Apple today seeded the golden master (GM) version of watchOS 2 to developers, which is the version of watchOS 2 that will be released to the public on September 16 alongside iOS 9.
watchOS 2 requires iOS 9 and can be downloaded over-the-air through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update.
Today's golden master release follows five developer betas of watchOS 2, which were seeded to developers from June 8 to August 6, when the fifth and final beta was released.
watchOS 2 is the first major update to watchOS, the software that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 2 introduces several new features developers can use to improve their apps, including more efficient native apps that run on the watch itself instead of the iPhone. The new software also allows developers to access the Taptic Engine and sensors like the heart rate monitor, microphone, and accelerometer.
Thanks to the new tools for developers, Apple Watch apps will be more complex, full-featured, and faster. Other features in watchOS 2 include photo and time-lapse watch faces, third-party Complications, a longer screen activation time, Time Travel, and a Nightstand mode that's activated when the Apple Watch is charging.
Sunday November 1, 2026 3:34 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple has published a support document describing what to do if your Apple Watch continues to show time that's off by one hour after daylight savings time changes. "This incorrect time appears only on the Always On display when your wrist is down," says Apple. "When you activate the display by tapping it or raising your wrist, the time changes to the correct hour."
To fix the issue, Apple says ...
Tuesday November 3, 2026 10:35 am PST by Juli Clover
With the first beta of watchOS 27.3, Apple is introducing new Audio Intelligence features it previewed for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 earlier this year. Powered by the S11 chip, Audio Intelligence includes Live Rewind, Siri Recap, Sound Recognition, and Shazam Music Recognition.
Sound Recognition and Shazam are already on the watch, but Live Rewind and Siri Recap are now available ...
Monday October 26, 2026 5:26 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Some Apple Watch users running watchOS 27 are reporting a daylight saving glitch after clocks went back in the UK and Europe on Sunday. In a MacRumors forums thread, five users – several in the UK and central Europe – say their watch shows the correct time when activated, but the Always-On display keeps showing summer time, leaving it an hour fast.
The problem has also been reported in...
My battery life is AWFUL!! THis is back to WatchOS2 beta 1. The last beta I had battery life better than ever nearly 19 hours. Installed GM - won't last 5 hours. So disappointing!
I don't know if you have tried this or not, but if you set up the watch like new and not from a back up, it fixes the problem.
If you're experiencing battery issues unpair the watch and set it up as a new device. A lot of people on Reddit had the same issues, that fixes it. Also keep in mind that for several hours after the update it's likely restoring/updating things in the background and eating more battery than it normally will.
I updated last night and my battery life is normal today.
For anyone running the WatchOS 2 GM, is it buggy? I've held off on updating my watch because I heard it was crashing in the middle of workouts.......
It´s not good. A lot worse than last version. Buggy and battery life is 1/3 of what it was before. Just don´t understand how they can release this crap?? Native apps? Don´t think so.
I must be doing something wrong. I never installed a Watch OS2 beta. Have installed iOS 9 GM. Have the UDID's of both the iPhone and the watch registered to my developer account. Update says 1.0.1 is latest version. Any thoughts? UPDATE: NEVERMIND GOT IT!