Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 6.1 to Developers - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 6.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 6.1 beta to developers, a little under a week after releasing the watchOS 6 update with full App Store, new Apple Watch faces, and more.

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

applewatchseries5
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.

It's not yet clear what features will be introduced in the watchOS 6.1 update, but we'll be updating this article when we find out.

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

Popular Stories

earth day 2025 apple watch

Apple Watch Earth Day and International Dance Day Activity Challenges Launching Later This Month

Tuesday April 14, 2026 12:00 pm PDT by
Apple has two new Apple Watch activity challenges coming up, celebrating Earth Day and International Dance Day. The Earth Day activity challenge will launch on Wednesday, April 22, while the Dance Day challenge will take place a week later on Wednesday, April 29. To complete the Earth Day challenge, Apple Watch owners will need to complete a workout that lasts for 30 minutes or longer. This ...
apple watch series 11 spring

Apple Stores Will Soon Be Able to Restore Apple Watch Software In-House

Wednesday April 15, 2026 5:36 pm PDT by
Apple retail locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers will soon be able to restore Apple Watch software in-store without needing to send an Apple Watch to a service center, according to a retail source that spoke to MacRumors. Right now, Apple Watches that can't be restored using an iPhone need to be mailed to an Apple Repair Center for service. There is no in-store repair option, so ...
youtube iphone apple watch health ad 2026

New Apple Ad Sells the iPhone and Apple Watch Health Pairing

Thursday April 23, 2026 11:18 am PDT by
Apple has published a new ad to appeal to customers in the market for an iPhone and Apple Watch pairing, highlighting the insights it can offer for your health. Titled simply "Health with iPhone + Apple Watch," the half-minute ad focuses on a woman waiting in line at a cafe who begins receiving unsolicited health and fitness advice from other people in the queue, as well as local residents,...

Top Rated Comments

87 months ago
Hopefully it offers the ability to return to managing apps through the iPhone. It’s great to have a separate app store, but the larger screen is still the right place to find the apps in most cases.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
btrach144 Avatar
87 months ago
Please don’t forget about series 1&2 owners Apple!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheScoot68 Avatar
87 months ago
So 13.1 for iOS is tomorrow. iPadOS 13.0 is tomorrow? WatchOS 6.1 is obviously a ways away and TVOS may come out tomorrow or on the 30th? MacOS is just "October"? This has all gotten very confusing suddenly.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
87 months ago
Can someone confirm watchOS 6.1 supporting Shortcuts or not? Thanks.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Banglazed Avatar
87 months ago
Support Series 1 & 2
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coolsean20 Avatar
87 months ago

That’s great to know! How is the raise to wake on 6.1? My series 3 sometimes has a 1-2 second lag before the screen comes on on 6.0
Seems perfect to me! I had a several instances on 6.0 where raise to wake wouldn’t work, so I’d tap the screen to wake it and it still wouldn’t work. Then I’d press the Digital Crown a couple times and that would wake the screen finally. I haven’t experienced that yet on 6.1, but it’s only been a couple hours. Still don’t know battery life compared to 6.0 either.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)