Apple Releases First Beta of New WatchOS 4 Operating System to Developers

Apple today announced new versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS at the keynote event of its Worldwide Developers Conference, and is now providing betas to developers for testing purposes. watchOS 4, the latest version of the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch, is now available for download.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the watchOS 4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

f1496683252
watchOS 4 introduces three new watch faces, including a dedicated Siri watch face that displays dynamic information unique to each individual, new Disney-themed Toy Story watch faces starring Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie, and a Kaleidoscope watch face designed to turn static images into "mesmerizing patterns."

There are new complications for Now Playing and Apple News, and an enhanced Workout app. GymKit, a new technology platform, will allow the Apple Watch to interface with gym equipment for workout data sharing purposes, and Activity app will offer up intelligent coating and tailored encouragement, plus new monthly activity challenges.

A redesigned Music app syncs automatically with the Apple Music new Music Mix, and there are auto-sets for for swim workouts. There's also a new High Intensity Internal Training workout option, and the Apple Watch supports the new person-to-person Apple Pay feature.

watchOS 4 is only available to developers and will not be provided to public beta testers, so non-developers will need to wait until the software is officially released in the fall to try it out.

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

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

10 Products Still Coming From Apple in 2025

Friday April 11, 2025 4:14 pm PDT by
Apple may have updated several iPads and Macs late last year and early this year, but there are still multiple new devices that we're looking forward to seeing in 2025. Most will come in September or October, but there could be a few surprises before then. We've rounded up a list of everything that we're still waiting to see from Apple in 2025. iPhone 17, 17 Air, and 17 Pro - We get...
iPad Pro iPadOS

iPadOS 19 Will Be 'More Like macOS' in Three Ways

Sunday April 13, 2025 6:43 am PDT by
A common complaint about the iPad Pro is that the iPadOS software platform fails to fully take advantage of the device's powerful hardware. That could soon change. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS." Gurman said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like a Mac" in three ways:Improved productivity Improved multitasking Improved app window management...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Foldable iPhone Resolutions Leak With Under-Screen Camera Tipped

Monday April 14, 2025 3:12 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold") will feature two screens as part of its book-style design, and a Chinese leaker claims to know the resolutions for both of them. According to the Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station, the inner display, which is approximately 7.76 inches, will use a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution and feature "under-screen camera technology." Meanwhile, the...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Waiting for the Perfect MacBook Pro? 2026 Might Be the Year

Thursday April 10, 2025 4:19 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the MacBook Pro is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small...
Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta

Vision Pro 2 Rumored to Have Two Key Advantages Over Current Model

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:15 am PDT by
Apple is working on a new version of the Vision Pro with two key advantages over the current model, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Specifically, in his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said Apple is developing a new headset that is both lighter and less expensive than the current Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499 in the U.S. and weighs up to 1.5 pounds. Gurman said Apple is also...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: New iOS 19, iPhone 17, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Leaks

Friday April 11, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we catch up on the latest iOS 19 and watchOS 12 rumors, upcoming devices, and more. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Detailed new renders from leaker Jon Prosser claim to provide the best look yet at the complete redesign rumored to arrive in iOS 19, showing more rounded elements, lighting effects, translucency, and...
top stories 2025 04 12

Top Stories: iOS 19 and iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, Siri Revamp Turmoil, and More

Saturday April 12, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
It was a big week for leaks and rumors in the Apple world, with fresh claims about iOS 19, the iPhone 17 Pro, and even the 20th anniversary iPhone coming a couple of years from now. Sources also spilled the tea on the inner turmoil at Apple around the Apple Intelligence-driven Siri revamp that has seen significant delays, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iOS ...
iPhone 16e Feature

iPhones, Macs, and Other Apple Devices Exempted From Trump Tariffs

Saturday April 12, 2025 9:44 am PDT by
Apple and other electronics manufacturers have received a break from Trump's reciprocal tariffs, with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency sharing a long list of products excluded from the levies last night. iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple Watch, and other Apple devices will not be subject to the 125 percent tariffs that have been put in place on imported Chinese goods, nor will Apple...

Top Rated Comments

tylerthomas28 Avatar
103 months ago
Buzz look an update!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scwinsett Avatar
103 months ago
Does anyone have that watch profile? My account expired
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anthonymoody Avatar
103 months ago
can i install watchOS 4 with iOS 10 iPhone?
Wondering the same thing as I've installed the WatchOS4 dev profile on my iOS10 iPhone and it's saying my watch is up to date. Would rather not update my iPhone on the first beta.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdmagoo1 Avatar
103 months ago
Hopefully someone with a dev account can see if there is an option to share workouts to strava and other apps?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdmagoo1 Avatar
103 months ago
Can't imagine that'll be done through the watch. Doesn't appear to be in IOS11 although I do notice that in ios11, the maps are in the health app now. So maybe exporting is possible?
The maps was available in iOS 10. Hopefully they do allow export, I will use the activity app exclusively if they do that
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
csurfr Avatar
103 months ago
Will WatchOS4 support the original Apple Watch? series 0 technically
Kevin said on stage today that it was coming this fall to “all series of the Apple Watch”.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)