Apple Letting Developers Submit iOS 9, OS X El Capitan and WatchOS 2 Apps for Review

appstoreApple today announced that it is now allowing developers to submit apps for review that take advantage of the new features in iOS 9, OS X El Capitan, and watchOS 2 as the company prepares to launch iOS 9 and watchOS 2 to the general public next Wednesday.

Developers are also able to seed apps with iOS 9 and watchOS 2 features to external beta testers using TestFlight. Prior to today, only internal testing was available, giving developers little time to beta test their apps.

You can now submit your apps that take advantage of the latest features in iOS, OS X, and watchOS. Build your apps using Xcode 7 GM seed, test with the GM seeds of iOS 9, OS X El Capitan, and watchOS 2, and submit them for review.

Apple normally allows developers to begin submitting apps directly after golden master versions of new software are released, but this year, the iOS 9, watchOS 2 and OS X El Capitan GMs were released on Wednesday, but submissions were not allowed until this afternoon.

Following reviews by Apple's App Store review team, iOS 9 and watchOS 2 apps will begin appearing in the iOS App Store in time for the iOS 9 launch.

iOS 9 and watchOS 2 will be released on Wednesday, September 16. OS X El Capitan will be released two weeks later on Wednesday, September 30.

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

Apple Says Installing iOS 26 Might Impact Battery Life

Monday September 15, 2025 10:56 am PDT by
In the iOS 26 release notes, Apple is warning iPhone users that installing the new software might have a temporary impact on battery life, which is normal. A new support document explains that major iOS updates require background setup like indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps. Further, Apple says that new features could require more resources,...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 Get iOS 26 Features With New Firmware Update

Monday September 15, 2025 10:50 am PDT by
Apple today released updated firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4, introducing support for the new AirPods features that are included in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware has a build number of 8A356, and it replaces the current 7E93 firmware. With Apple's new software updates, the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 support better audio quality for phone calls and...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4: Here Are 5 New Features to Expect on Your iPhone

Tuesday September 16, 2025 11:17 am PDT by
iOS 26 was finally released on Monday, but the software train never stops, and the first developer beta of iOS 26.1 will likely be released soon. iOS 18.1 was an anomaly, as the first developer beta of that version was released in late July last year, to allow for early testing of Apple Intelligence features. The first betas of iOS 15.1, iOS 16.1, and iOS 17.1 were all released in the second ...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design Draws Criticism From Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 2:56 pm PDT by
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected. Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update. Complaints There are a long...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch These 10 Products in 'Coming Months'

Sunday September 14, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this Friday, September 19. As always, there is more to come. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to release many products in the...
iOS 26 Glass Feature

iOS 26: The Top 100 New Features and Changes

Tuesday September 16, 2025 12:26 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 26 on September 15, and it's now available for all iPhone users with a compatible device. There are a lot of changes and features to learn about, so if you want a quick, easy-to-read list that outlines what's new, we've got you covered. Design Liquid Glass design that reflects light and refracts what's underneath. It's system wide, with dynamic tab bars and toolbars...
new iphone lockscreen ios 26

iOS 26: All the New iPhone Lock Screen Customizations

Tuesday September 16, 2025 5:56 am PDT by
Apple has now made iOS 26 available to download on compatible iPhone models, and if you just installed the new software, Apple has made some changes and feature additions to the iPhone Lock Screen that you may want to check out. To download iOS 26 on your iPhone, go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update, then let your device check Apple's servers for the latest software. Wait for the...

Top Rated Comments

OriginalClone Avatar
131 months ago
Can't wait to see how fast native apps load.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
131 months ago
Can't wait to see how fast native apps load.
I'm hoping our Apple Watches feel like entirely new devices with native watchOS 2 apps. Right now, I don't even use any third-party apps because none of them open up before the Apple Watch screen goes off and I lose interest.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Antoni Nygaard Avatar
131 months ago
I really look forward to app thinning. Really hope a lot of apps can be cut down on space needed. For now Facebook Messenger takes up 107 mb for such a simple app, really looking forward to how small it can be.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hunt2013 Avatar
131 months ago
Cant wait to see all the updates and all the new features. Its like Christmas twice, once for getting the GM and second for the apps and their new features.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Doctor11 Avatar
131 months ago
I'm hoping our Apple Watches feel like entirely new devices with native watchOS 2 apps. Right now, I don't even use any third-party apps because none of them open up before the Apple Watch screen goes off and I lose interest.
I'm really hoping to see a huge over all improvement. I get quite annoyed waiting for weather when it takes 10+ seconds and my phone can do it in under a second.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
flaw600 Avatar
131 months ago
Can't wait to see how fast native apps load.
I am too, although I'm more curious on any possible increased battery drain.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)