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watchOS 9 is the ninth major release of watchOS for the Apple Watch series developed and distributed by Apple Inc.[3]

Product history[]

watchOS 9 is derived from iOS 16; both were announced on June 6 at the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference and were released on September 12, 2022.[4]

New features[]

VP of Technology Kevin Lynch and staff introduced the following new features at WWDC 2022:[5]

  • Metrics — updated to improve user workouts.
  • Sleep — records user sleep activity.
  • Heart — updated with the ability to record atrial fibrillation (AFib) history of users.
  • Medications — help users manage medications and supplements.
Accessibility icon

Some new accessibility features that Apple previewed as part of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 17, 2022 include:[6][7]

  • Apple Watch mirroring for users to control their watchOS device remotely from an iPhone.
  • New Quick Actions to expand AssistiveTouch gestures in watchOS.
  • Siri Pause Time to allow more time for users with speech disabilities to issue a voice command.

Features for new models announced on September 7, 2022, such as the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra:[8]

Supported devices[]

watchOS 9 added support for new models, while also dropping support for the Apple Watch Series 3, limiting it to models with 64-bit processors. An iPhone 8 or later running at least iOS 16 is also required to support the following models:[3][9][10]

* Support ended for Apple Watch Series 3.

Release history[]

Version Build Release date Notes
9.0 beta 1 20R5287q 2022-06-06 First developer beta.[11]
9.0 beta 2 20R5307h 2022-06-22 2nd developer beta.[12]
9.0 beta 3 20R5316f 2022-07-06 3rd developer beta.[13]
9.0 beta 4 20R5332g 2022-07-28 4th developer beta.[14]
9.0 beta 5 20R5343e 2022-08-08 5th developer beta.[15]
9.0 beta 6 20R5353a 2022-08-15 6th developer beta.[16]
9.0 beta 7 20R5359a 2022-08-23 7th developer beta.[17]
9.0 RC 20R361 2022-09-07 Release candidate.[18]
9.0 20R361 2022-09-12 First official public release.[19]
9.0.1 20R8380 2022-09-22 Bug fix for distorted audio from phone calls using Apple Watch Ultra speakers.[20][21]
9.0.2 20R383 2022-10-10 Bug fixes for microphone, notifications, syncing, and Spotify streaming.[22][23]
9.1 20S75 2022-10-24 Bug fixes.[24]
9.2 20S361 2022-12-13 Addressing track workout bug in Apple Fitness.[25]
9.3 20S648 2023-01-23 Support for Security Keys for Apple ID (supported iPhone or iPad required).[26][27]
9.3.1 20S648 2023-02-13 Bug fixes.[28]
9.4 20T253 2023-03-27 Bug fixes.[29]
9.5 20T562 2023-05-18 Bug fixes.[30]
9.5.1 20T570 2023-05-30 Bug fixes.[31]
9.5.2 20T571 2023-06-21 Bug fixes.
9.6 beta 4 20U5559c 2023-06-27 Bug fixes.

References[]

  1. watchOS 9.5.2 (20T571), Apple Developer. 2023-06-21.
  2. watchOS 9.6 beta 4 (20U5559c), Apple Developer. 2023-07-27.
  3. 3.0 3.1 watchOS 9 delivers new ways to stay connected, active, and healthy, Apple Inc. 2022-06-06.
  4. Apple events 2022: Apple’s next event is 6 June by Karen Haslam, Macworld. 2022-04-06.
  5. WWDC 2022 - June 6 by Apple, YouTube. 2022-06-06.
  6. Apple previews innovative accessibility features combining the power of hardware, software, and machine learning, Apple Inc. 2022-05-17.
  7. Apple announces iOS 16 door detection, live captions, and more accessibility features by William Gallagher, AppleInsider. 2022-05-17.
  8. Apple's fall iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 event is on September 7 by Malcolm Owen, AppleInsider. 2022-08-24.
  9. Leaked renders offer first look at redesigned Apple Watch Series 8 by Anam Hamid, Phone Arena. 2022-05-17.
  10. watchOS 9 — the new Apple Watch features we want in 2022 by Kate Kozuch, Tom's Guide. 2022-04-06.
  11. watchOS 9 beta (20R5287q), Apple Developer. 2022-06-06.[DEAD LINK]
  12. watchOS 9 beta 2 (20R5307h), Apple Developer. 2022-06-22.[DEAD LINK]
  13. watchOS 9 beta 3 (20R5316f), Apple Developer. 2022-07-06.[DEAD LINK]
  14. watchOS 9 beta 4 (20R5332g), Apple Developer. 2022-07-28.[DEAD LINK]
  15. watchOS 9 beta 5 (20R5343e) Apple Developer. 2022-08-08.[DEAD LINK]
  16. watchOS 9 beta 6 (20R5353a), Apple Developer. 2022-08-15.[DEAD LINK]
  17. watchOS 9 beta 7 (20R5359a), Apple Developer. 2022-08-23.[DEAD LINK]
  18. watchOS 9 RC (20R361), Apple Developer. 2022-09-07.[DEAD LINK]
  19. watchOS 9 (20R361), Apple Developer. 2022-09-12.[DEAD LINK]
  20. watchOS 9.0.1 (20R8380), Apple Developer. 2022-09-22.[DEAD LINK]
  21. watchOS 9.0.1 update arrives in time for Apple Watch Ultra launch by José Adorno, 9to5Mac. 2022-09-22.
  22. watchOS 9.0.2 (20R383), Apple Developer. 2022-10-10.[DEAD LINK]
  23. watchOS 9.0.2 for Apple Watch fixes microphone bugs, Spotify interruptions, more by Filipe Espósito, 9to5Mac. 2022-10-10.
  24. watchOS 9.1 (20S75), Apple Developer. 2022-10-24.[DEAD LINK]
  25. watchOS 9.2 (20S361), Apple Developer. 2022-12-13.[DEAD LINK]
  26. watchOS 9.3 (20S648), Apple Developer. 2023-01-23.[DEAD LINK]
  27. Apple releases first iOS 16.3 public beta, here’s everything new by Filipe Espósito, 9To5Mac. 2022-12-15.
  28. watchOS 9.3.1 (20S648), Apple Developer. 2023-02-13.[DEAD LINK]
  29. watchOS 9.4 (20T253), Apple Developer. 2023-03-27.[DEAD LINK]
  30. watchOS 9.5 (20T562), Apple Developer. 2023-05-18.[DEAD LINK]
  31. watchOS 9.5.1 (20T570), Apple Developer. 2023-05-30.[DEAD LINK]

See also[]

External links[]

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