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 Series 9
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

newtestleper Avatar
newtestleper
79 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
MrGimper
79 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
MLVC
79 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
AppleFan91
79 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
decypher44
79 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
tiguk
79 months ago
(Re)Install the WatchOS profile onto your phone. Seems to work then.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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