Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 6.1 beta to developers, a week after seeding the second watchOS 6.1 beta and three weeks after releasing the watchOS 6 update with full App Store, new Apple Watch faces, and more.

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.

applewatchseries5
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have over 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the ‌iPhone‌.

There were no major changes found in the first two watchOS 6.1 betas, so it's not entirely clear what's included in the update, but we'll update this article should new features be found in the third beta. The update may be focused on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements.

watchOS 6.1 does work with the Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watch models, which were excluded from the watchOS 6 release.

Apple said that watchOS 6 would come to the older Apple Watch models at a later date, so it's possible watchOS 6.1 will be the first version of watchOS 6 to work with the Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watches.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch Series 8
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Top Rated Comments

hortod1 Avatar
45 months ago
Hopefully it address the abysmal battery life on my series 5
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jst_testing Avatar
45 months ago
I second all the posts that want this update to improve the ridiculous battery life of 6.0.1
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Braderunner Avatar
45 months ago
My two main wishes for 6.1. Get Shortcuts working on the Watch, again. Add Reminders' settings back to the Watch app, so I can mirror my iPhone, and have the same default list. :rolleyes:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dictoresno Avatar
45 months ago
If you disable smart replies they should come back. They have for me anyway. It’s obviously only a temporary “fix” though.
I’ve turned them off and on again and rebooted, nothing.

Ok wow, you mean literally turn them off. Hahahaha it’s like the on/off switch is reversed. Ok that works. I turned them off and sure enough they appeared. Thanks.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imlynxy Avatar
45 months ago

Could anyone running the current beta please check if shortcuts are working again? Thanks!
For me I have them working since 6.1 beta 2, but with mistakes and a lot of “hmmm” from Siri. Beta3 is snappier.

Edit: On my I have 13.2 beta iOS iOS 13.2 beta 2. Siri loosing voice sometimes on my phone. The solution is to change from male voice to female and back or turn off-turn on Siri.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
calstanford Avatar
45 months ago
I am so excited. And I just can't hide it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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