Apple Seeds Third WatchOS 2.2 Beta to Developers - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Third WatchOS 2.2 Beta to Developers

watchos2Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 2.2 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second watchOS 2.2 beta and two months after releasing watchOS 2.1, the first major update to the watchOS 2 operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 2.2 has been in testing since January 11.

The third watchOS 2.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone running the iOS 9.3 beta 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 2.2, along with iOS 9.3, introduces support for pairing multiple Apple Watches with a single iPhone. Both updates are required, with each watch running watchOS 2.2 and each iPhone running iOS 9.3. watchOS 2.2 also includes a revamped look for the built-in Maps app on the Apple Watch with access to the Nearby feature first introduced with iOS 9 and new buttons for quickly accessing directions to home and work.

There are were no other obvious outward-facing changes introduced in the first two watchOS 2.2 betas aside from the changes to the Maps app, but the update undoubtedly includes under-the-hood performance updates and bug fixes to address issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 2.1.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Popular Stories

watchos 26 gradient light

watchOS 26.4 Now Available With Workout Update and New Emoji

Tuesday March 24, 2026 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 26.4, the fourth major update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.4 comes a month and a half after Apple released watchOS 26.3. watchOS 26.4 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.4 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the...
Apple Watch Series 10 Jet Black

No Major Apple Watch Redesign Expected This Year

Thursday March 26, 2026 11:12 am PDT by
In addition to indicating that a new full-sized HomePod is in the works, and that the foldable iPhone will likely ship later than the iPhone 18 Pro models this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said he does not expect any major design changes for the next-generation Apple Watch models coming later this year. Gurman revealed all of this information in a live Q&A call today on the Bloomberg...
earth day 2025 apple watch

Apple Watch Earth Day and International Dance Day Activity Challenges Launching Later This Month

Tuesday April 14, 2026 12:00 pm PDT by
Apple has two new Apple Watch activity challenges coming up, celebrating Earth Day and International Dance Day. The Earth Day activity challenge will launch on Wednesday, April 22, while the Dance Day challenge will take place a week later on Wednesday, April 29. To complete the Earth Day challenge, Apple Watch owners will need to complete a workout that lasts for 30 minutes or longer. This ...

Top Rated Comments

133 months ago
Multiple watches on one phone? Who has multiple watches?
How about an update that supports multiple phones on a single watch? I'd love to be able to include my calendar notifications from my work iPhone on my watch too.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lmjabreu Avatar
133 months ago
You don't really have to touch the watch per se. A gentle tap on the night stand is enough to trigger the motion sensors on the Watch, which in turn fires up the screen.

That has been my experience, and it seems to be an ingenious idea by Apple (especially with a somewhat flexible metal nightstand by IKEA and a firm dock like the NightStand by ElevationLab; since the dock is well anchored to the nightstand, the slightest touch will do the trick).
FWIW: the motion sensor is so sensitive that you usually don't even need to touch the stand, knocking on the floor or table does the trick.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mainyehc Avatar
133 months ago
Hope they will add an option to keep your watch display on (dimmed) in night stand mode, really want to use it as a clock and just be able to glance at it instead of fumbling around in the night to try and touch it...
You don't really have to touch the watch per se. A gentle tap on the night stand is enough to trigger the motion sensors on the Watch, which in turn fires up the screen.

That has been my experience, and it seems to be an ingenious idea by Apple (especially with a somewhat flexible metal nightstand by IKEA and a firm dock like the NightStand by ElevationLab; since the dock is well anchored to the nightstand, the slightest touch will do the trick).
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
133 months ago
How about a change so that the watch face is always on. If Huawei can do it Apple should be able to.

http://m.huawei.com/enmobile/consumer/wearables/detail/huawei-watch.htm
Enjoy your half day battery life.

I don't get why people need the watch face on when they're not looking at it. My Watch turns on without fail every time I turn my wrist or just slightly lift my arm to look at it.
[doublepost=1454979152][/doublepost]
You don't really have to touch the watch per se. A gentle tap on the night stand is enough to trigger the motion sensors on the Watch, which in turn fires up the screen.

That has been my experience, and it seems to be an ingenious idea by Apple (especially with a somewhat flexible metal nightstand by IKEA and a firm dock like the NightStand by ElevationLab; since the dock is well anchored to the nightstand, the slightest touch will do the trick).
Thats my experience as well. I just lightly tap my side table and the watch face turns on briefly. I also have an Elevation dock.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
133 months ago
Multiple watches on one phone? Who has multiple watches?
Me for a start, I have a 42mm rose gold sport and a 42mm Hermes single tour and debating on a 38mm space grey sport as well ... It's hardly inconceivable, they serve different purposes to me
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
133 months ago
I understood that, what I meant was, will a watch with beta 2.2 on it pair with an iphone with ios 9.2.1?
No.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)