watchOS 10 Update Released for Apple Watch

Apple has released watchOS 10 for Apple Watch users to download and install onto their compatible watches.

watchOS 10 includes a redesigned interface with an emphasis on widgets, redesigned system apps, some new watch faces, and more.

Apple Watch users can update to watchOS 10 after updating iOS 17 on iPhone that is paired with their watch.

How to Update to watchOS 10 on Apple Watch

1. Open the Watch app on iPhone
2. Select the Watch tab
3. Go to “General” and then go to “Software Update”
4. Choose to download and install watchOS 10

As usual, installing watchOS updates take quite a while and require the Apple Watch to restart, so be patient and let the process finish.

Which Apple Watch models support watchOS 10?

Wondering if your Apple Watch will support watchOS 10? Chances are high that it will, with the following Apple Watch models able to run watchOS 10:

• Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch SE
• Apple Watch SE 2
• Apple Watch Ultra

WatchOS 10 Release Notes

Release notes for Apple Watch watchOS 10 are as follows:

watchOS 10 is the biggest update since the introduction of Apple Watch, and brings a fresh look for virtually every app, new ways to navigate, and a new Smart Stack to display the information you need, right when you need it, from any watch face. It introduces enhanced capabilities for cycling workouts and hiking, a new mental health experience in the Mindfulness app to reflect on your state of mind, and the ability to track the time you spend in daylight.

Experience
– Use redesigned apps that utilize the rounded corners and full surface area of the display
– View timely information that is adaptive to context like time of day and location with the Smart Stack by turning the Digital Crown from any watch face
– Access the Control Center by clicking the side button
– Push Digital Crown once to access all apps and twice to access recently used apps

Watch Faces
– Snoopy features over 100 different animations with Snoopy and Woodstock that respond to the time of day, local weather, and activity such as workout
– Palette depicts time as color using three distinct overlapping layers that shift as time goes by
– Solar Analog features classic hour marks on a luminous dial with light and shadow that shift throughout the day in response to the position of the sun
– Modular Ultra utilizes the edges of the display for real time data through three user selectable options and seven different complications (Available on Apple Watch Ultra)

Messages
– View Memoji or photos of contacts
– Pin favorites
– Edit, Undo Send, and sort by unread

Workout
– Cycling Workouts now support Bluetooth-enabled sensors like power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors with new power and cadence metrics
– Cycling Power view displays your power output during your workout, measured in watts
– Power Zone view uses Functional Threshold Power, which measures the highest power you can maintain for a 60 minute session, to create personalized zones and shows time spent in each zone
– Cycling Speed view shows current and max speed, distance, heart rate, and/or power
– Cycle metrics, workout views, and cycling experiences from your Apple Watch can now appear as a Live Activity on iPhone, which can be mounted to the handlebar of your bike

Activity
– Icons in the corners provide quick access to Weekly Summary, Sharing, and awards
– Move, Exercise, and Stand Rings are visible on individual screens by scrolling the Digital Crown along with the ability to adjust goals, view steps, distance, flights climbed, and activity history
– Weekly Summary now includes Exercise and Stand totals in addition to the Move total
– Activity Sharing shows photos or avatars of your friends
– Trainer Tips from the expert trainers at Fitness+ provide guidance on areas like workout techniques, mindfulness, healthy habits, and staying motivated in the Fitness app on iPhone

Fitness+
– Create a workout and meditation schedule with Custom Plans
– Choose your selected activity days, workout durations and types, trainers, music, and plan length and Fitness+ will automatically create the plan
– Build a queue of workouts and meditations that you want to do in a row with Stacks

Compass
– Last Cellular Connection Waypoint automatically estimates the last location on your route where your device was able to connect to your carrier’s network
– Last Emergency Call Waypoint automatically estimates the last location available for you to connect to any carrier’s network to contact emergency services
– POI Waypoints display points of interests you have saved in Guides within Maps
– Waypoint Elevation is a new view that uses data from the altimeter to create a 3D representation of the elevation of your saved waypoints
– Elevation Alerts notify you when you have passed a particular elevation threshold

Maps
– Walking radius shows roughly how long it might take to walk to nearby restaurants, shops, or other points of interests with rich information for places like hours, ratings, and more
– Offline Maps downloaded on your iPhone can be viewed on your paired Apple Watch when your iPhone is on and within range
– Routes for driving, cycling, walking or taking public transit are supported in offline maps including estimated arrival time based on predicted traffic
– Topographic maps display features in national and regional parks in the US like trails, contour lines, elevation, and points of interest
– Hiking trail information in the US with detailed information like trail length and elevation information

Weather
– See weather information quickly with background and contextual visual effects
– Access important information like Ultraviolet Index, Air Quality Index, and Wind Speed in one view
– View data like Condition, Temperature, Precipitation, Wind Speed, UVI, Visibility, Humidity, and AQI by swiping right
– Scroll to see Hourly and Daily views
– View Humidity complication on your watch face

Mindfulness
– State of Mind reflection allows you to log your momentary emotion or daily mood
– Contributing factors such as work, family, and current events can be included, and you can describe your feeling, such as joyful, content, and worried
– Reminders to log your State of Mind are available through notifications, watch complications, and prompts following a breathe session, reflect session, or audio meditation from Fitness+

Medications
– Follow-up reminders notify you to log a medication if you haven’t logged one 30 minutes after the scheduled time
– Option to set follow-up reminders as critical alerts so they can be seen even if your device is muted or you have a Focus enabled

Other features and improvements:
– Time in Daylight now measured using the ambient light sensor (Available on Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra)
– Grid Forecast in Home app and watch face complication use live data from your local electric grid to show when it’s running on cleaner sources so you can plan when to charge devices or run appliances (Contiguous US only)
– Communication Safety now detects if kids are sending or receiving sensitive videos
– Sensitive Content Warning for adults brings Communication Safety technology to all users by blurring photos and videos containing nudity, and allowing you to choose if you want to see them
– Notifications to emergency contacts after an Emergency SOS call will be delivered as critical alerts
– Group FaceTime audio calls are now supported

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas, for more information 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/kb/HT201222

Separately, iOS 17 for iPhone, iPadOS 17 for iPad, and tvOS 17 for Apple TV have also been released as software updates.