We’ve all been there, wondering when our favorite gadgets will get that one feature we really want. For Apple Watch fans, that feature is often Touch ID. It’s a question that pops up every year, like clockwork. While this year’s big Apple event is just around the corner, don’t hold your breath for it just yet. Word on the street points to 2026 as a more likely time for this long-awaited addition.
This isn’t a new idea, not by a long shot. People have been talking about an Apple Watch with Touch ID for years. Back in 2019, Apple itself even filed a patent. It described a way to unlock the watch using your fingerprint, with a sensor hidden under the screen. Then, in 2020, we heard about Apple considering two main options for it. They thought about putting the sensor in the Digital Crown. Or, they still liked the idea of tucking it beneath the display.
Now, with the 2025 event practically here, new information has surfaced. It comes from Apple’s own internal developer code. Macworld got a peek at this code, which talks about Apple Watch models coming out in 2026 and beyond. This internal peek gives us a strong hint about what Apple is planning for the future of its popular smartwatch.
Inside Apple’s Touch ID Plans
It seems Apple is still actively trying to put Touch ID into its smartwatch. The internal code shows experiments with biometric security. Specifically, the code for 2026 models mentions support for “AppleMesa.” That’s Apple’s secret internal name for Touch ID. This tells us they’re serious about it.
But hold your horses, it’s not a done deal yet. Since this code is only for internal use, it seems Touch ID is still in the testing phase. None of the Apple Watch models out today, or even the ones coming this year, have any mention of Touch ID drivers. So, for now, it’s just a work in progress behind closed doors. We don’t know for sure how Apple will put Touch ID into its smartwatch. However, Apple has received many patents for a biometric system on the Apple Watch, including one that shows Touch ID placed on the side button of the watch.
It’s worth noting that DigiTimes, a tech news source, recently shared some interesting news. While they don’t always hit the mark with rumors, they reported last week that the Apple Watch will get a “major redesign” in 2026. This overhaul might include big changes to the outside hardware and sensors. It could also bring support for Apple Intelligence. If these reports are true, 2026 could indeed be the year for a truly new Apple Watch experience, perhaps finally with Touch ID.