Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 4.1 to Developers - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 4.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 4 update to developers for testing purposes, nearly two weeks after releasing the first watchOS 4.1 beta and three weeks after releasing the new watchOS 4 operating system to the public.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

watchos 4
The watchOS 4.1 update introduces support for streaming Apple Music content directly to the Apple Watch Series 3 over LTE and it brings a new Radio app with access to Beats 1 and other Apple Music radio stations.


While the Music app on the watch looks the same, offering up access to the Music Library, recently played songs, playlists, and Apple Music mixes, but now all Apple Music content can be streamed over an LTE connection and doesn't need to be downloaded to the device.

Support for Apple Music streaming appears to be the main feature in the new watchOS 4.1 update, but Apple is also introducing new Unicode 10 emoji characters. Today's update adds a new Wi-Fi toggle for turning off Wi-Fi to force the Apple Watch Series 3 to use LTE and it displays the Wi-Fi SSID so users can see the Wi-Fi Network an Apple Watch is connected to.

watchOS 4 is a significant refresh of the watchOS operating system introducing new watch faces, including a personalized Siri face, improvements to the Workout app, support for integration with gym equipment, an Apple News app, a vertical Dock, and a new Flashlight feature in the Control Center.

For more on what's included in watchOS 4, check out our watchOS 4 roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11

Popular Stories

apple watch rescue

Apple Shares Apple Watch SOS Success Story

Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:26 am PDT by
Apple today highlighted the SOS feature in the Apple Watch, publishing a short video featuring a man named Phil, who crashed while mountain biking. Phil was biking with his two young children when he had an accident and was knocked unconscious. His Apple Watch detected the fall, calling emergency services and alerting his wife. He ended up breaking his collarbone and seven ribs, but was...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

What to Expect From Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4

Sunday July 26, 2026 8:07 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 this year. Spoiler alert: not very much. While it was rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch Series 12, Gurman said he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models. Touch ID probably counts ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Rethink Could See Debut of Round Model, Screenless Fitness Tracker, and More

Sunday August 9, 2026 8:37 am PDT by
Apple is re-evaluating the Apple Watch lineup and considering a host of radical new designs, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. In today's edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman compared plans for the Apple Watch's evolution to the "revolutionary design change" that the foldable iPhone represents. It will be "something that...

Top Rated Comments

scrapesleon Avatar
116 months ago
improved battery life?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
116 months ago
I have been unable to get WiFi streaming on Series 2. (Using beta 2 on Series 2) I can control (e.g stop, start, skip) music that is already playing on iPhone from my Series 2 but I cannot browse my iPhone music library or Apple Music (I do subscribe to Apple Music) on Series 2 even when on WiFi.
[doublepost=1507584247][/doublepost]Downloaded Watch OS 4.1 Beta 2 to both Series 2 and Series 3. Series 2 no radio app, no playlists from iPhone. Series 3 I get both. Have Apple Music Subscription.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
themick4u Avatar
116 months ago
They didn't (Series 2 here).
Totally bummed.... :(
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kycophpd Avatar
116 months ago

ESPN radio now works in radio app
Evidently Jemele Hill has been removed on this beta. Expect her to be put back in the next beta in about 2 weeks.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
themick4u Avatar
116 months ago
Does anyone know if they brought back ability to browse music content / Playlists stored on the iphone in this release?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
116 months ago
1.00.03 is my Modem Firmware on the current release version.
Thanks! Interesting to see it’s changed.Hopefully we will see better LTE behaviour. Not that it was bad but good to see it’s being tweaked
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)