watchOS

watchOS
Home screen of apps on watchOS
Developer	Apple Inc.
Released	April 24, 2015
Latestversion	11.5 (build 22T572) May 12, 2025
Beta version	26.0 beta 1 (build 23R5280m) June 9, 2025
Price	Free
Homepage	apple.com/watchos

watchOS is the mobile operating system developed by Apple for the Apple Watch line. The software can be updated by an iPhone paired through the Apple Watch app, or directly from the Apple Watch. Derived from iOS, the current major release is watchOS 11.

Release history

watchOS 1

watchOS 1 is based on iOS 8.x and was introduced with the original Apple Watch on April 24, 2015. This version introduced watchOS, the operating system for the Apple Watch.

watchOS 2

watchOS 2 is based on iOS 9 and was announced on June 8, 2015 at the 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference. This version introduced more developer tools for third party apps and new native apps specifically for Apple Watch.

watchOS 3

watchOS 3 is based on iOS 10 and was announced on June 13, 2016 at the 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference. This version introduced the Breathe app, instant launch apps, a dock for favorite apps, and a new Control Center.

watchOS 4

watchOS 4 is based on iOS 11 and was announced on June 5, 2017 at the 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference. This version introduced new Siri watch faces, personalized Activity coaching, new measurements in the Heart app, and improvements to music.

watchOS 5

watchOS 5 is based on iOS 12 and was announced on June 4, 2018 at the 2018 Worldwide Developers Conference. This version introduced competitions in Activity Sharing, automatic workout detection, and support for Apple Podcasts.

watchOS 6

watchOS 6 is based on iOS 13 and was announced on June 3, 2019 at the 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference. This version introduced a dedicated App Store inside watchOS, ability to install apps without needing an iPhone, new Calculator, Voice Memos, Audiobooks, Noise, and Cycles app, and Nightstand Mode.

watchOS 7

Apple Watch models running watchOS 7.

watchOS 7 is based on iOS 14 and was announced on June 22, 2020 at the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference. This version introduced sleep tracking, hand washing detection, and new dance workouts. It added support for the Apple Watch Series 6 and the 1st-generation Apple Watch SE, which were released in September 2020.

watchOS 8

watchOS 8 is based on iOS 15 and was announced on June 7, 2021 at the 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference. This version introduced the Mindfulness app, redesigned photos app, new portrait mode watch faces, and ability to find items on Apple Watch. It added support for the Apple Watch Series 7, released in October 2021.

watchOS 9

watchOS 9 is based on iOS 16 and was announced on June 6, 2022 at the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference. It dropped support for the Apple Watch Series 3 and added support for the Apple Watch Series 8, the 2nd-generation Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Ultra, which were released in September 2022.

watchOS 10

WatchOS 10 is based on IOS 17 and was announced on June 5, 2023 at the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference. It introduces a redesign focused on widget-based navigation with a new Smart Stack, which offers glanceable info like weather or calendar by turning the Digital Crown. Native apps adopt full-screen views for easier interaction. Health features were expanded with advanced cycling metrics, topographic maps for hikers, and a Mindfulness mood tracker. Other updates include new watch faces (Palette, Peanuts), NameDrop for contact sharing, a revamped Control Center opened by a click of the side button of Apple Watches, offline maps, and Group FaceTime support.

watchOS 11

WatchOS 11 is based on IOS 18 and was announced on June 10, 2024 at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference. It features a new Vitals app for overnight metrics and has training load tracking, plus customisable Activity rings and ring-pausing. The Smart Stack gets smarter—suggesting context-aware widgets, supporting Live Activities, Translate, Shazam, Photos, etc. Accessibility improves with enhanced double‑tap gesture support on Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 and Series 10, and multiple VoiceOver voices. Sleep apnea detection is introduced on Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 and Series 10, and a new Translate app is available.

Drops support for all Apple watches with Apple S4 and Apple S5 chips, including Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5 and SE (1st generation).

watchOS 26

WatchOS 26 is based on IOS 26 and was announced on June 9, 2025 at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference. It introduces a new Liquid Glass visual style across the interface, enhanced Smart Stack with context-sensitive suggestions, adds an AI-powered Workout Buddy that offers real-time motivational coaching, introduces a wrist-flick gesture to dismiss notifications hands-free, expands Apple Intelligence into Messages with live translation and smarter replies, introduces the Notes app, and updates the Workout experience with music integration and corner-button shortcuts. However, it also drops five older watch faces (Fire and Water, Gradient, Liquid Metal, Toy Story, and Vapor).

External links

• watchOS at Apple
  • watchOS at Apple Developer
  • watchOS Release Notes
• watchOS at Wikipedia

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