Apple Seeds Third watchOS 9 Public Beta

Apple today seeded the third 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. The new beta comes two weeks after the second beta, and it corresponds to the fifth developer beta.

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 9 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

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Top Rated Comments

ericg301 Avatar
38 months ago

The previous beta watch update caused a lot of issues with complications disappearing, phone calls not ringing on the watch and other things. Hopefully this one will correct these.

I wonder what all those people at Apple doing? It seems that the software released these past few years is way less stable than what was released long before that fancy donut shape building. Do they ever test what they are releasing?
beta software be beta software.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ericg301 Avatar
38 months ago

But I think this is worse than beta software. As a user, I shouldn't find 6 things wrong within a few minutes of use. Don't you think the developers should try basic functionality before releasing it as beta software. In the past it wasn't this bad. I think Apple has lost it's focus.
It's not a linear process. They may have earmarked beta 3 to work on certain features knowing that they would break other things until beta 4.

When you install beta software on your devices, you are taking the risk that some parts may not work. Now if your issues persist once it ships to the public, then your complaints are justified. But to expect polished software at beta 3/4 is just wishful thinking and shows of lack of understanding of the beta process.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PrecisionGem Avatar
37 months ago

Just wanted to say that “pride” looking watch face is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. What’s the point of having something tell you the time if it’s so squiggly blurry that you can’t even make out the numbers? Hideous
You better watch what you say about certain watch faces. I have gotten banned for a few days for mentioning certain watch faces. I think if you say positive things about that face that's ok.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cvam1985 Avatar
38 months ago
Just wanted to say that “pride” looking watch face is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. What’s the point of having something tell you the time if it’s so squiggly blurry that you can’t even make out the numbers? Hideous
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)