Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 8.5 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 8.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after the release of the first watchOS 8.5 beta.

watchOS 8 on Apple Watch feature
To install ‌‌‌watchOS 8.5, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, ‌‌‌watchOS 8.5‌‌‌ can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update.

To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌. You'll also need the accompanying iOS 15.4 update before you can install watchOS 8.5.

watchOS 8.5 introduces support for Emoji 14 characters, with new additions including melting face, biting lip, heart hands, bubbles, beans, face with diagonal mouth, palm up hand, eggs, troll, low battery, coral, lotus, and more.

We didn't discover any other major features in the watchOS 8.5 update, but we'll update this article should we find anything new.

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

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Top Rated Comments

SenorWhyMe Avatar
41 months ago
i just want custom watch faces already apple, literally only like 3 of your watch faces the rest are boring
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
41 months ago

i just want custom watch faces already apple, literally only like 3 of your watch faces the rest are boring
I would love this.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robd003 Avatar
41 months ago
Does anyone else find it weird that Apple has watch faces for black pride but no other groups? I wish they'd open up watch faces to 3rd parties so anyone could make & share their own designs.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Guacamole Avatar
41 months ago

i just want custom watch faces already apple, literally only like 3 of your watch faces the rest are boring
most of them are quite ugly
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)