It’s strange that the handwashing timer is missing from the latest Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models.
The handwashing detection and timer function are not currently supported on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4.
Handwashing detection remains available in watchOS 27 and continues to be listed as a category in Apple Health, including iOS 27.2. It functions on the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 and is still documented in the watchOS 27 guide.
Apple’s newest watches do not appear in the supported hardware list, leaving it uncertain whether this is an oversight or due to a hardware change.
Logically, there would be no need to mention supported hardware if Apple intended to keep the feature on its newest devices.
Introduced in watchOS 7 in 2020, the handwashing detection feature seems to have been dropped from Apple’s 2026 hardware. The Series 12 and Ultra 4 debut a redesigned processor after several years, offering new Audio Intelligence capabilities such as Siri Recap and Live Rewind. It’s possible the handwashing feature was simply omitted.
We will update our reporting if more information about the missing feature becomes available.
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are now on sale. You can read the Digitio review here.
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