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watchOS - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Apple Watch operating system

Operating system

watchOS is the operating system of the Apple Watch, developed by Apple. It is based on iOS, the operating system used by the iPhone, and has many similar features.^[6] It was released on April 24, 2015, along with the Apple Watch, the only device that runs watchOS. watchOS exposes an API called WatchKit for developer use.

The second version, watchOS 2, included support for native third-party apps and other improvements, and was released on September 21, 2015.^[7]^[8]^[9] The third version, watchOS 3, was released on September 13, 2016, to emphasize better performance and include new watch faces and stock apps. The fourth version, watchOS 4, was released on September 19, 2017. The fifth version, watchOS 5, was released on September 17, 2018,^[10] to add more third-party support and new workouts, along with the "Walkie-Talkie" feature.^[11] The sixth version, watchOS 6, was released on September 19, 2019.^[12] The seventh version, watchOS 7, was released on September 16, 2020, to support handwashing and sleep tracking.^[13]^[14] The eighth version, watchOS 8, was released on September 20, 2021, with updates in health monitoring, visuals, and apps.^[15] The ninth version, watchOS 9, was released on September 12, 2022. The tenth version, watchOS 10, was released on September 18, 2023. The 11th and current version, watchOS 11, was released on September 16, 2024. The upcoming 12th version, watchOS 26, was announced on June 9, 2025.

Interface overview[edit]

The home screen, rendered by and also known as "Carousel",^[6] consists of circular application icons that can be zoomed in and out with the Digital Crown and launched by touching the display, allowing users to access their favorite apps.

Prior to watchOS 3, "Glances" offered quick access to summaries of the most frequently used native and third-party applications.^[16] The Glances view was opened with a swipe-up gesture from the watch face screen. In watchOS 3, Glances were replaced with a redesigned Control Center that mirrors the functionality seen in iOS, providing a more unified experience across Apple devices. The Control Center is accessed with a swipe-up gesture from the watch face screen. Additionally, the friends menu, previously activated with the side button, was repurposed as a dedicated dock for apps, enhancing multitasking and app management.

Prior to watchOS 7, different actions and options appeared depending on whether the user taps or deep-presses, which an Apple Watch detects with its pressure-sensitive (Force Touch) Display.^[17] Force Touch was completely removed in watchOS 7, and all actions requiring the feature were moved to specific options in the Settings app or to long-press actions.^[18] With the launch of watchOS 7, Force Touch technology was phased out. This feature was replaced by additional options in the Settings app and extended press gestures to accommodate all necessary interactions. This change streamlined the interaction model, making it more consistent with other Apple devices that do not support Force Touch.

As of watchOS 10, the interface has been further refined to enhance user accessibility and interaction. New customization features allow users to personalize their Carousel with greater ease, and improvements in app responsiveness and animation enrich the overall user experience. These updates demonstrate Apple's ongoing commitment to enhancing usability while maintaining the sleek, minimalist design that users appreciate.

Supported health metrics[edit]

Since its inception, watchOS has supported an increasing number and variety of health metrics for measurement and tracking. These include:

heart rate
maximal aerobic capacity, otherwise known as VO2 max (added in watchOS 4,^[19] enhanced in watchOS 7^[20]^[21]^[22])
electrocardiogram, otherwise known as EKG or ECG (added in watchOS 5.1.2^[23])
blood oxygen saturation, otherwise known as SpO2 (added in watchOS 7,^[20] unavailable on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 units sold in the United States after January 15, 2024, for legal reasons)
menstrual cycle status (added in watchOS 6^[24])
sleep duration & respiratory rate tracking (added in watchOS 7^[25]^[26])
body temperature tracking (added in watchOS 9^[27])
sleep apnea detection (added in watchOS 11^[28])

For several years, Apple has been developing its HealthKit product in an attempt to penetrate the lucrative healthcare and wellness industry, which CB Insights believe holds a huge growth opportunity for Apple.^[29] This was confirmed by Jony Ive, Apple's former chief designer, in an interview. He said that health was a crucial element in the Apple Watch since the day of its inception and that the developmental trajectory of the hardware and the watchOS were geared towards health-based capabilities.^[30] Ive pointed out that one of the primary apps that shipped with the first watchOS allowed users to track and communicate as well as encourage them to move, exercise, and stand. He said:

Many of us have our phones with us all the time, but they aren't connected to you. Imagine having something this powerful with you at all times, and what opportunities that might present to the user. The opportunity is phenomenal. Particularly when [you] don't understand just where we are today in terms of technology and capability, but where we are headed.^[30]

Applications have been developed for watchOS that not only keep users active but also diagnose illnesses. For example, the app called DeepHeart, a deep-learning network that can detect atrial fibrillation, hypertension, sleep apnea, and diabetes.^[31] It taps into the HealthKit platform to collect data, particularly those collected by the Apple Watch's heart sensor.^[32]

Overview of watchOS versions Version Initial release date Latest version Build number Release date Device end-of-life Apple Watch iPhone watchOS 1 April 24, 2015 Unsupported: 1.0.1 12S632 May 19, 2015 — — watchOS 2 September 21, 2015 Unsupported: 2.2.2 13V604 July 18, 2016 watchOS 3 September 13, 2016 Unsupported: 3.2.3 14V753 July 19, 2017 5, 5C watchOS 4 September 19, 2017 Unsupported: 4.3.2 15U70 July 9, 2018 1st — watchOS 5 September 17, 2018 Unsupported: 5.3.9 16U693 November 5, 2020 — 5S, 6 watchOS 6 September 19, 2019 Unsupported: 6.3 17U216 December 14, 2020 Series 1, Series 2 — watchOS 7 September 16, 2020 Unsupported: 7.6.2 18U80 September 13, 2021 — — watchOS 8 September 20, 2021 Unsupported: 8.8.1 19U512 June 21, 2023 Series 3 6S, SE (1st), 7 watchOS 9 September 12, 2022 Unsupported: 9.6.3 20U502 September 21, 2023 — 8, X watchOS 10 September 18, 2023 Unsupported: 10.6.1 21U580 August 19, 2024 Series 4, Series 5, SE (1st) — watchOS 11 September 16, 2024 Latest version: 11.5 22T572 May 12, 2025 — XS, XR Preview version: 11.6 beta 1 22U5054b June 16, 2025 watchOS 26 June 9, 2025 Preview version: 26.0 beta 2 23R5296f June 23, 2025 TBA

Legend:

Unsupported

Supported

Latest version

Preview version

Future version

The first version of watchOS 1 was 1.0 and was based on iOS 8.2. The second version of watchOS 1 was 1.0.1 and was based on iOS 8.3.

Overview of watchOS 1 versions watchOS version iOS version based on Build Release date Features 1.0 8.2^[33] 12S507 April 24, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-04-24)

Initial release on Apple Watch (1st Generation).

UI
- Free floating Circular app icons in home screen.
- Zoom in with Digital Crown.
9 watch faces:^[34] Chronograph, Color, Modular, Utility, Mickey Mouse, Simple, Motion, Solar, Astronomy
20 stock apps:^[35] Activity, Alarm, Calendar, Camera Remote, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Passbook, Phone, Photos, Remote, Settings, Siri, Stocks, Stopwatch, Timer, Weather, Workout, World Clock.

1.0.1^[36] 8.3^[33] 12S632 May 19, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-05-19)

Display support for new Emoji characters.
Notification screen UI tweaks.
Improved performance:
- Free floating Circular app icons in home screen.
- Zoom in with Digital Crown.
- Siri.
- Measuring stand activity.
- Calculating calories for indoor cycling and rowing workouts.
- Distance and pace during outdoor walk and run.
- Accessibility.
- Third-party apps.
- Wrist Raise (more sensitive to real-life wrist raises).
Additional language support: Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Thai, Turkish.
Security fixes^[37]

Overview of watchOS 2 versions^[38] watchOS version iOS version based on Build Release date Features 2.0^[39] 9.0^[33] 13S344 September 21, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-09-21)

New Watch faces

Time-lapse face: Hong Kong, London, Mack Lake, New York, Shanghai, Paris
Photo & Photo album faces with support for Live Photos
New Time Travel function where you can see both past and future events
Nightstand Mode
9 new colors for customization
New multicolor Modular face
3rd party apps Complications support

Siri

Workout and Maps support
FaceTime audio calling and email replying support
HomeKit support
Added support in following countries: Austria, Belgium, Norway

Activity and Workout

Workouts done in 3rd-party apps will be included in Activity rings
Sharing support from Activity app on iPhone
Interactive achievements
Weekly Summary
Activity notifications can now be muted for a day
Workouts can now be automatically saved

Apple Pay and Wallet

Discover cards support
Reward cards, store credit and debit cards support
Passes can now be added from 3rd party apps

Friends

You can now add more than 12 friends to your Watch
Groups support
Multicolor sketches support
Animated emoji support

Maps

New Transit view in selected cities
List of directions can now be shown
Station placards support with departure information

Music

New Beats 1 Radio support
New Quick Play button for Apple Music

Miscellaneous

You can now reply to emails right from your Watch using dictation, emoji, or smart replies
Support for FaceTime audio calls
Support for Wi-Fi calling
Activation Lock – No one can activate an Apple Watch without a proper Apple ID and password
New system languages: English (India), Finnish, Indonesian, Norwegian, Polish
Dictation support extended to include the following languages:
- Dutch (Belgium)
- English (Ireland, Philippines, South Africa)
- French (Belgium)
- German (Austria)
- Spanish (Chile, Colombia)
Smart replies support extended to include the following languages:
- Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
- Danish
- Dutch
- English (New Zealand, Singapore)
- Japanese
- Korean
- Swedish
- Thai

Developer

Native SDK support
3rd-party apps can now access the accelerometer, heart rate sensor, microphone, Taptic Engine, and Digital Crown
You can now play videos directly on your Watch
You can now run apps without your iPhone with a Wi-Fi connection
Complications for watch faces support
Support for Workouts from 3rd party apps – Metrics will count toward the Activity rings as well as included in the Activity app on iPhone

2.0.1^[39] 9.1 13S428 October 21, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-10-21)

New emoji
Bug fixes

2.1^[39] 9.2 13S661 December 8, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-12-08)

New system languages: Arabic, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Malay, Portuguese (Portugal), Vietnamese
Right-to-left language support
In Arabic, switch between Latin and Hindi numerals
New Complication for Islamic and Hebrew calendars
Siri support extended to include Arabic (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates)
Dictation support extended to include the following languages:
- Arabic (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates)
- English (Malaysia)
- Czech
- Greek
- Hebrew
- Hungarian
- Portuguese (Portugal)
- Vietnamese
Bug fixes

2.2^[39] 9.3 13V144 March 21, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-03-21)

You can now pair 2+ Apple Watches to a single iPhone
New Nearby function in Maps
New system languages: Catalan, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Ukrainian
Dictation support extended to include the following languages:
- Catalan
- Croatian
- Slovak
- Romanian
- Ukrainian
- English (Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia)
Siri support extended to include Malay, Finnish, and Hebrew
Background heart rate measurements have their frequency increased when you're stationary

2.2.1^[39] 9.3.2 13V420 May 16, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-05-16)

General performance and stability improvements.

2.2.2^[39] 9.3.3 13V604 July 18, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-07-18)

General performance and stability improvements.

Overview of watchOS 3 versions^[40] watchOS version iOS version based on Build Release date Features 3.0 10.0 14S326 September 13, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-09-13)

Initial Release on Apple Watch Series 1 (Dual-Core) and Apple Watch Series 2 (Dual-Core)

Navigation

Favorite apps in Dock
Apps in Dock updates with up-to-date information on launch
Dock can contain up to 10 apps
Simple switch to different watch face with a swipe
Control Center can be toggled with a swipe up

New Watch faces

Minnie Mouse face
Activity faces
Numerals faces
Complications support for Photo, Photo Album, Timelapse, and Motion faces
New Complications: Workout, Music, and Messages, etc.
Face Gallery in Apple Watch app on iPhone
3rd-party Complications support

Activity

Share and compare activity rings
Activity progress notifications for a person you have shared your activity progress with
Smart replies for above notifications
New "Sharing" tab on Activity app on iPhone

Workout

Quick start
Customizable metrics view
Gestures support for pausing, resuming, or marking segments
Support for "Other" workouts not listed in built-in workout types
Auto-pause in running workouts for inactivity
Siri support
Route maps with a speed indicator (Outdoor workouts only)

For Wheelchairs

Activity rings support for people using a wheelchair
Pushes now contribute to the move ring
Stand ring and "Time to Stand" notification substituted with Roll ring and "Time to Roll" notification
Outdoor Run or Walk pace workouts

Breathe app

New app for breathing sessions
Visualization and haptics indicate when to inhale or exhale
Adjustments for session length and amount of breaths per minute
Summary with heart rate
"Time to Breathe" notifications
Weekly Summary

Communication

Full-screen effects for celebrations
Tap to quick reply
Animations for handwritten messages
Send built-in or 3rd party stickers
Ability to view secret messages
Replies now available in Messages and Mail notifications
New and redesigned emojis

Scribble

Write directly on Apple Watch and it will automatically convert to text
Scroll through predictions with Digital Crown
Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese

Emergency SOS

You can now call emergency services by pressing and holding the side button
Your SOS contacts will be notified with your location
You can also display your Medical ID stored on your Watch
Emergency numbers are automatically adjusted per your location

Home

New app to control accessories through HomeKit
You can now control all your accessories directly from your wrist
IP camera support: Watch live video with controls and notifications directly on your Watch

Miscellaneous

New Reminders app
New Find My Friends app
Apple Pay support in 3rd-party apps
New controls in the Calendar app: You can now delete events or switch calendars
FaceTime audio calls support
Search for Settings on Apple Watch app on iPhone
New remote camera controls: Flash, Live Photos, HDR, Zoom, Burst, and facing
New Siri languages: Spanish (Chile), Cantonese, English (Ireland), English (South Africa)

3.1 10.1 14S471 October 24, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-24)

Bubbles and fullscreen effects on Messages can now be replayed
Reduce Motion of Messages effects
Bug fixes

3.1.1 10.2 14S883 December 12, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-12-12)

Update withdrawn due to reports of Apple Watches no longer working after the update^[41]

3.1.3 10.2.1 14S960 January 23, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-01-23)

Includes fixes from watchOS 3.1.1

3.2 10.3 14V249 March 27, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-03-27)

Siri now works with 3rd-party apps with features including
- Start a workout
- Send messages
- Make payments
- Book rides
Theater Mode
New Scribble languages: French, Spanish, Italian
Sync progress for music playlists is now displayed in the Apple Watch app on iPhone

3.2.2 10.3.2 14V485 May 15, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-05-15)

Bug fixes.

3.2.3 10.3.3 14V753 July 19, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-07-19)

Bug fixes.
Final version to support iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C

Overview of watchOS 4 versions^[42] watchOS version iOS version based on Build Release date Features 4.0 11.0 15R372 September 19, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-09-19)

Initial release on Apple Watch Series 3

Drops support for iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C

New Watch faces

Siri face with updates based on time, location, and daily routines
Toy Story face with animated Toy Story characters
Kaleidoscope face with static images turning into patterns
Siri, News, Heart Rate, Now Playing, Messages Complications

Activity

Personalized notifications
Monthly challenges
Full Screen animations for achievements and rings closed
Workout metrics included in replies for Activity Sharing notifications

Workout

App completely redesigned
High Intensity Interval Training workout support
Multiple workouts in a single session support
Auto sets for Pool Swim workouts
Synced music playlist support when starting workouts (Apple Watch 1st gen not supported)
Music controls right inside the app
Do Not Disturb can be automatically turned on when starting workouts

Heart Rate

Graphs for all-day heart rate
New measurements including resting rate, walking average, workout average, workout high, recovery, and Breathe sessions
High Heart Rate notifications support (Apple Watch 1st gen not supported)
New Heart Rate data on iPhone including Heart Rate Variability and VO2 max

Music

App completely redesigned
Multiple playlists sync support for local playback with Bluetooth headphones
Apple Music curated playlists sync support, includes Heavy Rotation, My New Music Mix, and My Favorites Mix

Miscellaneous

News app added
Flashlight and Safety Light can be toggled through Control Center
Recent used apps in Dock
App home screen in alphabetical view
Gestures support in Mail
Dialer pad right inside Phone app
Conflicts for Calendar invites can now be displayed
New language for Scribble: German
New timers: sub-minute and repeating
Recent locations and suggestions in Maps
Contacts in Smart Reply, includes location

4.0.1 11.0 15R654 October 4, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-10-04) Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) only

Bug fixes

4.1 11.1 15R846 October 31, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-10-31)

Music streaming support on Apple Music or iCloud Music Library (Apple Watch Series 3 only)
New Radio app: Beats 1 Live Radio, custom stations, and expert-curated stations (Apple Watch Series 3 only)
Find, discover, and play songs, albums, or albums using Siri
Fitness data syncing support for more accurate metrics on GymKit-enabled treadmills, ellipticals, stair steppers, and indoor bikes
Ability to disconnect from a Wi-Fi network right in Control Center (Apple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular model only)
Mandarin Chinese now set as default dictation language in China
Bug fixes

4.2 11.2 15S102 December 5, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-12-05)

Apple Pay Cash support (US only)
HomeKit sprinklers and faucet support
3rd-party app Workouts: distance, average Speed, number of runs, elevation descended for downhill snow sports (Apple Watch Series 3 only)
Bug fixes

4.2.2 11.2 15S542 January 23, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-01-23)

This update includes improvements and bug fixes.

4.2.3 11.2 15S600b February 19, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-02-19)

Fixes an issue where using certain character sequences could cause apps to crash.

4.3 11.3 15T212 March 29, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-03-29)

HomePod volume and playback control support
Regaining control of music on iPhone
Multiple orientation support on Nightstand mode
Activity rings progress and new songs to Apple Music mixes are now shown on the Siri watch face
Bug fixes

4.3.1 11.4 15T567 May 29, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-05-29)

Fixes an issue which caused Apple Watch to sometimes remain at the Apple Logo during startup for some users.

4.3.2 11.4.1 15U70 July 9, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-07-09) Final release supported on Apple Watch (1st generation)

This update includes improvements and bug fixes.

watchOS 5 was first shown to the public at the 2018 San Jose WWDC developer conference held on June 4, 2018 by Apple. It had an instant watch-to-watch Walkie-Talkie mode.^[43] With this release, Apple dropped support for the first generation Apple Watch. watchOS 5 was the first version of watchOS to bring 64-bit support.

Overview of watchOS 5 versions^[44] watchOS version iOS version based on Build Release date Features 5.0 12.0 16R364 September 17, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-09-17)

Initial Release on Apple Watch Series 4

Drops support for the Apple Watch (1st generation)

Workout
- Compete with Friends notifications
- Auto detect workout and notification to turn off workout when done
- New workouts: Yoga and Hiking
- Pace Alerts and Cadence
Podcasts
- New app for watchOS
- Download episodes of podcasts for listening
- Stream your favorite podcasts on the go (Series 3 and later only)
Walkie-Talkie
- A new watchOS app that allows you to do FaceTime Audio calls similar to talking on a walkie-talkie
Siri
- Watchface adds 3rd-party access to Siri
- Raise to Speak. No longer need to say "Hey Siri" to activate (Series 3 and later only)
- Integrate with shortcuts like "I am on my way home" and Siri will start playing your favorite playlist on the way home
Notifications
- Grouped notifications
- More actions you can do with Notifications
- Can view webpages from iMessages
Do Not Disturb
- Can schedule Do Not Disturb events when leaving a location or just for a specific time period
Student ID Cards

5.0.1 12.0 16R381/16R382 September 27, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-09-27) Improvements and bug fixes 5.1 12.1 16R591 October 30, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-10-30) Update withdrawn due to reports of Apple Watches no longer working after the update^[45] 5.1.1 12.1 16R600 November 5, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-11-05)

Improvements and bug fixes

Addresses a problem in the WatchOS 5.1 update leading to non-functional Apple Watches.
Improvements to Series 4 automatic fall detection.
Resolves a problem with completing setup of Walkie-Talkie.
Resolves a problem with sending and receiving invitations for Walkie-Talkie.
Resolves missing earned Activity awards.

5.1.2 12.1.1 16S46 December 6, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-12-06)

New ECG app for Apple Watch Series 4 (US and US territories only)
Irregular rhythm notification (US and US territories only)
AFiB notification
Other improvements and bug fixes

5.1.3 12.1.3 16S535 January 22, 2019; 6 years ago (2019-01-22) This update includes improvements and bug fixes. 5.2 12.2 16T225 March 27, 2019; 6 years ago (2019-03-27)

ECG app extended to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK
Irregular rhythm notification extended to countries listed above
2nd gen AirPods support
Real-time text support for phone calls

5.2.1 12.3 16U113 May 13, 2019; 6 years ago (2019-05-13)

ECG app extended to Croatia, Czech, Iceland, Poland, and Slovakia
Irregular rhythm notification extended to countries listed above
New Pride watch face
Other bug fixes

5.3 12.4 16U569 July 22, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-07-22)

ECG app extended to Canada and Singapore
Irregular rhythm notification extended to countries listed above
Security fix for Walkie-Talkie app that could enable the owner's iPhone to be eavesdropped^[46]

5.3.1 12.4.1 16U600 August 26, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-08-26)

Re-patches a security vulnerability that was accidentally unpatched in the previous update

Post-watchOS 6 Updates for watches paired with an iOS 12.x iPhone (to support iPhone 5S and iPhone 6/6 Plus) 5.3.2 12.4.2 16U611 September 26, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-09-26) Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2 only

Security update for Series 1 and Series 2 watches^[47]

5.3.3 12.4.3 16U620 October 29, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-10-29) Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2 only^{[citation needed]}

Important security updates

5.3.4 12.4.4 16U627^[48] December 10, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-12-10)

Security update for Series 1, 2, 3, and 4 watches^[49]

5.3.5 12.4.5 16U652^[50] February 18, 2020; 5 years ago (2020-02-18)

Update for Series 1, 2, 3, and 4 watches with heart rhythm notification bug fix^[51]

No published security notes.^[52]

5.3.6 12.4.6 16U662 March 24, 2020; 5 years ago (2020-03-24)

Important security updates

No published security notes.^[52]

5.3.7 12.4.7 16U674 May 18, 2020; 5 years ago (2020-05-18)

Improvements and bug fixes