's health technology.

The update also brings a more conversational Siri to your wrist. The AI-powered assistant now understands natural language and picks up context clues from what you're doing.

You can start a conversation with Siri on your watch and continue it seamlessly on your iPhone or iPad. The watch's home screen gets a redesign too, with Siri at the center surrounded by your most-used apps and suggestions based on your current activity.

Apple focused this year on refining existing features rather than flashy announcements. The approach mirrors their 2009 "Snow Leopard" update, which prioritized fixing bugs and improving performance over new bells and whistles.

Still, a few handy additions made the cut. The Workout Buddy app now works without your iPhone nearby and adds Spanish language support.

A new accessibility feature lets you tap your thumb and index finger together once to open widgets when one hand is busy. It expands on the double-tap gesture Apple introduced in 2023.

The Ripple Effect

Over one billion women worldwide experience menopause, yet health tracking apps have historically ignored this life stage entirely. Apple's move signals that Big Tech is finally listening to what half the population actually needs from their devices.

The update could spark a broader shift in how health technology serves women beyond their reproductive years. When the world's most valuable company adds a feature, competitors often follow.

All these updates arrive this fall as a free download for compatible Apple Watches.