Apple today released watchOS 26.3, an update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.3 comes two months after Apple released watchOS 26.2.
watchOS 26.3 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.3 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the watch. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.
According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 26.3 includes unspecified bug fixes and security updates, and there were no new outward-facing features discovered during the beta testing process.
Monday October 26, 2026 10:47 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today released watchOS 27.2, the first major update to the watchOS 27 operating system.
watchOS 27.2 can be downloaded through the Settings app on the watch or the Apple Watch app on a connected iPhone. Software can only be installed when the Apple Watch is on the charger and has over 50 percent battery.
According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 27.2 introduces new Siri AI...
Friday October 23, 2026 12:28 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today seeded an updated version of the watchOS 27.2 release candidate, four days after the first RC became available.
Registered developers and public beta testers can download software through the Apple Watch Settings app or using the Apple Watch app on iPhone.
watchOS 27.2 adds new Siri AI features and extends Siri AI to more languages.
This update provides enhancements to Siri...
Monday October 5, 2026 11:20 am PDT by Juli Clover
Alongside new betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, and macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Apple has released the third betas of watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and visionOS 27.2. The betas come two weeks after Apple released the second betas.
Registered developers can download the betas through the Settings app on each device.
With iOS 27.2 and watchOS 27.2, Apple is testing the new Health app that it showed...
intiate the download from the apple watch app on my phone then turn off bluetooth on my phone
It should not matter too much but if you start the download over BT and then kill the BT it will switch to Wifi and try re-regulate the speed. It might just be cleaner to do the entire thing over wifi.
I doubt it makes too much difference over the download period but optically it will likely give you incorrect "... minutes remaining" estimates.
EDIT: Just don't forget to turn BT back on after the download has finished :D
You mean the actual download itself? Mine took <5 min, don't want to know what if would have been via the phone, but yes, preparing, verifying takes another 20-30 min and install is usually about 5 min. I usually plan on the whole process taking maybe an hour, which is fine with me. Slow, sure, but the computing power in the watch is limited.
Mine’s taking longer than both my iPhone and iPad.
You mean the actual download itself? Mine took <5 min, don't want to know what if would have been via the phone, but yes, preparing, verifying takes another 20-30 min and install is usually about 5 min. I usually plan on the whole process taking maybe an hour, which is fine with me. Slow, sure, but the computing power in the watch is limited.
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