Software:WatchOS

watchOS

A customized watch face on watchOS 6
Developer	Apple
Written in	C C++ Objective-C Swift assembly language
OS family	Unix-like, iOS based on Darwin
Working state	Current
Source model	Closed, with open-source components
Initial release	April 24, 2015 (2015-04-24)
|Final release|Latest release}}	10.3 (January 22, 2024 (2024-01-22)) [±]
Marketing target	Smartwatch
Available in	45 languages
Update method	OTA (via iPhone 5+ running iOS 8.2+)
Platforms	ARMv8-A (5.0–) ARMv7-A (1.0–8.8.1)
Kernel type	Hybrid (XNU)
Default user interface	Cocoa Touch (GUI)
License	Proprietary software except for open-source components
Official website	apple.com/watchos
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watchOS is the operating system of the Apple Watch, developed by Apple. It is based on iOS, the operating system used by the iPhone, and has many similar features. It was released on April 24, 2015, along with the Apple Watch, the only device that runs watchOS. watchOS exposes an API called WatchKit for developer use.

The second version, watchOS 2, included support for native third-party apps and other improvements, and was released on September 21, 2015. The third version, watchOS 3, was released on September 13, 2016, to emphasize better performance and include new watch faces and stock apps. The fourth version, watchOS 4, was released on September 19, 2017. The fifth version, watchOS 5, was released on September 17, 2018, to add more third-party support and new workouts, along with the "Walkie-Talkie" feature. The sixth version, watchOS 6, was released on September 19, 2019. The seventh version, watchOS 7, was released on September 16, 2020, to support handwashing and sleep tracking. The eighth version, watchOS 8, was released on September 20, 2021, with updates in health monitoring, visuals, and apps. The ninth version, watchOS 9, was released on September 12, 2022. The tenth version, watchOS 10, was released on September 18, 2023. The 11th version, watchOS 11, was released on September 16, 2024. The 12th and current version, watchOS 26, was released on September 15, 2025.

Interface overview

The home screen, rendered by and also known as "Carousel", consists of circular application icons that can be zoomed in and out with the Digital Crown and launched by touching the display, allowing users to access their favorite apps.

Prior to watchOS 3, "Glances" offered quick access to summaries of the most frequently used native and third-party applications. The Glances view was opened with a swipe-up gesture from the watch face screen. In watchOS 3, Glances were replaced with a redesigned Control Center that mirrors the functionality seen in iOS, providing a more unified experience across Apple devices. The Control Center is accessed with a swipe-up gesture from the watch face screen. Additionally, the friends menu, previously activated with the side button, was repurposed as a dedicated dock for apps, enhancing multitasking and app management.

Prior to watchOS 7, different actions and options appeared depending on whether the user taps or deep-presses, detected with the pressure-sensitive (Force Touch) Display. Force Touch was completely removed in watchOS 7, and all actions requiring the feature were moved to specific options in the Settings app or to long-press actions. With the launch of watchOS 7, Force Touch technology was phased out. This feature was replaced by additional options in the Settings app and extended press gestures to accommodate all necessary interactions, making it more consistent with other Apple devices that do not support Force Touch.

Supported health metrics

Since its inception, watchOS has supported an increasing number and variety of health metrics for measurement and tracking. These include:

• heart rate
• maximal aerobic capacity, otherwise known as VO₂ max. (added in watchOS 4, enhanced in watchOS 7)
• electrocardiogram, otherwise known as EKG or ECG (added in watchOS 5.1.2)
• blood oxygen saturation, otherwise known as SpO₂ (added in watchOS 7)
• menstrual cycle status (added in watchOS 6)
• sleep duration & respiratory rate tracking (added in watchOS 7)
• body temperature tracking (added in watchOS 9)
• sleep apnea detection (added in watchOS 11)

HealthKit

For several years, Apple has been developing its HealthKit product in an attempt to penetrate the lucrative healthcare and wellness industry, which CB Insights believe holds a huge growth opportunity for Apple. This was confirmed by Jony Ive, Apple's former chief designer, in an interview. He said that health was a crucial element in the Apple Watch since the day of its inception and that the developmental trajectory of the hardware and the watchOS were geared towards health-based capabilities. Ive pointed out that one of the primary apps that shipped with the first watchOS allowed users to track and communicate as well as encourage them to move, exercise, and stand. He said:

Many of us have our phones with us all the time, but they aren't connected to you. Imagine having something this powerful with you at all times, and what opportunities that might present to the user. The opportunity is phenomenal. Particularly when [you] don't understand just where we are today in terms of technology and capability, but where we are headed.

Applications have been developed for watchOS that not only keep users active but also diagnose illnesses. For example, the app called DeepHeart, a deep-learning network that can detect atrial fibrillation, hypertension, sleep apnea, and diabetes. It taps into the HealthKit platform to collect data, particularly those collected by the Apple Watch's heart sensor.

Version history

Overview

1. REDIRECT Template:Row hover highlight

Overview of watchOS versions

Version	Initial release date	Latest version	Build number	Latest release date	Device end-of-life
					Apple Watch	iPhone
watchOS 1	2015-04-24	1.0.1	12S632	2015-05-19	N/A	N/A
watchOS 2	2015-09-21	2.2.2	13V604	2016-07-18
watchOS 3	2016-09-13	3.2.3	14V753	2017-07-19		5, 5C
watchOS 4	2017-09-19	4.3.2	15U70	2018-07-09	1st	N/A
watchOS 5	2018-09-17	5.3.9	16U693	2020-11-05	N/A	5S, 6
watchOS 6	2019-09-19	6.3	17U216	2020-12-14	Series 1, Series 2	N/A
watchOS 7	2020-09-16	7.6.2	18U80	2021-09-13	N/A	N/A
watchOS 8	2021-09-20	8.8.1	19U512	2023-06-21	Series 3	6S, SE (1st), 7
watchOS 9	2022-09-12	9.6.3	20U502	2023-09-21	N/A	8, X
watchOS 10	2023-09-18	10.6.1	21U580	2024-08-19	Series 4, Series 5, SE (1st)	N/A
watchOS 11	2024-09-16	11.6.1	22U84	2025-08-14	N/A	XS, XR
watchOS 26	2025-09-15	26.0.2	23R362	2025-09-29	TBA
		26.1 RC	23S36	2025-10-28
{{{2}}}

watchOS 1

The first version of watchOS 1 was 1.0 and was based on iOS 8.2. The second version of watchOS 1 was 1.0.1 and was based on iOS 8.3.

Overview of watchOS 1 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
1.0	8.2	12S507	2015	Initial release on Apple Watch (1st Generation). UI Free-floating Circular app icons in home screen. Zoom in with Digital Crown. 9 watch faces: Chronograph, Color, Modular, Utility, Mickey Mouse, Simple, Motion, Solar, Astronomy 20 stock apps: Activity, Alarm, Calendar, Camera Remote, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Passbook, Phone, Photos, Remote, Settings, Siri, Stocks, Stopwatch, Timer, Weather, Workout, World Clock.
1.0.1	8.3	12S632	2015	Display support for new Emoji characters. Notification screen UI tweaks. Improved performance: Free floating Circular app icons in home screen. Zoom in with Digital Crown. Siri. Measuring stand activity. Calculating calories for indoor cycling and rowing workouts. Distance and pace during outdoor walk and run. Accessibility. Third-party apps. Wrist Raise (more sensitive to real-life wrist raises). Additional language support: Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Thai, Turkish. Security fixes

watchOS 2

Overview of watchOS 2 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
2.0	9.0	13S344	2015	New Watch faces Time-lapse face: Hong Kong, London, Mack Lake, New York, Shanghai, Paris Photo & Photo album faces with support for Live Photos New Time Travel function where you can see both past and future events Nightstand Mode 9 new colors for customization New multicolor Modular face 3rd party apps Complications support Siri Workout and Maps support FaceTime audio calling and email replying support HomeKit support Added support in following countries: Austria, Belgium, Norway Activity and Workout Workouts done in 3rd-party apps will be included in Activity rings Sharing support from Activity app on iPhone Interactive achievements Weekly Summary Activity notifications can now be muted for a day Workouts can now be automatically saved Apple Pay and Wallet Discover cards support Reward cards, store credit and debit cards support Passes can now be added from 3rd party apps Friends You can now add more than 12 friends to your Watch Groups support Multicolor sketches support Animated emoji support Maps New Transit view in selected cities List of directions can now be shown Station placards support with departure information Music New Beats 1 Radio support New Quick Play button for Apple Music Miscellaneous You can now reply to emails right from your Watch using dictation, emoji, or smart replies Support for FaceTime audio calls Support for Wi-Fi calling Activation Lock – No one can activate an Apple Watch without a proper Apple ID and password New system languages: English (India), Finnish, Indonesian, Norwegian, Polish Dictation support extended to include the following languages: Dutch (Belgium) English (Ireland, Philippines, South Africa) French (Belgium) German (Austria) Spanish (Chile, Colombia) Smart replies support extended to include the following languages: Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong, Taiwan) Danish Dutch English (New Zealand, Singapore) Japanese Korean Swedish Thai Developer Native SDK support 3rd-party apps can now access the accelerometer, heart rate sensor, microphone, Taptic Engine, and Digital Crown You can now play videos directly on your Watch You can now run apps without your iPhone with a Wi-Fi connection Complications for watch faces support Support for Workouts from 3rd party apps – Metrics will count toward the Activity rings as well as included in the Activity app on iPhone
2.0.1	9.1	13S428	2015	New emoji Bug fixes
2.1	9.2	13S661	2015	New system languages: Arabic, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Malay, Portuguese (Portugal), Vietnamese Right-to-left language support In Arabic, switch between Latin and Hindi numerals New Complication for Islamic and Hebrew calendars Siri support extended to include Arabic (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) Dictation support extended to include the following languages: Arabic (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) English (Malaysia) Czech Greek Hebrew Hungarian Portuguese (Portugal) Vietnamese Bug fixes
2.2	9.3	13V144	2016	You can now pair 2+ Apple Watches to a single iPhone New Nearby function in Maps New system languages: Catalan, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Ukrainian Dictation support extended to include the following languages: Catalan Croatian Slovak Romanian Ukrainian English (Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia) Siri support extended to include Malay, Finnish, and Hebrew Background heart rate measurements have their frequency increased when you're stationary
2.2.1	9.3.2	13V420	2016	General performance and stability improvements.
2.2.2	9.3.3	13V604	2016	General performance and stability improvements.

watchOS 3

Overview of watchOS 3 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
3.0	10.0	14S326	2016	Initial Release on Apple Watch Series 1 (Dual-Core) and Apple Watch Series 2 (Dual-Core) Navigation Favorite apps in Dock Apps in Dock updates with up-to-date information on launch Dock can contain up to 10 apps Simple switch to different watch face with a swipe Control Center can be toggled with a swipe up New Watch faces Minnie Mouse face Activity faces Numerals faces Complications support for Photo, Photo Album, Timelapse, and Motion faces New Complications: Workout, Music, and Messages, etc. Face Gallery in Apple Watch app on iPhone 3rd-party Complications support Activity Share and compare activity rings Activity progress notifications for a person you have shared your activity progress with Smart replies for above notifications New "Sharing" tab on Activity app on iPhone Workout Quick start Customizable metrics view Gestures support for pausing, resuming, or marking segments Support for "Other" workouts not listed in built-in workout types Auto-pause in running workouts for inactivity Siri support Route maps with a speed indicator (Outdoor workouts only) For Wheelchairs Activity rings support for people using a wheelchair Pushes now contribute to the move ring Stand ring and "Time to Stand" notification substituted with Roll ring and "Time to Roll" notification Outdoor Run or Walk pace workouts Breathe app New app for breathing sessions Visualization and haptics indicate when to inhale or exhale Adjustments for session length and amount of breaths per minute Summary with heart rate "Time to Breathe" notifications Weekly Summary Communication Full-screen effects for celebrations Tap to quick reply Animations for handwritten messages Send built-in or 3rd party stickers Ability to view secret messages Replies now available in Messages and Mail notifications New and redesigned emojis Scribble Write directly on Apple Watch and it will automatically convert to text Scroll through predictions with Digital Crown Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese Emergency SOS You can now call emergency services by pressing and holding the side button Your SOS contacts will be notified with your location You can also display your Medical ID stored on your Watch Emergency numbers are automatically adjusted per your location Home New app to control accessories through HomeKit You can now control all your accessories directly from your wrist IP camera support: Watch live video with controls and notifications directly on your Watch Miscellaneous New Reminders app New Find My Friends app Apple Pay support in 3rd-party apps New controls in the Calendar app: You can now delete events or switch calendars FaceTime audio calls support Search for Settings on Apple Watch app on iPhone New remote camera controls: Flash, Live Photos, HDR, Zoom, Burst, and facing New Siri languages: Spanish (Chile), Cantonese, English (Ireland), English (South Africa)
3.1	10.1	14S471	2016	Bubbles and fullscreen effects on Messages can now be replayed Reduce Motion of Messages effects Bug fixes
3.1.1	10.2	14S883	2016	Update withdrawn due to reports of Apple Watches no longer working after the update
3.1.3	10.2.1	14S960	2017	Includes fixes from watchOS 3.1.1
3.2	10.3	14V249	2017	Siri now works with 3rd-party apps with features including Start a workout Send messages Make payments Book rides Theater Mode New Scribble languages: French, Spanish, Italian Sync progress for music playlists is now displayed in the Apple Watch app on iPhone
3.2.2	10.3.2	14V485	2017	Bug fixes.
3.2.3	10.3.3	14V753	2017	Bug fixes. Final version to support iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C

watchOS 4

Overview of watchOS 4 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
4.0	11.0	15R372	2017	Initial release on Apple Watch Series 3 Drops support for iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C New Watch faces Siri face with updates based on time, location, and daily routines Toy Story face with animated Toy Story characters Kaleidoscope face with static images turning into patterns Siri, News, Heart Rate, Now Playing, Messages Complications Activity Personalized notifications Monthly challenges Full Screen animations for achievements and rings closed Workout metrics included in replies for Activity Sharing notifications Workout App completely redesigned High Intensity Interval Training workout support Multiple workouts in a single session support Auto sets for Pool Swim workouts Synced music playlist support when starting workouts (Apple Watch 1st gen not supported) Music controls right inside the app Do Not Disturb can be automatically turned on when starting workouts Heart Rate Graphs for all-day heart rate New measurements including resting rate, walking average, workout average, workout high, recovery, and Breathe sessions High Heart Rate notifications support (Apple Watch 1st gen not supported) New Heart Rate data on iPhone including Heart Rate Variability and VO2 max. Music App completely redesigned Multiple playlists sync support for local playback with Bluetooth headphones Apple Music curated playlists sync support, includes Heavy Rotation, My New Music Mix, and My Favorites Mix Miscellaneous News app added Flashlight and Safety Light can be toggled through Control Center Recent used apps in Dock App home screen in alphabetical view Gestures support in Mail Dialer pad right inside Phone app Conflicts for Calendar invites can now be displayed New language for Scribble: German New timers: sub-minute and repeating Recent locations and suggestions in Maps Contacts in Smart Reply, includes location
4.0.1	11.0	15R654	2017	Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) only Bug fixes
4.1	11.1	15R846	2017	Music streaming support on Apple Music or iCloud Music Library (Apple Watch Series 3 only) New Radio app: Beats 1 Live Radio, custom stations, and expert-curated stations (Apple Watch Series 3 only) Find, discover, and play songs, albums, or albums using Siri Fitness data syncing support for more accurate metrics on GymKit-enabled treadmills, ellipticals, stair steppers, and indoor bikes Ability to disconnect from a Wi-Fi network right in Control Center (Apple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular model only) Mandarin Chinese now set as default dictation language in China Bug fixes
4.2	11.2	15S102	2017	Apple Pay Cash support (US only) HomeKit sprinklers and faucet support 3rd-party app Workouts: distance, average Speed, number of runs, elevation descended for downhill snow sports (Apple Watch Series 3 only) Bug fixes
4.2.2	11.2	15S542	2018	This update includes improvements and bug fixes.
4.2.3	11.2	15S600b	2018	Fixes an issue where using certain character sequences could cause apps to crash.
4.3	11.3	15T212	2018	HomePod volume and playback control support Regaining control of music on iPhone Multiple orientation support on Nightstand mode Activity rings progress and new songs to Apple Music mixes are now shown on the Siri watch face Bug fixes
4.3.1	11.4	15T567	2018	Fixes an issue which caused Apple Watch to sometimes remain at the Apple Logo during startup for some users.
4.3.2	11.4.1	15U70	2018	Final release supported on Apple Watch (1st generation) This update includes improvements and bug fixes.

watchOS 5

watchOS 5 was first shown to the public at the 2018 San Jose WWDC developer conference held on June 4, 2018 by Apple. It had an instant watch-to-watch Walkie-Talkie mode. With this release, Apple dropped support for the first generation Apple Watch. watchOS 5 was the first version of watchOS to bring 64-bit support.

Overview of watchOS 5 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
5.0	12.0	16R364	2018	Initial Release on Apple Watch Series 4 Drops support for the Apple Watch (1st generation) Workout Compete with Friends notifications Auto detect workout and notification to turn off workout when done New workouts: Yoga and Hiking Pace Alerts and Cadence Podcasts New app for watchOS Download episodes of podcasts for listening Stream your favorite podcasts on the go (Series 3 and later only) Walkie-Talkie A new watchOS app that allows you to do FaceTime Audio calls similar to talking on a walkie-talkie Siri Watchface adds 3rd-party access to Siri Raise to Speak. No longer need to say "Hey Siri" to activate (Series 3 and later only) Integrate with shortcuts like "I am on my way home" and Siri will start playing your favorite playlist on the way home Notifications Grouped notifications More actions you can do with Notifications Can view webpages from iMessages Do Not Disturb Can schedule Do Not Disturb events when leaving a location or just for a specific time period Student ID Cards
5.0.1	12.0	16R381/16R382	2018	Improvements and bug fixes
5.1	12.1	16R591	2018	Update withdrawn due to reports of Apple Watches no longer working after the update
5.1.1	12.1	16R600	2018	Improvements and bug fixes Addresses a problem in the WatchOS 5.1 update leading to non-functional Apple Watches. Improvements to Series 4 automatic fall detection. Resolves a problem with completing setup of Walkie-Talkie. Resolves a problem with sending and receiving invitations for Walkie-Talkie. Resolves missing earned Activity awards.
5.1.2	12.1.1	16S46	2018	New ECG app for Apple Watch Series 4 (US and US territories only) Irregular rhythm notification (US and US territories only) AFiB notification Other improvements and bug fixes
5.1.3	12.1.3	16S535	2019	This update includes improvements and bug fixes.
5.2	12.2	16T225	2019	ECG app extended to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK Irregular rhythm notification extended to countries listed above 2nd gen AirPods support Real-time text support for phone calls
5.2.1	12.3	16U113	2019	ECG app extended to Croatia, Czech, Iceland, Poland, and Slovakia Irregular rhythm notification extended to countries listed above New Pride watch face Other bug fixes
5.3	12.4	16U569	2019	ECG app extended to Canada and Singapore Irregular rhythm notification extended to countries listed above Security fix for Walkie-Talkie app that could enable the owner's iPhone to be eavesdropped
5.3.1	12.4.1	16U600	2019	Re-patches a security vulnerability that was accidentally unpatched in the previous update
Post-watchOS 6 Updates for watches paired with an iOS 12.x iPhone (to support iPhone 5S and iPhone 6/6 Plus)
5.3.2	12.4.2	16U611	2019	Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2 only Security update for Series 1 and Series 2 watches
5.3.3	12.4.3	16U620	2019 Important security updates
5.3.4	12.4.4	16U627	2019	Security update for Series 1, 2, 3, and 4 watches
5.3.5	12.4.5	16U652	2020	Update for Series 1, 2, 3, and 4 watches with heart rhythm notification bug fix No published security notes.
5.3.6	12.4.6	16U662	2020	Important security updates No published security notes.
5.3.7	12.4.7	16U674	2020	Improvements and bug fixes Security notes
5.3.8	12.4.8	16U680	2020	Improvements and bug fixes No published security notes.
5.3.9	12.4.9	16U693	2020	Final version to support iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Improvements and bug fixes Security notes

watchOS 6

Apple announced a new version of watchOS that would contain features such as the App Store, a calculator with tip tools, an audiobooks app, noise level monitoring, and Apple's Voice Memos app, at WWDC 2019 held on June 3, 2019. It also enables special games that can only be played on the Watch interface. With this release, Apple dropped support for iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus. However, watchOS 6 has limited support on Apple Watch Series 1 and 2. watchOS 6.3 is the final release supported on the Apple Watch Series 1 and 2.

Overview of watchOS 6 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
6.0	13.0	17R575	2019	Initial Release on Apple Watch Series 5 Not released for Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 Drops support for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Cycle Tracking New Cycle Tracking app for tracking menstrual cycle and fertility metrics Notifications predicting a person's next menstrual cycle and fertile window. Noise (Series 4 or later only) New Noise app for detecting decibel levels in your surroundings. Notifications can be pushed when it detects that the noise in your surrounding is too high. Voice Memos New Voice Memos app for recording and listening to voice memos directly on Apple Watch Synced across all your devices as well. Audiobooks Now you can sync up to 5 hours of audiobooks to your Apple Watch Stream them when your Watch is connected via Wi-Fi or cellular App store New built-in App Store where you can find and download apps for your Watch. Supports Sign in with Apple Activity Trends Activity Trends in Activity app which includes all three activity rings, stand minutes, walking distance, walking pace, running pace, and VO2 max. These are compared with data averaged over the last 90 days to the wearer's performance over the last year. Tips are given if a single trend is going down. Workout New elevation metrics for Outdoor Run, Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle, and Hiking workouts (Series 2 or later only) Stopwatch app can now be viewed on your watch face during workouts GymKit support for True and Woodway Siri Now you can identify songs directly on your Watch—with the ability to add identified songs to your Apple Music library New Siri Web Search—shows up to 5 online results with the ability to view optimized Web content. Siri integration into the redesigned Find People app Watch Faces New Faces Numerals Mono and Numerals Duo (Available in Arabic, Arabic Indic, Roman numerals, and Devanagari) Meridian—black or white dial which fills the screen and includes 4 complications (Series 4 or later only) Gradient—Design dynamically changes as time passes. Available in full screen or circular with 5 complications (Series 4 or later only) California—Supports multiple numeral styles in Roman, Arabic, and Devanagari in fullscreen or circular (Series 4 or later only) Solar Dial—Depicts the Sun's path in circular form across a 24-hour dial (Series 4 or later only) Modular Compact—With many complications and the option to choose between analog or digital time (Series 4 or later only) Tap to speak on all watch faces, supports up to 30 languages Receive and customize time-keeping chimes (An alert on the hour, every half hour or every 15 minutes, either with haptics or customizable chimes) Now you can reorder your Watch faces directly on your Watch New complications Audiobooks Calculator Cellular connectivity Cycle Tracking Noise Wind Rain Voice memos New monochrome complications for Infograph and Infograph Modular faces Miscellaneous New Calculator app with the ability to calculate tips and split checks Support for custom stations in the Podcasts app Smart Guidance and spoken navigation in Maps Redesigned Now Playing app with Apple TV Remote controls Personalized music picks in the For You tab Support for automatic software updates Redesigned Walkie-Talkie app Redesigned Find People app which allows you to add friends, set notifications, and change settings directly on your Watch Redesigned Reminders app with shared lists, subtasks, and the ability to add new reminders More settings for Accessibility, Workout, and Health
6.0.1	13.1	17R604/17R605	2019	Not released for Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 Improvements and bug fixes Resolves an issue where the Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse watch faces do not speak time. Addresses an issue where the calendar complication may not display events. Fixes a bug that could result in a loss of display calibration data.
6.1	13.2	17S84	2019	First version of watchOS 6.x to support Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 Support for AirPods Pro Other improvements and bug fixes Brings watchOS 6 to Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2
6.1.1	13.3	17S449	2019	Important security updates
6.1.2	13.3.1	17S796	2020	Important security updates Security notes
6.1.3		17S811	2020	Heart rhythm notification bug fix No published security notes.
6.2	13.4	17T529	2020	Brings ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications to Chile, Turkey, and New Zealand Brings in-app purchases to Apple Watch apps Fixes music playback issues when switching from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth Security notes
6.2.1	13.4.1	17T530	2020	Fixes an issue that prevented FaceTime audio calls with devices running iOS 9.3.6 and earlier or Macs running OS X El Captain 10.11.6 and earlier from working No published security notes.
6.2.5	13.5	17T608	2020	ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later now available in Saudi Arabia Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Saudi Arabia Security notes
6.2.6	13.5.1	17T620	2020	Important security updates Security notes
6.2.8	13.6	17U63	2020	ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later now available in Bahrain, Brazil, and South Africa Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Bahrain, Brazil, and South Africa Digital car keys support for Apple Watch Series 5 Security notes
	13.6.1		2020
	13.7		2020
Post-watchOS 7 Updates for watches paired with an iOS 13.x iPhone (for users who deferred updating to iOS 14)
6.2.9	13.7	17U203	2020	Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2 only Improvements and bug fixes Security notes
6.3		17U208	2020	Final version to support the Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 Improvements and bug fixes Security notes

watchOS 7

Apple announced watchOS 7 at the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference on June 22, 2020. With watchOS 7, Apple dropped support for Apple Watch Series 1 and 2. watchOS 7 has limited support on the Apple Watch Series 3.

Overview of watchOS 7 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
7.0	iOS 14.0	18R382	2020	Initial Release on Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 6 Drops support for the Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2 Watch Faces Updated Faces Chronograph Pro gains a tachymeter (Series 4 or later only) X-Large adds support for one large complication Photos face provides colour filters for pictures and more customization options Updated colours for many watch faces Complications Apps may now include more than one complication New and/or updated Sleep, Shortcuts, Camera Remote, Moon Phase and World Clock complications Watch Face Sharing Ability to share custom Watch Faces through Mail, Messages, or posting a link Sleep Tracking Apple Watch uses the accelerometer to measure sleep See logged sleep, manage schedules and set alarms in the new Sleep app New alarm sounds and haptics Wind Down mode Sleep Mode automatically enables Do Not Disturb and disables Raise to Wake Reminders to charge your Apple Watch in the evening if below 30% charge Notifications on iPhone when Apple Watch is finished charging Wake up screen displays after your alarm, showing the weather and your battery level Activity Workouts New Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training and Cooldown workouts Mobility Metrics Support for low-range cardio fitness, walking speed, stair-descent speed, stair-ascent speed, six-minute walk distance, double support time, step length, and asymmetry metrics in the Health app on iPhone, tracked by Apple Watch Exercise and Stand goals can now be modified in addition to the Move goal Activity app renamed Fitness app on iPhone Maps Cycling Directions Cycling specific directions in Maps in supported areas Choose routes based on intensity and duration Alerts about upcoming stairs and dismount locations Handwashing (Series 4 or later only) Automatic handwashing detection with a 20-second timer Handwashing reminder when arriving home Siri Translation support for 10 languages Support for Announce Messages with Siri New Siri UI New Apps New Shortcuts app, and ability to choose visible shortcuts on Apple Watch from iPhone New Memoji app with support for editing and creating new Memoji (Series 4 or later only) Dictation Dictation is processed on-device (Series 4 or later only) Privacy Microphone icon appears onscreen when in use Headphones Ability to set a decibel volume limit for headphones Reminders to reduce volume if above World Health Organization's limits Family Setup (Cellular Series 4 or later only, in supported countries) Pair Apple Watches for family members that do not have their own iPhone, aimed at children and seniors Activity metrics are more accurate for children, and Apple Watch now measures move minutes rather than active calories Apple Cash Family allows children to receive money using Apple Cash Enhanced parental controls, including approved contacts and apps, and Schooltime Schooltime Displays a standard yellow watch face and turns on Do Not Disturb to limit distractions Can be manually enabled through the Control Centre, or scheduled and remotely enabled for child watches using Family Setup Security notes
7.0.1	iOS 14.0.1	18R395	2020	Fixes an issue where some payment cards in Wallet were disabled for some users No published security notes.
7.0.2		18R402	2020	Fixes an issue where the battery drained too quickly Fixes an issue that blocked access to the ECG app No published security notes.
7.0.3		18R410	2020	Fixes an issue that causes unexpected restarts with Series 3 watches No published security notes.
7.1	iOS 14.2	18R590	2020	Headphone audio level notifications Adds ECG and irregular heart rhythm notifications support in South Korea and Russia Fixed: Unlocking Mac with Apple Watch fails Fixed: Always-on display failure on Apple Watch Series 6 Security notes
7.2		18S564	2020	Adds support for Apple Fitness+ (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, and US only) Cardio fitness notifications AFiB notifications now available at heart rates above 100 BPM Adds ECG support in Taiwan Adds braille displays with VoiceOver support Family Setup now available in Bahrain, Canada, Norway, and Spain Security notes
7.3		18S801	2021	New Unity watch face New Time to Walk podcasts in Apple Fitness+ Add ECG support in Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand (Series 4 or later) Add Irregular heart rhythm notifications in Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand Fix an unresponsive issue when zoom is enabled in the Control Center and Notification Center Security notes
7.3.1		18S811	2021	Fix for a charging issue when in Power Reserve mode (Series 5 and SE only) No published security notes.
7.3.2		18S821	2021	Important security updates Security notes
7.3.3		18S830	2021	Important security updates Security notes
7.4	iOS 14.5	18T195	2021	Unlock iPhone with Face ID using Apple Watch when wearing a face mask Set the Bluetooth device type in Settings Airplay audio and video content of Apple Fitness+ workouts Add ECG support on in Australia and Vietnam (Series 4 or later) Add irregular heart rhythm notifications in Australia and Vietnam Security notes
7.4.1	iOS 14.5.1	18T201	2021	Important security updates Security notes
7.5	iOS 14.6	18T567	2021	Subscription content in Podcasts app Apple Card with a Family Sharing Add ECG support in Malaysia and Peru (Series 4 or later) Add irregular heart rhythm notifications in Malaysia and Peru Security notes
7.6	iOS 14.7	18U63	2021	Add ECG support for multiple countries (Series 4 or later) Add irregular heart rhythm notifications for multiple countries Security notes
7.6.1	iOS 14.7.1	18U70	2021	Important security updates Security notes
7.6.2	iOS 14.8	18U80	2021	This release fixes FORCEDENTRY (CVE-2021-30860), an integer overflow bug that allows a malicious PDF to perform remote code execution. Security notes

watchOS 8

Apple announced watchOS 8 at the 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7, 2021. Apple Watch models supporting watchOS 7 can also support watchOS 8. However, like watchOS 7, watchOS 8 has limited support on Apple Watch Series 3. It is also the last version of watchOS to be supported on Apple Watch models with 32-bit processors.

Overview of watchOS 8 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
8.0	15.0	19R343 19R346	2021	Initial release on Apple Watch Series 7. Build 13R346 is pre-installed only on Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular). Watch Faces New Portrait photo and World Time watch face (Series 4 and later) Home View the status and accessory controls at the top Accessories and scenes displayed changes depending on the time of day and usage View all HomeKit camera feeds together New Favorites section Wallet Added support for home, hotel, and office keys Added support for car keys (Series 6 and later) Added support for Remote keyless car features Workout New tai chi and pilates workouts Automatic workout detection for outdoor cycling Outdoor cycling workout tracking improvements Hiking workout tracking improvements (aged 13 and below) Voice feedback during workout Fitness+ New guided meditations sessions New pilates workouts New picture-in-picture support New search filters Mindfulness Breathe session improvements New reflect session Sleep Monitor respiratory rate when sleeping View respiratory rate data recorded in Health app Messages Use the Scribble, dictation, and emoji methods simultaneously Use Digital Crown to scroll when editing dictated text Enter hashtag to search for GIF images Photos New Photos app Share photos Find My New Find Items app New Find Devices app Weather Support for precipitation and severe weather notifications alerts New precipitation graph Miscellaneous Focus function added Sync Focus state with iOS, iPadOS or macOS New Contacts app New Tips app Redesigned Music app Share songs, albums, and playlists Run simultaneous timers at the same time Cycle Tracking improvements New Memoji stickers and outfits Measure headphone audio level in Control Center Transit card support in Wallet for Family Setup users in multiple countries Google account support in Calendar and Mail for Family Setup users New AssistiveTouch gestures supported Add ECG support in Lithuania (Series 4 or later) Add irregular heart rhythm notifications in Lithuania Security notes
8.0.1	15.0.2	19R354	2021	Software update progress bar fix (Series 3 only) Fix a bug with Accessibility settings (Series 3 only) No published security notes.
8.1	15.1	19R570	2021	Fall detection improvements and new settings (Series 4 and later) Support COVID-19 vaccination cards in Apple Wallet Fitness+ SharePlay support Improve Always-On time accuracy (Series 5 and later) Security notes
8.1.1		19R580	2021	Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) only Charging issue fix No published security notes.
8.3	15.2	19S55	2021	Enable ECG for China (Series 4 or later) Compass no longer shows altitude (Series 3-5) latitude and longitude in mainland China New Apple Music Voice plan option New App Privacy Report Fix for notifications not being muted during Mindfulness sessions Security notes
8.4	15.3	19S546	2022	Important security updates Charging fix for select chargers Security notes
8.4.1		19S550	2022	Apple Watch Series 4 or later only Bug fixes No published security notes.
8.4.2	15.3.1	19S553	2022	Important security updates Bug fixes No published security notes.
8.5	15.4	19T242	2022	Authenticate Apple TV purchases and subscriptions Support for EU COVID-19 vaccination cards in Apple Wallet Afib tracking improvements for irregular rhythm notifications in multiple countries New audio description in Fitness+ Security notes
8.5.1	15.4.1	19T252	2022	Important security updates Bug fixes No published security notes.
8.6	15.5	19T572	2022	Add ECG support in Mexico (Series 4 or later) Add irregular heart rhythm notifications in Mexico Security notes
8.7	15.6	19U66	2022	Important security updates Bug fixes Security notes
8.7.1	15.6.1	19U67	2022	Apple Watch Series 3 only Restart issue fix No published security notes.
Post-watchOS 9 update for Series 3 and/or watches paired with an iOS 15.x iPhone (to support iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, SE (1st gen), 7 and 7 Plus)
8.8.1	15.7.7	19U512	2023	Final version to support the Apple Watch Series 3, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, SE (1st gen), 7, and 7 Plus Security notes

watchOS 9

Apple announced watchOS 9 at the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference on June 6, 2022. With this release, Apple dropped support for the Apple Watch Series 3, which was the last Apple Watch model with a 32-bit processor, making watchOS 9 the first version of watchOS to run exclusively on Apple Watch models with 64-bit processors.

Overview of watchOS 9 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
9.0	16.0	20R361	2022	Initial release on Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) and Apple Watch Ultra Drops support for the Apple Watch Series 3, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, SE (1st gen), 7 and 7 Plus Watch Faces New Astronomy, Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Nike watch faces Complication improvements Portrait photo watch face improvements Change watch face depending on Focus Workout Access workout view during a workout New heart rate zone, elevation view, and running power graphs Additional running metrics (SE, Series 6 and later) New custom and Multisport workout option New workout alerts Pool Swim workout improvements New swimming metrics Fitness+ New trainer guidance and personal fitness metrics displayed Compass New Compass app (SE, Series 5 and later) New compass waypoints, and backtrack GPS function (SE, Series 6 and later) Sleep Sleep tracking improvements New comparisons chart Medications Add and schedule medications View medication schedule Medication reminders New watch complication AFib History New weekly summary notifications AFib tracking improvements Export data as a PDF Family Setup New Podcasts app New support for Yahoo and Outlook emails Accessibility New AssistiveTouch actions Ability to pair a Bluetooth keyboard Airplay Apple Watch to iPhone Miscellaneous New Low Power Mode International roaming support (SE, Series 5 and later) New keyboard languages (Series 7 and later) New Communication safety setting in Screen Time New cycle deviation notifications alerts New cardio recovery metrics Reminders, Calendar, and Podcast app improvements Minor Dock enhancements New notification banner design when in use Security notes
9.0.1		20R8380	2022	Apple Watch Ultra only Fixes an issue with audio on phone calls on the Apple Watch Ultra No published security notes.
9.0.2		20R8383	2022	Fixes an issue causing interruptions with Spotify Fixes an issue with snooze alarm notifications continuing after deleting the alarm Fixes syncing of Wallet and Fitness data for newly-paired watch Fixes an issue with audio interruptions on Series 8 and Ultra No published security notes.
9.1	16.1	20S75	2022	Option to extend battery life during select workouts by reducing heart rate and GPS reading frequency (Series 8, SE 2nd generation, and Ultra) Download music while on battery via Wi-Fi or cellular Add support for Matter Fixes incorrect voice feedback of average pace for the Outdoor Run workout Fixes an issue where the chance of rain probability shown in Weather app may be different from iPhone Fixes an issue with the hourly weather complication showing AM for PM hours Fixes an issue with time duration getting stuck during Strength Training Workout Fixes an issue where VoiceOver fails to announce the app name when multiple notifications are received Security notes
9.2	16.2	20S361	2022	Security notes
9.3	16.3	20S648	2023	Security notes
9.3.1	16.3.1	20S664	2023
9.4	16.4	20T253	2023	Wake-up alarms are no longer silenced with cover to mute gesture to avoid accidental cancellations during sleep Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates and cycle deviation alerts now supported in Moldova and Ukraine AFib History now available in Colombia, Malaysia, Moldova, Thailand, and Ukraine Security notes
9.5	16.5	20T562	2023	Add Pride Celebration watch face to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture Security notes
9.5.1		20T570	2023
9.5.2		20T571	2023	Security notes
9.6	16.6	20U73	2023
9.6.1		20U80	2023
9.6.2	16.6.1	20U90	2023	Security notes
Post-watchOS 10 update for watches paired with an iOS 16.x iPhone (to support phones that iOS 17 does not support like iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X)
9.6.3		20U502	2023	Final version to support iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X Security notes

watchOS 10

Apple announced watchOS 10 at the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, 2023. With this release, Apple dropped support for iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X. All Apple Watch models supporting watchOS 9 also support watchOS 10.

Overview of watchOS 10 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
10.0	17.0	21R356	2023	Initial release on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 New Watch Faces: Snoopy, Palette, Nike Globe, and Solar Analog Optimized Charge Limit is now available on Apple Watch SE, Series 6, Series 7, and Series 8. Fixed: Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm) estimates maximum battery capacity more accurately. New and updated ways to use Apple Watch
10.0.1	17.0.1	21R360	2023	Bug fixes
10.0.2	17.0.2	21R371	2023	Ultra 2 and Series 9 only Bug fixes that are specific to the Ultra 2 and Series 9
10.1	17.1	21S67	2023	Double Tap gesture (select models) NameDrop (select models) Bug fixes
10.1.1	17.1.1	21S71	2023	Battery drain fixes
10.2	17.2	21S364	2023
10.3	17.3	21S644	2024	New Watch Faces: Unity Bloom
10.3.1	17.3.1	21S651	2024
10.4	17.4	21T216	2024
10.5	17.5	21T575	2024	New Watch Faces: Pride Radiance Bug fixes
10.6	17.6	21U577	2024	Bug fixes and security improvements
10.6.1	17.6.1	21U580	2024	Latest version for Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch SE (1st generation) This update fixes an issue that may prevent access to Apple Fitness+

watchOS 11

Apple announced watchOS 11 at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2024. With this release, Apple drops support for the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch SE (1st generation). This marks the first time 64-bit Apple Watch devices were dropped.

For legal reasons, blood oxygen monitoring was disabled on Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches sold in the United States after January 18, 2024. Apple Watch Series 10 was also incapable of blood oxygen monitoring at release. On August 14, 2025, Apple reintroduced blood oxygen monitoring for affected Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 Apple Watches with watchOS 11.6.1.

colspan="5" Overview of watchOS 11 versions
watchOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
11.0	18.0	22R349	2024	Drops support for the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch SE (1st generation), marking the first time 64-bit Apple Watch devices have been dropped.
11.0.1	18.0.1	22R361	2024	Fixes critical bugs from watchOS 11.
11.1	18.1	22R585	2024
11.2	18.2	22S101	2024
11.3	18.3	22S555	2025
11.3.1	18.3.1	22S560	2025	New Watch Faces: Black Unity Collection
11.4	18.4	22T251	2025
11.5	18.5	22T572	2025
11.6	18.6	22U84	2025
11.6.1	18.6.1	22U90	2025	Re-enabled Blood Oxygen feature

watchOS 26

Apple announced watchOS 26 at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, 2025. watchOS 26 was released on September 15, 2025. All devices that supported watchOS 11 support watchOS 26.

colspan="4" Overview of watchOS 26 versions
Version	Build	Release date	Features
26.0	23R352	2025
26.0.1	23R8352	2025	Apple Watch Ultra 3 in Mexico only
26.0.2	23R362	2025	Bug fixes
26.1 RC	23S36	2025
{{{2}}}

Hardware support

Supported watchOS versions on the Apple Watch

Model	watchOS
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	26
1st
Series 1	N/A
Series 2	N/A	N/A
Series 3	N/A	N/A	N/A
Series 4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Series 5	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
SE (1st)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Series 6	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Series 7	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Series 8	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ultra (1st)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
SE (2nd)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Series 9	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ultra 2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Series 10	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
SE 3	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Series 11	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ultra 3	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

External links

• watchOS – official site
• Apple security content – for details about watchOS security updates
• About watchOS 9 Updates – Apple's official watchOS 9 release notes