At the WWDC 2021 keynote, Apple revealed watchOS 8, its upcoming update for its Apple Watch operating system. While we likely won’t see its full release until September or October when we expect the Apple Watch 7 to launch, eager adopters can sign up for the watchOS 8 beta now.
The watchOS 8 update brings a new Mindfulness app, sleep app updates to track Respiratory Rate, Fitness Plus updates, and more. They don't look like huge changes, but check watchOS 8 features below for all the new perks coming to your Apple Watch.
And there's good news for older Apple Watch owners: the watchOS 8 support devices list hasn't changed from last year's watchOS 7, meaning Apple Watch 3 and newer devices will be able to download the operating system.
While we don't expect watchOS 8 to publicly launch until later in the year, Apple did release a developer beta immediately after WWDC 2021, which is available now for anyone with a developer account.
For everyone else, a watchOS 8 public beta was released at the end of June, and it's available to anyone with a watchOS 8-compatible Apple Watch (scroll below for the full list). If you want an early look at what's coming in the full release, you can download it now.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next major Apple Watch software update
- When is it out? Probably September, following a June 7 unveiling
- How much will it cost? It will be free
watchOS 8 release date
The watchOS 8 update will probably land in September, as that’s when new versions tend to land, typically alongside new hardware, with the Apple Watch 7 and the iPhone 13 expected this year.
However, although it probably won’t be finished and released until then, watchOS 8 was announced during its annual WWDC event, which this year is being held between June 7 and June 11, and the operating system update was indeed announced during the event's keynote.
Immediately after unveiling watchOS 8 at WWDC 2021, Apple released the developer beta to anyone with a developer account – head to the developer program site to register for the watchOS 8 beta.
The watchOS 8 public beta went live at the end of June, which anyone with a compatible device can download from the public beta site. Of course, some features might not be revealed until a lot closer to the launch of the finished software, so expect them to roll out in successive beta versions leading up to watchOS 8's full release later in the year.
watchOS 8 supported devices
The watchOS 8 update is officially compatible with all models from the Apple Watch 3 onwards, according to Apple's official WWDC 2021 announcement. This doesn't shift from the watchOS 7 compatibility list, so if you've gotten last year's big update, you'll be able to run this year's new software, too.
You'll need an iPhone compatible with the next version of iOS, so if you want to upgrade to watchOS 8, you'll need to pair it with at least an iPhone 6S running iOS 15. This should be true for the developer and public betas, too – keep your iPhone updated to the latest version of iOS to also run the preview version of watchOS on your Apple Watch.
watchOS 8 features
The watchOS 8 update is set to offer a number of smaller features, all augmenting how you normally use your Apple Watches. While we didn't see any monumental upgrades this time around, there are some quality of life improvements for existing apps and new functionality.
Wallet: digital IDs, now on your Apple Watch
The Wallet app is adding more ways to wirelessly interact with places and things. Some of this is limited to the Apple Watch 6 and its Ultra Wideband tech, like the ability to unlock your car (first unveiled at WWDC 2020 and coming to select vehicles) and start it from the driver's seat, per Apple's press release.
But most Apple Watches should be able to benefit from adding more digital keys to Wallet for their home, office, and hotel, and use their wearables to unlock them.
Perhaps most surprising: individuals in participating US states will be able to add their driver's license or state ID to Wallet, and some TSA checkpoints will start accepting these digital IDs – just add them in the iOS Wallet app and you can display them on your Apple Watch.
New Mindfulness app and sleep tracking
The Breathe app has been incorporated into the new Mindfulness app along with a new activity, Reflect, to walk users through a different kind of mindful session reflecting on past events.
Sleep tracking now monitors a new metric – respiratory rate – which measures breaths per minute. And all data fed into the Health app is also folded into new Trends, tracking how your health metrics shift over longer periods of time.
Workout app and Apple Fitness Plus
The watchOS Workout app is getting two new workout activities – Tai Chi and Pilates, both of which are more relaxed and mindful exercises to accompany the yoga workout. These have custom-built heart rate and motion algorithms, per Apple's press release.
There's also new functionality in the Apple Fitness Plus watchOS app, like Picture in Picture support and more filtering options. You can also transfer workouts seamlessly between devices, pausing exercise on one and starting it again on another.
Fitness Plus is also adding more workouts by expert Jeanette Jenkins, as well as a new musical Artist Spotlight Series with workouts tuned to entire playlists by artists like Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Alicia Keys.
Photos and Portrait watch faces
The Photos app has been redesigned with new ways to navigate collections, while Memories and Featured Photos sync to the Apple Watch from the iOS app. A new Portraits watch face lets you turn your Portrait-mode photos into watch faces and twist the crown to alter depth.
The Apple Watch will also display the time or complications behind the person in the Portrait, so you won't get numbers covering up their features.
Messages and GIF responses
Messages also gets more granular controls, like twisting the crown to move the cursor and even the capability to search and reply with GIFs. There's also a new Contacts app brought over to watchOS to browse, edit, and share contacts from your Apple Watch.
New features in other products also add Apple Watch features, like Intercom, an upgrade for the Home app that lets you see who's at the door via live video feed and even greet them.
The new Focus feature in iOS also comes to watchOS 8: whichever Focus users set on their iPhone will carry over to their Apple Watch, allowing them to set their notification settings to prioritize work, fitness, sleep, or simply do not disturb.
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