Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 5.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 5.1 update to developers, just one day after releasing the new watchOS 5 operating system.

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.

applewatchseries4watchfaces
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 features will be introduced in the watchOS 5.1 update, but it could bring support for answering Group FaceTime calls, a feature that was removed during the beta testing period. New emojis are also an option.

We'll update this post when we find out what's new in the watchOS 5.1 update.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...

Top Rated Comments

Maclver Avatar
89 months ago
all I want is iMessage Sync.... it's all I ask for
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
89 months ago
Probably has the capability, but likely still disabled while it completes the ratification it needs.

Remember kids, if you're waiting for a new Series 4, and you're looking to sell your old device, don't update your old device to this beta. You can't roll back, I suspect 12.1 won't release before you want to sell your old device, and you can't really sell it running beta software.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
decypher44 Avatar
89 months ago
all I want is iMessage Sync.... it's all I ask for
This this this!!! How is this not a thing yet??
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
archvile Avatar
89 months ago
I would say “no”. I don’t use iCloud for pretty much anything. I wouldn’t even know why I would use it. I have a Mac, but o don’t want any of my phone or watch stuff syncing with it unless I’m doing a backup.

Wouldn’t even know how, why or what iCloud messaging would be for. And from what I understand, it only works with iMessages, not standard text. More than half the people I text use Android.

What frustrates me is this: I used to use a Fossil Q watch with Android Wear with my 7+. It deleted messages from the watch when I would delete them from my phone. For the life of me I can’t understand why it worked so easily with an Android watch and not with Apple’s own watch.

Thank you, though. That’s the answer.

[doublepost=1537334294][/doublepost]Ok. Just tested. Yeah, turned on iCloud messages. Deleted an iMessage and it worked. Deleted a standard text message, doesn’t work. More hassle than it’s worth. Seriously, if an Android watch can do it with an iPhone, why can’t an Apple Watch?
Just tested this with my iPhone/Watch, and a Mac with Messages in iCloud enabled on both.

Deleting an iMessage from the phone will remove it from the watch automatically (it did not do this before).

Deleting a regular SMS/green text message from the phone will NOT remove it from the watch (same behavior as before). However, this WILL remove the same SMS conversation from other devices with Messages in iCloud enabled.

So it seems the Watch got a half-assed version of Messages in iCloud. Which is unfortunate, because 99% of the texts I delete are ones for 6 digit login codes or tracking updates, and those are always regular SMS.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cwanja Avatar
89 months ago
all I want is iMessage Sync.... it's all I ask for
This this this!!! How is this not a thing yet??
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/26498090/
Apparently it works in iOS 12 / watchOS 5?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
decypher44 Avatar
89 months ago
Stupidly obvious question, but you are using iCloud iMessage correct?

Full disclosure, I do not have an Apple Watch (yet) to test. So I am going off others posts.
I would say “no”. I don’t use iCloud for pretty much anything. I wouldn’t even know why I would use it. I have a Mac, but o don’t want any of my phone or watch stuff syncing with it unless I’m doing a backup.

Wouldn’t even know how, why or what iCloud messaging would be for. And from what I understand, it only works with iMessages, not standard text. More than half the people I text use Android.

What frustrates me is this: I used to use a Fossil Q watch with Android Wear with my 7+. It deleted messages from the watch when I would delete them from my phone. For the life of me I can’t understand why it worked so easily with an Android watch and not with Apple’s own watch.

Thank you, though. That’s the answer.

[doublepost=1537334294][/doublepost]Ok. Just tested. Yeah, turned on iCloud messages. Deleted an iMessage and it worked. Deleted a standard text message, doesn’t work. More hassle than it’s worth. Seriously, if an Android watch can do it with an iPhone, why can’t an Apple Watch?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)