Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 8.6 to Developers

by

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 8.6 beta to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming two weeks after the release of the first beta.

watchOS 8 on Apple Watch feature
To install ‌‌‌watchOS 8‌‌‌.6, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, ‌‌‌watchOS 8.6 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.

We don't yet know what's included in the watchOS 8.6 update, and no new features have been discovered in the beta so far.

Related Roundups: watchOS 10, watchOS 9
Related Forum: iOS, Mac, tvOS, watchOS Programming

Top Rated Comments

twocents Avatar
twocents
15 months ago

Apparently the first watchOS version shipped with the original Apple Watch was based on iOS 8.2 or something so they didn’t reuse that version number to avoid confusion. I forget exactly, but yeah I just looked it up and watchOS 1.0 was indeed based on iOS 8.2 so it’s probably something along those lines.

Kind of a fun, random, and interesting Apple fact. ;):apple:
Nice catch! Watch has really matured since those days..
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tridley68 Avatar
tridley68
15 months ago
This is the most updates for an iOS that I have ever seen.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sorgo † Avatar
sorgo †
15 months ago

Whatever happened to watchOS 8.2?


Apparently the first watchOS version shipped with the original Apple Watch was based on iOS 8.2 or something so they didn’t reuse that version number to avoid confusion. I forget exactly, but yeah I just looked it up and watchOS 1.0 was indeed based on iOS 8.2 so it’s probably something along those lines.

Kind of a fun, random, and interesting Apple fact. ;):apple:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Davelfc Avatar
Davelfc
15 months ago
Rather than this ridiculous rush to bring out a new version of the operating system, just provide updates and improvements each month. What we end up with is an ok operating system that has taken almost a year to iron out issues, then being replaced with a new one with a load more bugs.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
nutmac
15 months ago
Whatever happened to watchOS 8.2?



Attachment Image
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sir_Macs_A_Lot Avatar
Sir_Macs_A_Lot
15 months ago
I'm having the hardest time pairing an Apple Watch Series 1 to an iPhone 11. Apple is no help. They've moved on to bigger and better things. :oops:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments