Apple Asks Developers to Submit watchOS Apps to Apple Watch App Store

Apple today asked developers to begin building, testing, and submitting watchOS 6 apps for inclusion in the new standalone Apple Watch App Store.

Starting with watchOS 6, developers are able to distribute apps built solely for the Apple Watch without a companion app on iOS. Apple was not previously accepting standalone Apple Watch submissions and has also updated its watchOS site for developers.

watchos6appstore
Apple Watch apps can be installed from the Apple Watch ‌App Store‌ directly on the wrist even when an iPhone isn't available.

With watchOS 6, customers around the world can use the new App Store on Apple Watch to easily discover, browse, search, and install apps directly on their wrist. And for the first time, you can distribute an app just for Apple Watch, without a companion app on iOS. Build your watchOS apps using Xcode 11 GM seed, test them on devices running the latest watchOS 6 GM seed, and submit them for review.

Apple says that starting in April 2020, all new watchOS apps and app updates submitted to the ‌App Store‌ will need to be built with the watchOS 6 SDK and support the Apple Watch Series 4 or later.

watchOS 6 with standalone ‌App Store‌ is set to launch on the Series 3 and Series 4 Apple Watch models on Thursday, September 19. It will be available for Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watch models later in the year.

The Apple Watch Series 5, which launches on Friday, September 20, will come with watchOS 6 installed.

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

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Top Rated Comments

macduke Avatar
71 months ago
Did they have to ask them because nobody was?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Motawa Avatar
71 months ago
please.. PLEAASE whatsapp. Make an apple watch app with voice messages support...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sasparilla Avatar
71 months ago
This should unleash some cool stuff.

Of course the temptation for 3rd parties to want to really monitor you (who wouldn't want to know your heart rate and give advertisements based on that) for monetization will be even greater - so Apple will have to watch apps carefully.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mward333 Avatar
71 months ago
Paving the way for the Apple Watch to be a totally untethered device.

I’m planning on getting a 3G series 5 and going sans phone until they release an SE size replacement (maybe / probably never)
Agreed! I am really looking forward to the day when we can use an Apple Watch without owning an iPhone.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
magiic Avatar
71 months ago
I hope Strava finally commits to making a decent standalone app compared to the current half assed attempt they've been running since the series 2 launched.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thomas040 Avatar
71 months ago
Did they have to ask them because nobody was?
I'm wondering the same thing. for some reason the whole 'running apps on your wrist' seems to be have been forgotten in a weird way, despite them launching an App Store. ... I assume they will get there eventually. The Apple Watch is going to supplant the iPhone for all of the most rudimentary tasks. It's just a matter of time.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)