Apple Seeds Release Candidate Version of watchOS 9.3 to Developers - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Release Candidate Version of watchOS 9.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded the RC version of an upcoming watchOS 9.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming almost a month after the release of the second watchOS 9.3 beta.

watchOS 9 Feature
To install the new ‌watchOS 9.3 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.

Once installed, ‌watchOS 9.3 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 has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the ‌iPhone‌ it is paired with.

According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 9.3 adds new features, improvements and bug fixes. It specifically introduces the Unity Mosaic watch face, offered to celebrate Black History Month.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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...
General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Seeds watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Release Candidates

Monday May 4, 2026 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the release candidate versions of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the fourth betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required....
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

44 months ago

So apparently, when you delete an iMessage or text from your watch it also deletes it from your phone. I thought this was purposely excluded from syncing and not a bug. I hope this is a feature you can toddle on or off. I want to be able to delete messages from my watch storage without it effecting my phone.
That seems like a fringe case. I'd venture to guess that most users want the watch messages and phone messages to be in sync.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surfzen21 Avatar
44 months ago
So apparently, when you delete an iMessage or text from your watch it also deletes it from your phone. I thought this was purposely excluded from syncing and not a bug. I hope this is a feature you can toddle on or off. I want to be able to delete messages from my watch storage without it effecting my phone.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
QuarterSwede Avatar
44 months ago

So apparently, when you delete an iMessage or text from your watch it also deletes it from your phone. I thought this was purposely excluded from syncing and not a bug. I hope this is a feature you can toddle on or off. I want to be able to delete messages from my watch storage without it effecting my phone.
Definitely not me. I’ve been wanting sync for years, for my professional sanity at least.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
twistedpixel8 Avatar
44 months ago
Does this fix Siri being unbelievably slow to respond? I remember getting instant responses on my S6 when I bought it but iOS 9 she now takes forever to reply, almost as if she’s crashed.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BugeyeSTI Avatar
44 months ago

Anyone else noticed their Series 5 has a lot less battery life after the latest updates?

Used to easily get thru a day. Not heavy usage. Now get the low battery warning around 7pm. ;(

I have done a power cycle and not sure if that fixed anything.
Other options? (Besides new battery up buying a new one hahaha).
I agree with @CNebs, unpair and repair your watch. It has restored performance and fixed issues for me in the past
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44 months ago

Anyone else noticed their Series 5 has a lot less battery life after the latest updates?

Used to easily get thru a day. Not heavy usage. Now get the low battery warning around 7pm. ;(

I have done a power cycle and not sure if that fixed anything.
Other options? (Besides new battery up buying a new one hahaha).
Have you tried to unpair and then repair?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)