Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 4.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 4.3 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the first beta and two weeks after releasing watchOS 4.2.2, a minor update focusing on bug fixes and performance improvements.

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

watchos43beta
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 4.3 brings support for Nightstand mode in portrait orientation, a feature that was previously only available when the watch was in landscape orientation.

There's a new charging animation when the Apple Watch is placed on the charger, and your Activity data is now displayed on the Siri watch face.


The update also includes the return of a much-desired feature that allows music playing on the iPhone to be controlled using the Music app on the Apple Watch. In prior versions of watchOS, the Music app could only be used to control music playing from the watch itself. With tvOS 11.3 installed, there's also an option to control music playing on the Apple TV with the watch.

Apple plans to release watchOS 4.3 to the public in the spring, and until then, it will be limited to developers. Apple offers public betas of tvOS, iOS, and macOS, but watchOS betas are not available for public beta testers.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
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Top Rated Comments

MrGimper Avatar
104 months ago
Wow this beta that damaged my watch series 3 now when i delete a text it just freezes and go back to app display
Thats a shame. Lucky it's just your development device.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Futhark Avatar
104 months ago
Tell me what’s new watch os 4.3 beta 2 please
Or watch the short video for yourself
[doublepost=1518032224][/doublepost]
Wow this beta that damaged my watch series 3 now when i delete a text it just freezes and go back to app display
So have you filed a big report? I’m assuming you’re a developer since you’ve installed Beta Software on your watch?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mercybelcher Avatar
104 months ago
Tell me what’s new watch os 4.3 beta 2 please
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)