Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 8 to Developers - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 8 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of the upcoming watchOS 8 update to developers for testing purposes, with the second beta coming a little over two weeks after Apple first revealed watchOS 8 at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

watchOS 8 on Apple Watch feature
To install ‌watchOS 8‌, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, ‌watchOS 8‌ can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update.

To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌iPhone‌. It's not recommended to install ‌watchOS 8‌ on a main Apple Watch as the software may be unstable at this early date.

watchOS 8 has several new features that are extensions of new features introduced in iOS 15. There are improvements to Wallet that allow it to hold keys for unlocking hotel, car, and home doors, plus Apple will let U.S. users add their IDs to Wallet later this year.

Apple overhauled the Home app, and for the Workout app, there are new Tai Chi and Pilates workout types, and the Breathe app has been renamed to Mindfulness thanks to a new Reflect session that invites users to get into a positive state of mind. When sleeping, the Apple Watch now measures respiratory rate.

Focus mode from iOS 15 syncs to the watch so users can stay on task, and in the Messages app, Scribble, dictation, and emojis can be combined within the same message, making it easier to communicate. Dictated text can be edited, and GIFs can be sent right from the watch.

There's a new Portrait watch face, and the Photos app has been updated with support for Memories and Featured ‌Photos‌. A new Find My app lets items be located right on the wrist, and there are also new updates for Music, Weather, Timers, and more, along with a new Contacts app.

‌watchOS 8‌ is only available to developers at the current time, but a public beta will be released at some point in July.

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

Popular Stories

modular ultra training load

watchOS 27 to Offer New Watch Faces, Including 'Modular Ultra' Variant

Monday May 4, 2026 5:58 am PDT by
For watchOS 27, Apple is testing new Apple Watch faces, and one of them is a simpler version of an existing Apple Watch Ultra watch face that could be coming to standard Series models. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple is testing multiple new faces for watchOS 27, code-named "Orchid." One of them is said to be a "simplified take" on the...
Apple Announces 2026 Pride Band Watch Face and iPhone Wallpaper Feature

Apple Announces 2026 Pride Band, Watch Face, and iPhone Wallpaper

Monday May 4, 2026 6:05 am PDT by
Apple today introduced its 2026 Pride Collection, including a new Apple Watch band, watch face, and a matching wallpaper for the iPhone and iPad. Apple said its Pride Collection celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world during Pride Month in June and beyond. In addition, the company noted that it is proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities. The new Pri...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

watchOS 26.5 Fixes Two Apple Watch Bugs

Tuesday May 5, 2026 7:56 am PDT by
watchOS 26.5 fixes two Apple Watch bugs, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week. Apple fixed bugs in the Messages and Workout apps:• Fixes an issue where Messages on Apple Watch may use SMS instead of iMessage when paired with a dual SIM iPhone • Fixes an issue where Workout app audio alerts could fail to play if the phone was not...

Top Rated Comments

65 months ago

The rating isn’t that accurate. I always got well over 18 hours on the original, series 2 and series 3. The battery life has gotten lower and lower for me with the series 4 and then 5. I guess I’ve just been unlucky, if some of you are getting such amazing battery life. They’ve said the same thing for years because it allowed them to add more features without having to say the battery life is lower. At least, that’s how I see it. They knew that previous models got well over 18 hours. Reviewers have said the same thing.

I’ll grant you that I don’t like my batteries to get under 30%. To me, once it’s in the 20s, it’s too low to keep using. I don’t want to be running it close to battery saver mode every day. So, in my mind, the watch should remain over 20% until I go to bed. I don’t ever run the watch until it’s almost dead.

I don’t mean to derail this thread. I was just shocked by the battery life comment.
Nobody...is getting 2 full days (some people have claimed more) from a single charge on their Watch. Not if they are using it. Not on Series Anything. They are either lying, or leaving something out. Like not wearing it for hours at a time. No way anyone is wearing their Watch for 2 full days on a single charge. No way.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
65 months ago
I hope it will fix the battery problem on my serie 5...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
65 months ago

You probably know already that battery size on older tech does not necessarily equate to longer life. Advances in the soc, display and other components result in lower energy demands, thus same size battery equals more life, smaller battery means same life. Both the series 6 and series 3 are rated the same for battery life. I just got a series 6 and I’m getting 2 days as well. Obviously it is based on your use and options set
I agree with you…except for the 2 days part…not if your using it. No way. Maybe…if you’re only using it to check the time. Not if your reading messages, checking weather, and just one other thing. Nope.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
65 months ago

The series 3 has a bigger battery. It got the best battery life of any series I’ve had. The series 2 was pretty good, too. They made the watch thinner with the 4 on, which made battery life lower along with eventual AOD.

I used to always have at least 50% left at the end of day with the series 3.

I didn’t switch to my series 5 until after 10am, and I’m not at 44%. That included a 50minute outdoor walk workout. No music or LTE use. Doing nothing but getting the occasional notification. I don’t use hardly any third party apps and I almost never open an app other than weather or workout.
You probably know already that battery size on older tech does not necessarily equate to longer life. Advances in the soc, display and other components result in lower energy demands, thus same size battery equals more life, smaller battery means same life. Both the series 6 and series 3 are rated the same for battery life. I just got a series 6 and I’m getting 2 days as well. Obviously it is based on your use and options set
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
65 months ago
You probably know already that battery size on older tech does not necessarily equate to longer life. Advances in the soc, display and other components result in lower energy demands, thus same size battery equals more life, smaller battery means same life. Both the series 6 and series 3 are rated the same for battery life. I just got a series 6 and I’m getting 2 days as well. Obviously it is based on your use and options set
The rating isn’t that accurate. I always got well over 18 hours on the original, series 2 and series 3. The battery life has gotten lower and lower for me with the series 4 and then 5. I guess I’ve just been unlucky, if some of you are getting such amazing battery life. They’ve said the same thing for years because it allowed them to add more features without having to say the battery life is lower. At least, that’s how I see it. They knew that previous models got well over 18 hours. Reviewers have said the same thing.

I’ll grant you that I don’t like my batteries to get under 30%. To me, once it’s in the 20s, it’s too low to keep using. I don’t want to be running it close to battery saver mode every day. So, in my mind, the watch should remain over 20% until I go to bed. I don’t ever run the watch until it’s almost dead.

I don’t mean to derail this thread. I was just shocked by the battery life comment.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chacocliff Avatar
65 months ago

I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I didn’t have the portrait option in the first beta. I have it now.
I didn’t either, but I do now. Also the fire animation when you close your rings is back.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)