# watchOS 27.2 code hides an iPhone-style screenshot preview for Apple Watch

Source: https://idevice.com/watchos-27-2-apple-watch-screenshot-preview
Published: 2026-09-25

> It's switched off and Apple hasn't announced it, so watch screenshots still work the old way for now. If it ships, you'll be able to delete a stray capture before it lands in your iPhone's photo library.

Code explorer pdfu found a new Apple Watch screenshot flow hidden in the watchOS 27.2 beta, and [9to5Mac reported](https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/24/watchos-27-2-includes-hidden-overhaul-for-apple-watch-screenshots/) on the video pdfu posted to X on September 24. When you take a screenshot, a thumbnail preview appears on the side of the display, the way it does on an iPhone. You can share it right away, delete it, or dismiss the preview and let it save to Photos. Today the watch just flashes the screen and sends the image to your iPhone's Photos library with no confirmation, and it can take several seconds to show up there.

The new flow is hidden behind a feature flag that isn't turned on. Apple hasn't announced it, and its watchOS 27.2 release information doesn't mention it. It could be switched on in a later beta, pushed to another release or dropped. Apple also doesn't offer a normal way to take a watch on the beta back to the public release. Screenshots are off by default on Apple Watch. You can turn them on in the watch's Settings app or in the Watch app on your iPhone.

## Sources

- [9to5Mac](https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/24/watchos-27-2-includes-hidden-overhaul-for-apple-watch-screenshots/) (9to5Mac)