Apple Seeds Sixth Beta of WatchOS 2.2 to Developers

watchos2Apple today seeded the sixth beta of an upcoming watchOS 2.2 update to developers, less than a week after seeding the fifth watchOS 2.2 beta and three 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 latest 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 were no other obvious outward-facing changes introduced in the first five 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. WatchOS 2.2 is expected to debut in the spring, perhaps at Apple's rumored March 21 event.

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

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
iPhone 17 Pro and Air N1 Feature

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 Wi-Fi Speeds: New Study Reveals the Winner

Tuesday November 18, 2025 10:53 am PST by
A new study has revealed that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air achieve significantly faster average Wi-Fi speeds compared to the iPhone 16 series, thanks to Apple's custom-designed N1 chip. The study was conducted by Ookla, the company behind the popular Speedtest website and app. It said the results are based on global, crowdsourced Speedtest user data...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

iPhone Driver's License Feature Launching in Illinois

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois. The announcement confirmed that the...
macbook black friday

The Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals

Tuesday November 18, 2025 7:32 am PST by
We're getting closer to Black Friday, which lands next week on Friday, November 28. In the lead-up to the shopping holiday, we're tracking a few lowest-ever prices on Apple's most popular Macs, including the M4 MacBook Air and brand new M5 MacBook Pro. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment,...
Magic Keyboard Touch ID Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for 140W USB-C Power Adapter, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad

Tuesday November 18, 2025 1:05 pm PST by
Apple today released updated firmware for several accessories, including the 140W USB-C Power Adapter, the Magic Trackpad 2, the Magic Trackpad USB-C, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, and the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad. There is no word on what's included in the updated firmware at this time, but it could offer performance improvements and security updates. Accessory...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...

Top Rated Comments

gsmornot Avatar
127 months ago
So Watch users, has this 2.2 update made your watch any faster?

Still wrestling with the temptation to buy one... trying to hold out until this supposed event in a week or two.
Mine is the same overall speed is has been since launch day. Some apps are faster to load since they are native now vs fully dependent on the iPhone but generally, the watch is what I consider slow. That said, 90% of the time the watch does not need to be anything else, slow is fine. The complications for example are limited (due to battery restrictions) to updates every half hour roughly so you don't need fast for such a slow update cycle. The time does not need speed, just needs to display along with most of the other "things" you look at via the watch. I hope the future models feature a faster processor because generally as you get used to something you want it faster each update. I do. 2.2 is not for speed, its for adding a new feature to maps and generally cleaning up code. (opinion). If you have a use of the watch now, try it. You can add multiple watches to your phone now so in the future you can keep this one and get a new one and have two for different uses.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
h00ligan Avatar
127 months ago
If they can't magically make it twice as fast it doesn't matter. They were bullied into releasing this at least a year too early. Aside from notifications and some glances the watch is functionally useless die to speed issues. I can get my phone out. Unlock it. Open an app. And search or find whatever before an app loads on the watch.

Battery lasts well into a day or 24 hours. In some cases more. I'd take half the battery life for 50% more speed.

They also need to reduce the zoom
When you turn on redice motion - which is the only way to use this watch at a reasonable speed. It makes finding apps terrible.

Overall this is easily the worst apple
Product in the modern era.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mac 128 Avatar
127 months ago

And in the real world people are very satisfied:

http://www.imore.com/six-months-after-launch-apple-watch-owners-remain-satisfied
Oh right, the Wristly study. The mysterious Watch devoted company that sprang up over night solely to conduct studies about Apple's new smartwatch product.

Never mind that it's a survey of 1,500 OPT-IN participants. In other words, pro-Apple watch enthusiasts. The participants found them. It in no way represents the "real world". And less than half worked outside the tech industry, and of those in the tech industry over 10% were developers for the watch!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blasto2236 Avatar
127 months ago
Anyone else had problems installing the beta? I have the profile installed, and iOS 9.3 Beta installed on my paired iPhone, however the beta update never shows up in the Watch app under "General>Software Update". I have tried deleting and reinstalling the profile to no avail.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SvP Avatar
127 months ago
Mine is the same ov...e two for different uses.
What a great answer. I wanted to + this. For the watch more than other devices it's the experience that matters: pick the right complications and you'll love knowing what you used to check in the weather app, traffic app or other things. The notifications will be fantastich if you have lots of "have to know but rarely act" messages; you can separate it from your mail making you not more productive: but better productive; way less screentime on your phone, too.

It is slow tho: i hope they'll optimize for the moments you want to do more than check the status, weather, traffic or bankaccount balance; the reason slowness doesn't bother me that much is that those things are usually what i grab my phone for :)

Battery life is easily one day, it'll make it to the next day also, until about 22:00. Full brightness, longest on-time. Tweaking the brightness and on-time it'll go for three days.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
127 months ago
That's what life's all about, right? :p
Maybe not all but it's good not being that guy.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)