WatchOS 7 Released for Apple Watch
WatchOS 7 has been released for Apple Watch users. The final version is now available to all after a period of beta development.
watchOS 7 features a variety of new features for Apple Watch, including new Apple Watch faces, a new sleep tracking app, hand washing detection and timer, family setup to manage multiple Apple Watches from a single iPhone (helpful for parents if their child has an Apple Watch but no corresponding iPhone), a revamped Fitness app taking over for the Activity app with new features, and more.
Separately, Apple also released iOS 14 for iPhone, iPadOS 14 for iPad, and tvOS 14 for Apple TV. MacOS Big Sur remains in active beta development.
WatchOS 7 Compatible Apple Watch Models
watchOS 7 update is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3, Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, and Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE models.
WatchOS 7 is not compatible with Apple Watch Series 0 (first gen), Series 1, or Series 2 models.
How to Download & Install watchOS 7 on Apple Watch
Apple Watch users will want to download and update iOS 14 on iPhone that is paired with their device.
- Open the Watch app on iPhone
- Go to “General” and then to “Software Update”
- Install watchOS 7 when it shows as available
Installing watchOS updates can take a while, but you may be able to speed it up with this trick if you’re interested in doing so.
Do not interrupt the software update process on Apple Watch or iPhone.
Aside from watchOS 7, Apple has also released iOS 14 for iPhone, ipadOS 14 for iPad, tvOS 14 for Apple TV, and Safari 14 for MacOS Catalina and MacOS Mojave. MacOS Big Sur remains under active development, but is set to be released in the fall.
Brand new iWatch 5 purchased in July… did the new update and now activity app not loading. Can’t go to store as you have to wait two weeks for appointment. Tried calling and had to answer 25 questions and put on hold for 45 minutes no resolve.
Resolve: Called AMEX they refunded me the amount of watch, called Verizon had the watch shut off… enough is enough!
I installed watchOS7 on my Series 4 Apple Watch, and since then, the battery is draining ridiculously fast. Previously, I would weak up ~6:30am and wear it until usually 9pm at night, and would also go on a 4-5 mile walk during the day (using workouts). The watch would be usually about 50% by the time I took it off.
Yesterday I did that and it was at 9%, without a walk during the day… the day before, I went on my walk and it was at 19% at about 4pm, and I had to put it on the charger for a boost.
I can’t pinpoint the exact reason for the sudden battery drain, but I also can’t find where to shut off things like the always-on-altimeter or whatever it is, which I wonder if that may be the cause?
Anyway, people with Series 4 watches may want to beware for now.