Telegram returns to Apple Watch and Wear OS with two new native smartwatch apps

Telegram has made a surprise return to smartwatches with new native apps for both Apple Watch and Wear OS. The launch brings Telegram back to watchOS after its previous app was discontinued and marks its first official release for Wear OS devices, including the Pixel Watch.

Both platforms now support core messaging from the wrist, including contacts, chat histories, text replies, and voice message recording and playback. The apps also support GIFs and videos, while Apple Watch currently adds stickers and location sharing. Wear OS, meanwhile, gets chat management tools such as pinning conversations, muting groups, and deleting messages. On Apple Watch, users sign in by scanning a QR code with Telegram on iPhone, with an additional cloud password step when enabled.

Telegram says the uneven feature split comes from different development priorities across its Android and iOS teams, with plans to bring the missing tools to both versions in a future update. The smartwatch release arrives alongside broader app changes, including improved bot formatting, markdown file support, better poll links, and a long-press option to open links in an external browser.