Apple Seeds watchOS 9.5 Release Candidate to Developers - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds watchOS 9.5 Release Candidate to Developers

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 9.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming two weeks after the launch of the fourth watchOS 9.5 beta. The RC represents the final version of watchOS 9.5 that will be provided to the public.

Apple watchOS 9 Feature
To install the watchOS 9.5 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.

Once installed, ‌watchOS 9.5 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.

watchOS 9.5 adds the simplified beta installation method that was first introduced in iOS 16.4. With the update, developers and public beta testers enrolled in Apple's respective programs can toggle on beta updates from the Software Update section of the Watch app on iPhone. An Apple ID associated with either a public beta account or a developer account is required to turn on beta updates.

The update also include bug fixes and the new Pride Celebration watch face that was announced earlier today.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

watchos 26 gradient light

watchOS 26.4 Now Available With Workout Update and New Emoji

Tuesday March 24, 2026 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 26.4, the fourth major update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.4 comes a month and a half after Apple released watchOS 26.3. watchOS 26.4 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.4 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the...
apple watch se red

Apple Releases watchOS 5 and watchOS 8 Updates to Keep FaceTime and iMessage Running on Older Apple Watches

Tuesday March 24, 2026 3:30 pm PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 5.3.10 and watchOS 8.8.2 for older Apple Watch models that are not able to run the current watchOS 26 update. watchOS 5.3.10 is available for the Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4, while watchOS 8.8.2 is available for the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, and original Apple Watch SE. According to Apple's release...
General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases First watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday March 30, 2026 10:38 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the first betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple launched the 26.4 versions of 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. There's no word on...

Top Rated Comments

mr0c Avatar
39 months ago
I had to toggle to Public Beta, then it showed up under both Developer and Public
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
qpid360 Avatar
39 months ago
Anyone else not seeing the toggle at all?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
39 months ago
Does anyone know if they fixed the bug where the Watch Now Playing app doesn’t automatically connect to the iPhone audio streams?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-audio-not-appearing-in-watch-now-playing.2386219/
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Black Magic Avatar
39 months ago

I’m not seeing the option to toggle on any beta updates, developer or public.
You turn the toggle on iOS to beta first, then install the WatchOS RC to gain the new beta toggle feature. Once done, turn iOS and WatchOS beta toggle to off.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tokenfreak Avatar
39 months ago

Anyone else not seeing the toggle at all?
Yeah I don't see it either...I wonder why?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
qpid360 Avatar
39 months ago
I don’t even see the option to toggle on developer/public beta on the watch app.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)