Apple Seeds First watchOS 2.2.1 Beta to Developers

Apple today seeded the first version of an upcoming watchOS 2.2.1 update to developers, just over two weeks after releasing watchOS 2.2, a significant watchOS 2 update that introduced new features like multi-watch support for iPhones and Maps improvements.

The 2.2.1 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.

applewatchbuiltinapps
It's not yet clear what is included in watchOS 2.2.1, but Apple's release notes say it includes bug fixes and performance improvements, likely for issues discovered since the release of watchOS 2.2. We'll update this post with any new changes that are discovered in the watchOS 2.2.1 beta.

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

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...
walmart new ornametns

Walmart Black Friday Deals Begin Today With Low Prices on Headphones, TVs, and More

Friday November 14, 2025 7:55 am PST by
Walmart's Black Friday sale has officially kicked off today, with an online shopping event that's also seeing some matching deals in retail locations. There are quite a few major discounts in this sale, including savings on headphones, TVs, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us...
CarPlay Pinned Messages

iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

Thursday November 13, 2025 6:48 am PST by
iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose. Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Here's When Tesla is Expected to Add Support for Apple CarPlay

Sunday November 16, 2025 6:49 am PST by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Tesla plans to add Apple CarPlay support to its vehicles "in the coming months." This is easily the biggest news for the regular version of CarPlay in years, should Tesla actually follow through with offering the system in its vehicles. As noted by Gurman, this would be a stunning reversal for Tesla and its CEO Elon ...
homepod mini thumb feature

New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?

Wednesday November 12, 2025 11:42 am PST by
While it was rumored that Apple planned to release new versions of the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag this year, it is no longer clear if that will still happen. Back in January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple planned to release new HomePod mini and Apple TV models "toward the end of the year," while he at one point expected a new AirTag to launch "around the middle of 2025." Yet,...

Top Rated Comments

pscl Avatar
126 months ago
playstation 4 remote support... *fingerscrossed* :>
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JeffyTheQuik Avatar
126 months ago
How exactly was 2.2 a significant update?
When you have 7 Edition Watches, one for each day of the week, it's nice to not have the added expense of an iPhone to trouble me.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robogobo Avatar
126 months ago
How exactly was 2.2 a significant update?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
126 months ago
Ya obv.


Has anyone worked out a "DFU" mode for the watch yet? I'm still hesitant to use them. I did install watchOS 2 betas and they were a bit touch and go for a while. One wouldn't let you iCloud verify and locked you out effectively without this little work around. Didn't brick thank gos.
Nope, and any DFU mode is likely to require a cable attached to the hidden diag port on the watch
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anzio Avatar
126 months ago
How exactly was 2.2 a significant update?
It significantly increased the number of Apple Watch devices you could have paired to an iPhone at one time.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stirlo Avatar
126 months ago
I am just hoping they announce the second watch soon...the one with GPS, four times the cpu power and a millimeter thinner
R
O
F
L
[doublepost=1460001583][/doublepost]
Def feels much quicker on 2.2.1 Siri and animations both.
My watch got a lot less time, maybe 30%. By 10/11pm it was asking to go to Useless mode, been doing the airplane trick though (turn on plane, off plane every 15/60 mins)

Usually it could easily get 24 hours which is.. Not great but currently doing About 14-18 tops; still Enojgh but a massive drop.


Thought it was bad Glances and have taken off a significant amount that I don't really use, bit better battery but bbbbb hoping the .1 fixes it...


9.3.1 though my phone is needing to be charged by maybe 9pm, it's not good. Can't pin down an app so it's probably something system based.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)