Apple Seeds watchOS 9.5 Release Candidate to Developers

Tuesday May 9, 2023 10:16 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 9.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming two weeks after the launch of the fourth watchOS 9.5 beta. The RC represents the final version of watchOS 9.5 that will be provided to the public.

Apple watchOS 9 Feature
To install the watchOS 9.5 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.

Once installed, ‌watchOS 9.5 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the ‌iPhone‌ it is paired with.

watchOS 9.5 adds the simplified beta installation method that was first introduced in iOS 16.4. With the update, developers and public beta testers enrolled in Apple's respective programs can toggle on beta updates from the Software Update section of the Watch app on iPhone. An Apple ID associated with either a public beta account or a developer account is required to turn on beta updates.

The update also include bug fixes and the new Pride Celebration watch face that was announced earlier today.

Related Roundups: watchOS 26, watchOS 27

Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Apple Releases watchOS 27.0.1 for Additional Models

Monday September 28, 2026 2:08 pm PDT by Eric Slivka

After releasing watchOS 27.0.1 for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 last week to address a bug that was causing devices to restart unexpectedly, Apple has now released the update for all eligible watches, which includes Series 9 and later. Apple's release notes say only that the update "provides bug fixes for your Apple Watch" and the company does not list any security fixes,...

• 40 comments

Apple Releases watchOS 27.0.1 With Fix for Restart Bug

Wednesday September 23, 2026 12:44 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released watchOS 27.0.1, a minor update to the watchOS 27 operating system that came out last week. The update is limited to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. watchOS 27.0.1 can be downloaded through the Settings app on the watch or the Apple Watch app on a connected iPhone. Software can only be installed when the Apple Watch is on the charger and has over 50...

• 94 comments

General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Third watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Betas

Monday October 5, 2026 11:20 am PDT by Juli Clover

Alongside new betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, and macOS Golden Gate 27.2, Apple has released the third betas of watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and visionOS 27.2. The betas come two weeks after Apple released the second betas. Registered developers can download the betas through the Settings app on each device. With iOS 27.2 and watchOS 27.2, Apple is testing the new Health app that it showed...

• 13 comments

Top Rated Comments

mr0c

45 months ago

I had to toggle to Public Beta, then it showed up under both Developer and Public

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

qpid360

45 months ago

Anyone else not seeing the toggle at all?

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Tagbert

45 months ago

Does anyone know if they fixed the bug where the Watch Now Playing app doesn’t automatically connect to the iPhone audio streams?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-audio-not-appearing-in-watch-now-playing.2386219/

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Black Magic

45 months ago

I’m not seeing the option to toggle on any beta updates, developer or public.

You turn the toggle on iOS to beta first, then install the WatchOS RC to gain the new beta toggle feature. Once done, turn iOS and WatchOS beta toggle to off.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)