About watchOS 7 Updates

: June 7, 2024
: Apple

Table of Contents

About watchOS 7 Updates

About watchOS 7 Updates

watchOS 7 makes Apple Watch more powerful and more personal than ever before—with new ways to discover and share watch faces, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, and new workout types. Stay connected to your loved ones by pairing an Apple Watch for a family member to your iPhone with Family Setup. And watchOS 7 includes the Memoji app, cycling directions in Maps, and Siri language translation.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 7

watchOS 7.0.1

watchOS 7.0.2

watchOS 7.0.3

watchOS 7.1

watchOS 7.2

watchOS 7.3

watchOS 7.3.1

watchOS 7.3.2

watchOS 7.3.3

watchOS 7.4

watchOS 7.4.1

watchOS 7.5

watchOS 7.6

watchOS 7.6.1

This update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 7.6

watchOS 7.6 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in 30 additional regions. For a list of available regions, visit: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/
Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in 30 additional regions. For a list of available regions, visit: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7.5

watchOS 7.5 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes:

Access to subscription content in the Podcasts app
Apple Card Family adds support for families to track expenses, manage spending with optional limits and controls, and build credit together
Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Malaysia and Peru
Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Malaysia and Peru

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7.4.1

This update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 7.4

watchOS 7.4 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

Ability to unlock your iPhone X and later with Apple Watch when you attempt to use Face ID while wearing a face mask
Option to classify Bluetooth device type in Settings for correct identification of headphones for audio notifications
Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+ workouts to AirPlay 2-enabled TVs and devices
Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Australia and Vietnam
Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Australia and Vietnam

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7.3.3

This update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 7.3.2

This update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 7.3.1

watchOS 7.3.1 addresses an issue that prevented some Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch SE devices from charging after entering Power Reserve.

For more information, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT212180

watchOS 7.3

watchOS 7.3 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

Unity watch face—in celebration of Black history and inspired by the colors of the Pan-African Flag, this watch face changes throughout the day as you move creating a face that’s unique to you
Time to Walk for Apple Fitness+ subscribers—an audio experience in the Workout app where guests share inspiring stories as you walk
ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, and Thailand
Irregular heart rhythm notifications in countries and regions including Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand
Fix for an issue where Control Center and Notification Center may be unresponsive when Zoom is enabled

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7.2

watchOS 7.2 includes new features and improvements, including Apple Fitness+, a personalized fitness experience powered by Apple Watch. Additional features include low cardio fitness notifications and support for braille displays. This update also contains performance improvements.

Apple Fitness+

A new fitness experience powered by Apple Watch with studio-style workouts available on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV
Video workouts added each week in ten popular workout types: High Intensity Interval Training, Indoor Cycling, Yoga, Core, Strength, Dance, Rowing, Treadmill Walking, Treadmill Running, and Mindful Cooldown
Fitness+ subscription available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States

This update also includes the following features and improvements:

Option to be notified when your cardio fitness is at a low level
Ability to review your cardio fitness level based on your age and sex in the Health app on iPhone
Atrial fibrillation classification at heart rates above 100 BPM now offered in the ECG app in most regions where the app is available
Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Taiwan
Support for braille displays with VoiceOver
Support for Family Setup in Bahrain, Canada, Norway, and Spain (Cellular models of Apple Watch Series 4 or later and Apple Watch SE)

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7.1

watchOS 7.1 contains new features, improvements, and bug fixes.

Adds the ability to be notified when your headphone audio level could impact your hearing
Adds support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in the Republic of Korea and Russia
Adds support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in the Republic of Korea and Russia
Resolves an issue that prevented some users from unlocking Mac with Apple Watch
Fixes an issue where the screen may be dark on wrist raise for some Apple Watch Series 6 users

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7.0.3

watchOS 7.0.3 contains improvements and bug fixes, including an issue where Apple Watch Series 3 may unexpectedly restart for some users.

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7.0.2

watchOS 7.0.2 contains improvements and bug fixes, including:

Addresses an issue that could cause the battery to drain more quickly
Resolves an issue that prevented some users from accessing the ECG app in regions where it is available

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7.0.1

watchOS 7.0.1 contains improvements and bug fixes, including:

Fixes an issue where some payment cards in Wallet were disabled for some users

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222

watchOS 7

watchOS 7 makes Apple Watch more powerful and more personal than ever before—with new ways to discover and share watch faces, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, and new workout types. Stay connected to your loved ones by pairing an Apple Watch for a family member to your iPhone with Family Setup. And watchOS 7 includes the Memoji app, cycling directions in Maps, and Siri language translation.

Watch Faces

New Stripes face that lets you select the number of stripes you want, choose colors, and rotate the angle to create a watch face that reflects your style (Series 4 and later)
New Typograph face with numerals in classic, modern, and rounded type styles and displayed in Arabic, Arabic Indic, Devanagari, or Roman (Series 4 and later)
New Artist face created in collaboration with Geoff McFetridge that animates and morphs into a new creation with the time or when you tap the display
New Memoji watch face features all the Memoji you have created and all of the Memoji characters (Series 4 and later)
New GMT face that tracks a second time zone displaying a 12-hour inner dial with local time, and a 24-hour outer dial (Series 4 and later)
New Chronograph Pro face that records time on scales of 60, 30, 6, or 3 seconds, or measures speed based on time traveled over a fixed distance with the new tachymeter (Series 4 and later)
New Count Up face lets you easily track elapsed time by tapping the bezel (Series 4 and later)
Share watch faces with Messages and Mail, or post a link online
Discover and download curated watch faces from your favorite apps in the App Store or from websites and social media
Support for rich complications on the X-Large face
New color filters available to customize the Photos face
New World Clock, Moon Phase, Altimeter, Camera Remote and Sleep complications

Sleep

New Sleep app to help you meet your sleep duration goal with sleep tracking, custom sleep schedules, and a view of sleep trends over time
Uses data from the accelerometer to detect when you are awake and when you are asleep
Sleep mode minimizes distractions by turning on Do Not Disturb and turning off Raise to Wake and the display
Wake up with alarm sounds and haptics on your watch
Option to receive reminders to charge your watch before your scheduled bedtime and reminders when your watch is fully charged

Handwashing

Automatic handwashing detection using motion sensors and microphone
Once hand washing is detected, 20 second countdown starts
Receive encouragement to keep washing for the recommended 20 seconds when watch detects you’ve stopped early
Option to be reminded to wash your hands when arriving home
Review how many times and how long you washed your hands in the Health app on iPhone
Available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Family Setup

Use your iPhone to pair and manage a watch for your family members, with their own phone number and Apple ID
Screen Time and Downtime support for managing contacts, setting communication limits, and scheduling time away from the screen
Schooltime mode turns on Do Not Disturb, limits interaction, and replaces watch face with distinctive yellow clock
Set a custom Schooltime schedule and view times when watch exits mode
Users 13 and under can track Move minutes instead of active calories, and can track walking, running, and cycling workouts with more accurate metrics
Set up one-time, recurring, or time-based location notifications for family members
Send money to family members and review transactions of users under 18 with Apple Cash Family (US only)
Family members have the option to share their activity and health data, and will be notified when you create automatic location notifications
Requires Family Sharing and can be used with up to five family members
Available on cellular models of Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Memoji

New Memoji app to create new Memoji or customize existing Memoji
New hairstyles, more age options, and three new Memoji stickers
Use your Memoji creations in the Memoji watch face
Send Memoji stickers in Messages

Maps

Turn by turn directions with larger font sizes that are easier to read
Cycling directions provide routes along bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-friendly roads, taking into consideration elevation or how busy a street is
Search for and add places optimized for cyclists to your route, like a bike shop
Support for cycling directions is available in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Shanghai, and Beijing

Siri

On-device dictation for faster and more reliable request handling and further protecting privacy (Series 4 and later, US English only)
Translate phrases right on your wrist, with support for over 50 language pairs
Adds support for Announce Messages

Other features and improvements:

Change goals for exercise minutes and stand or roll hours in the Activity app
New custom algorithms in the Workout app for Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training, and Cooldowns for accurate tracking of relevant metrics
Redesigned and renamed Fitness app on iPhone with streamlined summary and sharing tabs
Manage health and safety features of Apple Watch in the Health app on iPhone with new Health Checklist
New Mobility metrics measured by Apple Watch available in the Health app, including low-range VO2 max, stair ascent speed (Apple Watch Series 5 or later), stair descent speed (Apple Watch Series 5 or later), and six-minute walk estimate
ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later now available in Colombia, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates
Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Colombia, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates
Support for additional interactions on Apple Watch Series 5 without having to wake the display including access to Control Center and Notification Center, the ability to change watch faces, and more
Create group threads in Messages
Inline replies let you reply to a specific message and see all related messages in their own view
New Shortcuts app to access and run shortcuts you have previously created
Add shortcuts to your watch face as a complication
Share your audiobooks with Family Sharing
Search now available in the Music app
Redesigned Wallet app
Digital car key support in Wallet (Series 5)
View downloaded media in Music, Audiobooks, and Podcasts apps
Current location available for World Clock and Weather apps