Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 3 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the second beta and more than a month after first unveiling watchOS 3 at its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference.

The third watchOS 3 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone by going to General --> Software update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 3 introduces significant changes to the watchOS operating system. A new dock, accessible by pressing the side button, replaces Glances and houses 10 favorite first and third-party apps. Apps on the dock are kept continually up to date and are stored in memory for instant launch times.


Activity Sharing options allow Apple Watch owners to share workout and activity information with friends, and there are new options for Wheelchair users. A Breathe app guides users through daily deep breathing sessions, an Apple Watch can unlock a Mac, and Apple has added apps for Reminders, Find My Friends, and accessing one's heartbeat.

Watch faces support more complications, there are three new watch faces to choose from, including a new Activity watch face, and an SOS feature will make sure an option to get help in an emergency is always right at your fingertips. On the iPhone, there's a new Face Gallery for customizing Apple Watch faces, and watchOS 3 allows the Apple Watch to be located via Find My iPhone.

For full details on the new features coming in watchOS 3, which will be released to the public this fall, make sure to check out our watchOS 3 roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch Series 9
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

SlaunchaMan Avatar
100 months ago
Here’s hoping it fixes the issue where the watch resets my watch faces every reboot…
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
100 months ago
Interesting that watchOS and tvOS beta 3 are landing before iOS and macOS. Not that I am complaining.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
100 months ago
asd[iufabweofn;aslkdfnioEGPIgb I was gonna bring my watch charger to work TOMORROW. =(

Guess I'll just have to wait till tonight =)
For less than the price of a watchband, you can stash a spare charger at work. Just sayin'. ;)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
100 months ago
Yup, rotating the crown doesn't change the time line at all.
Its off in settings. I thought about it later and looked. Also pointed out to me on another thread so thought I was share here too.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
576316 Avatar
100 months ago
Here’s hoping it fixes the issue where the watch resets my watch faces every reboot…
I literally just had this happen to me, cause my Watch died! To that point, had terrible battery life with watchOS 3 thus far.
[doublepost=1468878150][/doublepost]I swear the Apple Watch updates server is much slower than the iOS one! 15 minutes for a 123mb download. What.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Goff Avatar
100 months ago
Here’s hoping it fixes the issue where the watch resets my watch faces every reboot…
I've noticed it fixes itself again if you then turn it off and on again. Weird, I know.
[doublepost=1468861229][/doublepost]
Interesting that watchOS and tvOS beta 3 are landing before iOS and macOS. Not that I am complaining.
Nope, I have iOS 10 beta 3 downloaded on my iPad.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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