Apple Seeds Third WatchOS 2.2 Beta to Developers - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Third WatchOS 2.2 Beta to Developers

watchos2Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 2.2 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second watchOS 2.2 beta and two months after releasing watchOS 2.1, the first major update to the watchOS 2 operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 2.2 has been in testing since January 11.

The third watchOS 2.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone running the iOS 9.3 beta by going to General --> Software update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 2.2, along with iOS 9.3, introduces support for pairing multiple Apple Watches with a single iPhone. Both updates are required, with each watch running watchOS 2.2 and each iPhone running iOS 9.3. watchOS 2.2 also includes a revamped look for the built-in Maps app on the Apple Watch with access to the Nearby feature first introduced with iOS 9 and new buttons for quickly accessing directions to home and work.

There are were no other obvious outward-facing changes introduced in the first two watchOS 2.2 betas aside from the changes to the Maps app, but the update undoubtedly includes under-the-hood performance updates and bug fixes to address issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 2.1.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

Popular Stories

apple watch series 11 pink

Apple Starts Selling Refurbished Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3

Friday June 5, 2026 2:14 pm PDT by
Apple is now selling refurbished versions of the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 at discounted prices. This is the first time the Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 have been available through Apple's online refurbished store since the devices launched last September. Refurbished pricing on the 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $369, down from $429, while ...
Apple Watch Series 9 Pink Aluminum Feature

watchOS 27 Drops Support for Apple Watch Series 8, Ultra 1, SE 2, and Older

Monday June 8, 2026 11:37 am PDT by
Apple today confirmed that watchOS 27 will not support the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra (first generation), or Apple Watch SE (second generation), effectively drawing a line at devices equipped with the S9 or S10 chip. The only Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 27 are the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and SE 3. The cuts are the biggest...
Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 Mistakenly Left Off watchOS 27 Compatibility List

Monday June 8, 2026 4:17 pm PDT by
Apple today confirmed that the Apple Watch Series 9 is compatible with watchOS 27, after the device was mistakenly omitted from the software's official compatibility page. Apple updated its website immediately following its WWDC 2026 keynote, and the watchOS 27 page listed a shorter compatibility list than many users expected: the Apple Watch SE 3, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, and Ultra 3. ...

Top Rated Comments

136 months ago
Multiple watches on one phone? Who has multiple watches?
How about an update that supports multiple phones on a single watch? I'd love to be able to include my calendar notifications from my work iPhone on my watch too.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lmjabreu Avatar
136 months ago
You don't really have to touch the watch per se. A gentle tap on the night stand is enough to trigger the motion sensors on the Watch, which in turn fires up the screen.

That has been my experience, and it seems to be an ingenious idea by Apple (especially with a somewhat flexible metal nightstand by IKEA and a firm dock like the NightStand by ElevationLab; since the dock is well anchored to the nightstand, the slightest touch will do the trick).
FWIW: the motion sensor is so sensitive that you usually don't even need to touch the stand, knocking on the floor or table does the trick.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mainyehc Avatar
136 months ago
Hope they will add an option to keep your watch display on (dimmed) in night stand mode, really want to use it as a clock and just be able to glance at it instead of fumbling around in the night to try and touch it...
You don't really have to touch the watch per se. A gentle tap on the night stand is enough to trigger the motion sensors on the Watch, which in turn fires up the screen.

That has been my experience, and it seems to be an ingenious idea by Apple (especially with a somewhat flexible metal nightstand by IKEA and a firm dock like the NightStand by ElevationLab; since the dock is well anchored to the nightstand, the slightest touch will do the trick).
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
136 months ago
How about a change so that the watch face is always on. If Huawei can do it Apple should be able to.

http://m.huawei.com/enmobile/consumer/wearables/detail/huawei-watch.htm
Enjoy your half day battery life.

I don't get why people need the watch face on when they're not looking at it. My Watch turns on without fail every time I turn my wrist or just slightly lift my arm to look at it.
[doublepost=1454979152][/doublepost]
You don't really have to touch the watch per se. A gentle tap on the night stand is enough to trigger the motion sensors on the Watch, which in turn fires up the screen.

That has been my experience, and it seems to be an ingenious idea by Apple (especially with a somewhat flexible metal nightstand by IKEA and a firm dock like the NightStand by ElevationLab; since the dock is well anchored to the nightstand, the slightest touch will do the trick).
Thats my experience as well. I just lightly tap my side table and the watch face turns on briefly. I also have an Elevation dock.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
136 months ago
Multiple watches on one phone? Who has multiple watches?
Me for a start, I have a 42mm rose gold sport and a 42mm Hermes single tour and debating on a 38mm space grey sport as well ... It's hardly inconceivable, they serve different purposes to me
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
135 months ago
I understood that, what I meant was, will a watch with beta 2.2 on it pair with an iphone with ios 9.2.1?
No.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)