Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of watchOS 4.2 to Developers - MacRumors
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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of watchOS 4.2 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 4.2 update to developers for testing purposes, four days after seeding the third watchOS 4.2 beta and over two weeks after releasing the watchOS 4.1 update.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update.

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To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 4.2 brings support for Apple Pay Cash, Apple's new peer-to-peer payment service that is designed to let users send money to one another. Apple Pay Cash can be used to send and receive money through the Messages app on the Apple Watch.

Aside from Apple Pay Cash, watchOS 4.2 appears to focus primarily on under-the-hood bug fixes and security updates.

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

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Top Rated Comments

109 months ago
I’d like to have responsiveness of my Apple Watch S2 Nike+ restored back to normal as was 3.1.3.

Strong workout app
Music playing playlist (2 synced, under 2GB total music) under 25 apps.

3 second lag to invoke top shade for motivations,
2 second lag from pressing crown to get to home.
Screen presses 7 second and multiple attempts.
I hear ya man. For me on my Series 2 performance is ok...tolerable compared to WatchOS 3.x but battery is for crap
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
109 months ago
I thought I was going crazy or that something got inside my AWatch. Glad and sad to hear others are facing this issue as well.
Yesterday, in a dramatic fit of despair over watchos and iOS I wiped my phone and watch completely and redid everything from scratch. Seems to have helped speed it up (a little)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SoundJudgment Avatar
109 months ago
Question. I have never been able to update past 4.0 on my watch. Iv downloaded the profile several times with no luck. Any one ever heard of this? I have the Series 1.
And of course it *has* to be on the Charging-Pad when attempting to update. They insist upon this, even if the Watch is fully charged already.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
109 months ago
I’d like to have responsiveness of my Apple Watch S2 Nike+ restored back to normal as was 3.1.3.

Strong workout app
Music playing playlist (2 synced, under 2GB total music) under 25 apps.

3 second lag to invoke top shade for motivations,
2 second lag from pressing crown to get to home.
Screen presses 7 second and multiple attempts.
It's horrible isn't it?

Almost as if they did it on purpose.

Longing for the speed and battery life of 3.1. I should have left it there...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
109 months ago
Any sign of iPhone music library control or still removed?
I don’t expect that back until maybe WatchOS 5 then Apple will act like it’s a brand new feature lmao
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
109 months ago
Try an un-pair and re-pair and see if that improves things.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)