Apple doesn't normally release a public beta of its upcoming Apple Watch software, but with watchOS 7, the company appears to have had a change of heart. That means anyone with a compatible Apple Watch can get a taste of the latest new Apple Watch features, such as sleep tracking, new watch faces, watch face sharing, new workout types, and more.

watchOS7 hands on feature2
Before you rush to install the watchOS 7 public‌ beta, it's worth remembering that this is pre-release software, so don't expect things to work 100 percent trouble-free. Apple has released relatively stable beta versions of its operating systems this year, but beta software is inherently unstable, as it contains bugs and issues that have yet to be ironed out.

Another thing to note before installing the beta is that watchOS 7 completely removes the Force Touch gesture from the operating system, so expect a slightly different experience for some functions and menus. Also, bear in mind that there's no way to downgrade to watchOS 6 after installing the watchOS 7 beta.

watchOS 7 is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3, 4, and 5. If you have one of those models, here's how you can install the watchOS 7 public beta.

How to Install the watchOS 7 Public Beta

You need to be running the iOS 14 beta on the iPhone that your Apple Watch is paired with. Follow our walkthrough guide on how to do that, then come back and follow these steps.

  1. Open a browser on your ‌iPhone‌ and navigate to the Apple Beta Software Program website.
  2. Tap the chevron in the top-right corner of the webpage and select Sign In from the dropdown menu.
  3. Enter your Apple ID credentials.
  4. A Guide for Public Betas screen will appear. Select the watchOS tab, scroll down to the Get Started section and tap enroll your Apple Watch.
  5. Scroll down and tap Download Profile.
    beta install

  6. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the watchOS 7 public beta.
  7. Tap Allow in the prompt to download the beta profile to your ‌iPhone‌.
  8. Tap Install in the top-right corner of the screen and enter your passcode if required.
    beta install

  9. Read the consent information, then tap Install two more times.
  10. Tap Restart if prompted to restart your ‌iPhone‌.
  11. Launch the Watch app on your ‌iPhone‌.
  12. Select General -> Software Update.
    beta install

  13. After a few moments, you should see watchOS 7 available to download. Place your Apple Watch on its charger and tap Download and Install.

After a few minutes your Apple Watch will restart with the new watchOS public beta running.


Click here to learn more about some of the new features of watchOS 7.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

Top Rated Comments

zed1291 Avatar
64 months ago
Keep the same title, change the article body to just say "Don't."
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MickeyAlexander Avatar
64 months ago
The trouble with trying out the beta software on the watch, is that you have no personal recourse if the software somehow bricks the device—which, as we know, has happened even with official releases. Fixing the software requires sending the thing in to Apple, which is horribly inconvenient with a piece of tech you wear daily. It’s too bad Apple doesn’t (or can’t?) enable some sort of emergency data troubleshooting access using the charging cable.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oscar_aa Avatar
64 months ago

This isn’t true. You can send in your watch for a software downgrade via mail-in or depot repair. Software service for watches are free regardless of warranty status, just happens at the depot.
all true, but a big difference from the experience with iOS public betas and it should be highlighted in the article. Eg “be aware that there is no way for the public to downgrade from watchOS public beta. If you decide to downgrade, you must make a service request at a depot or use mail-in repair.”
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oscar_aa Avatar
64 months ago

I'm curious if there is an official disclaimer by Apple. If not, it would be highly irresponsible of them not to. Especially since it's a public beta and it's intended to illicit feedback.
It’s the very last sentence on the beta program’s watchOS page. All the more reason to highlight it in the article.

“Please note Apple Watch cannot be restored to previously-released OS versions once the public beta is installed.”

https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/guide#watchos
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
max2 Avatar
64 months ago
Thank you! Can't wait to test!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdavis41 Avatar
64 months ago
Going to be honest, not liking the removal of force touch one bit thus far.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked

Thursday July 3, 2025 5:40 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
airpods pro 2

AirPods Pro 3 to Help Maintain Apple's Place in Earbud Market Amid Increasing Low-Cost Competition

Thursday July 3, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple's position as the dominant force in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market is expected to continue through 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The forecast outlines a 3% year-over-year increase in global TWS unit shipments for 2025, signaling a transition from rapid growth to a more mature phase for the category. While Apple is set to remain the leading brand by...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...