watchOS 7 Only Compatible With Apple Watch Series 3 and Later - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

watchOS 7 Only Compatible With Apple Watch Series 3 and Later

The watchOS 7 update that Apple introduced today brings exciting new features like Sleep Tracking, handwashing tracking, and a new watch face sharing option, but the new software is compatible with a limited number of Apple Watch models.

watchos 7 main image
watchOS 7 will work with the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, and later models, but it won't be compatible with the Apple Watch Series 1 or the Apple Watch Series 2. Apple also says that not all features will be available on all Apple Watch models.

These older Apple Watch models will be limited to watchOS 6 and will not be able to take advantage of the new features coming in watchOS 7.

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

BittenApple Avatar
79 months ago
Apple Watch 3 is the new iPad 2
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
honglong1976 Avatar
79 months ago
Phew! Finally sleep tracking and I have a series 3 AW and also get iOS 14 with having a 6S :)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
szw-mapple fan Avatar
79 months ago
Seems like a fair cutoff, considering how cheap the series 3 is these days.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Duophonic Avatar
79 months ago
Great, obsolete watches. It’s inevitable. Time to pawn.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nattK Avatar
79 months ago

Phew! Finally sleep tracking and I have a series 3 AW and also get iOS 14 with having a 6S :)
Provided sleep tracking is available on the Series 3. A watch might run the latest software but not all its features (e.g. noise notifications in watchOS 6)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
79 months ago
Checks family Apple Watch inventory....

Wife's Watch Series 0 replaced with Series 5 last Christmas
Daughter's (non-functional) Apple Watch Series 1 replaced for a Series 3 for birthday/good grades

I'm wearing....a Series 2. Oh dear.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)