Apple Seeds First watchOS 9 Public Beta

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 9 update to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to experience the new watch software ahead of its fall release.

watchOS 9 Feature
The watchOS 9 update can be downloaded after upgrading your iPhone to the public beta version of iOS 16. After installing iOS 16, the proper watchOS 8 profile from Apple's beta software website must also be installed.

The software can be accessed by going to General > Software Update in the Apple Watch app on ‌iPhone‌. To update, ‌Apple Watch‌ needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌.

watchOS 9 expands the sleep tracking feature to add sleep stages, allowing the watch to track when users are in REM Core, or Deep sleep, plus it supports a Medications app for managing and getting reminders for medications, vitamins, and supplements.

There are four new watch faces, including Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy, and the ECG app supports AFib History for tracking how long a person has been in atrial fibrillation.

Custom workouts have been added to the Workout app, and there are fitness improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers. Other new features include a CallKit API that allows VOIP calls to be answered on Apple Watch, Apple Watch Mirroring for controlling the Apple Watch with an ‌‌iPhone‌‌, Quick Actions for doing more with a double pinch gesture, and updates to the Reminders and Calendar apps.

More on everything that's new in the watchOS 9 update can be found in our dedicated watchOS 9 roundup.

Related Roundups: watchOS 11, watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

robd003 Avatar
41 months ago

Please can someone post a list of what is not working on SE.
Most interested in Running Metrics like Power.
Thank you
I'll test it tomorrow and report back
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
terrapinjess Avatar
41 months ago

I’m loving the new watch faces. Metropolitan is my fav with the pride color wheel.
I just checked out a video of how that looks... That looks so nice! I'm tempted to add this public beta to my watch... I really want these new faces. Astonomy with the Earth on the lower half and time upper center looks like what I want the most. Can't wait for this release!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
41 months ago

I'm excited to try the sleep stages tracking.
Same here!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Caviar_X Avatar
41 months ago
I’m loving the new watch faces. Metropolitan is my fav with the pride color wheel.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Camel993 Avatar
41 months ago

I'd love to know what doesn't work on an SE...as I'm looking to pick one for cheap.
SE got the new running metrics do to the always on sensors, even the 5 doesn't have it hence they have the same processor
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
terrapinjess Avatar
41 months ago
Is it sad that I’m only looking forward to the new WatchOS because I want the new lunar face?
For the other analog faces, specifically Infograph, I’m hoping that by some rare miracle there will be an option to turn the watch hands completely off at some point. It’s so … well, stupid….when the hands cover up the complications. Maybe make them just fade out/become opaque just in the areas over the complications, Apple?

EDIT: I’ve already submitted this as a feature request to Apple in the past. I’ll be so happy when/if they implement it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)