Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 4.3.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 4.3.1 update to developers, a little under one week after releasing watchOS 4.3, a major update that introduced portrait Nightstand mode and iPhone music controls on Apple Watch.

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.

watchos431beta
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.

It's not yet clear what new features will be introduced in the watchOS 4.3.1 update, but it's likely to include bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 4.3.

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

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Sad Siri Feature

Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Retiring After Siri Delays

Monday December 1, 2025 2:16 pm PST by
Apple AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down from his position and retiring in spring 2026, Apple announced today. Giannandrea will serve as an advisor between now and 2026, with former Microsoft AI researcher Amar Subramanya set to take over as vice president of AI. Subramanya will report to Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi, and will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and ...
Netflix Smaller 4

Netflix Kills Casting From Its Mobile App to Most Modern TVs

Monday December 1, 2025 4:36 am PST by
Netflix has quietly removed the ability to cast content from its mobile apps to most modern TVs and streaming devices, including newer Chromecast models and the Google TV Streamer. The change was first spotted by users on Reddit and confirmed in an updated Netflix support page (via Android Authority), which now states that the streaming service no longer supports casting from mobile devices...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
iphone 17 cyber

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC. Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple. Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
Cyber Week Deals 2025

Best Cyber Week Apple Deals Include Big Discounts on AirPods, Apple Watch, and More

Sunday November 30, 2025 7:33 am PST by
Cyber Week is here, and you can find popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more at all-time low prices. 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 you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Specifically,...
iOS 26

What to Expect From Apple This December: iOS 26.3 Beta, Replay 2025, and More

Monday December 1, 2025 8:40 am PST by
The calendar has turned to December, and the quieter year-end holiday season is now upon us. Nevertheless, we can still expect a few things from Apple this month. Apple previously announced that iOS 26.2 will be released to the general public in December, and we can expect corresponding updates to be released as well, including iPadOS 26.2, macOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and visionOS...
studio display purple february

M5 iPad Pro Could Hint at New Studio Display Feature

Sunday November 30, 2025 10:30 am PST by
The updated specs of the M5 iPad Pro may point toward a major new feature for Apple's next-generation Studio Display expected in early 2026. Apple's latest iPad Pro debuted last month and contains one display-related change that stands out: it can now drive external monitors at up to 120Hz with Adaptive Sync. The feature should deliver lower latency, smoother motion, and fewer visual...

Top Rated Comments

newtestleper Avatar
100 months ago
I have a red (1) badge indicating an update, but I get a failed connection error when I check. I have now updated my phone to iOS 11.4 beta 1, but I saw the error before the 11.4 beta installed. (I checked Watch while the iOS beta was downloading.)

I've tried the obvious things for troubleshooting: rebooting both devices, turning radios off and on. The Watch *is* otherwise connected to the iPhone and working fine. I have a few more troubleshooting tricks to try (deleting and reinstalling profiles is next). I *really* don't want to unpair and re-pair.

Don’t worry, they’re going to nail the watch update process by watchOS 7, you’ll see.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
100 months ago
Whether people should or should not be installing betas on their devices is irrelevant and lets not forget that Apple release public beta builds of most of their operating systems these days.

There is what would appear to be a widespread issue in the latest developer build. Which is exactly what developer beta testing is for. Apple will need to address that issue before releasing iOS 11.4 or Watch OS 4.3.1 to the wild and the more people who inform of that and help them with testing any potential fixes the better
And they don't release a public beta of watchOS for a very specific reason.... a user cannot roll it back themselves. So watch betas should be treated differently.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MLVC Avatar
100 months ago
I have a red (1) badge indicating an update, but I get a failed connection error when I check. I have now updated my phone to iOS 11.4 beta 1, but I saw the error before the 11.4 beta installed. (I checked Watch while the iOS beta was downloading.)

I've tried the obvious things for troubleshooting: rebooting both devices, turning radios off and on. The Watch *is* otherwise connected to the iPhone and working fine. I have a few more troubleshooting tricks to try (deleting and reinstalling profiles is next). I *really* don't want to unpair and re-pair.

Same issue. Deleting and reinstalling profile didn’t help either. Maybe patience will help? I hate red badges though.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleFan91 Avatar
100 months ago
Genuine question, is it 4.3.1 or 4.4? The article states 4.4 and the iOS beta, which it usually stays with is 11.4. However the article title and photo states 4.3.1
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
decypher44 Avatar
100 months ago
Would it kill them to add at least a few new watch faces? Or, at least have some in the App Store.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tiguk Avatar
100 months ago
(Re)Install the WatchOS profile onto your phone. Seems to work then.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)