WatchOS 9 — apple

watchOS 9 is the ninth major release of watchOS for the Apple Watch series developed and distributed by Apple Inc.^[1]

Product history

watchOS 9 is derived from iOS 16; both were announced on June 6 at the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference and were released on September 12, 2022.^[2]

New features

VP of Technology Kevin Lynch and staff introduced the following new features at WWDC 2022:^[3]

Metrics — updated to improve user workouts.
Sleep — records user sleep activity.
Heart — updated with the ability to record atrial fibrillation (AFib) history of users.
Medications — help users manage medications and supplements.

Some new accessibility features that Apple previewed as part of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 17, 2022 include:^[4]^[5]

Apple Watch mirroring for users to control their watchOS device remotely from an iPhone.
New Quick Actions to expand AssistiveTouch gestures in watchOS.
Siri Pause Time to allow more time for users with speech disabilities to issue a voice command.

Features for new models announced on September 7, 2022, such as the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra:^[6]

Crash Detection from new sensors (also supported by the 2nd-generation Apple Watch SE).
Ovulation detection from improved temperature sensing.

Supported devices

watchOS 9 added support for new models, while also dropping support for the Apple Watch Series 3, limiting it to models with 64-bit processors. An iPhone 8 or later running at least iOS 16 is also required to support the following models:^[1]^[7]^[8]

Apple Watch Series 4
Apple Watch Series 5
Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
Apple Watch Series 6
Apple Watch Series 7
Apple Watch Series 8 (new model)
Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) (new model)
Apple Watch Ultra (new model)

_* Support ended for Apple Watch Series 3.

Release history

Version	Build	Release date	Notes
9.0 beta 1	20R5287q	2022-06-06	First developer beta.^[9]
9.0 beta 2	20R5307h	2022-06-22	2nd developer beta.^[10]
9.0 beta 3	20R5316f	2022-07-06	3rd developer beta.^[11]
9.0 beta 4	20R5332g	2022-07-28	4th developer beta.^[12]
9.0 beta 5	20R5343e	2022-08-08	5th developer beta.^[13]
9.0 beta 6	20R5353a	2022-08-15	6th developer beta.^[14]
9.0 beta 7	20R5359a	2022-08-23	7th developer beta.^[15]
9.0 RC	20R361	2022-09-07	Release candidate.^[16]
9.0	20R361	2022-09-12	First official public release.^[17]
9.0.1	20R8380	2022-09-22	Bug fix for distorted audio from phone calls using Apple Watch Ultra speakers.^[18]^[19]
9.0.2	20R383	2022-10-10	Bug fixes for microphone, notifications, syncing, and Spotify streaming.^[20]^[21]
9.1	20S75	2022-10-24	Bug fixes.^[22]
9.2	20S361	2022-12-13	Addressing track workout bug in Apple Fitness.^[23]
9.3	20S648	2023-01-23	Support for Security Keys for Apple ID (supported iPhone or iPad required).^[24]^[25]
9.3.1	20S648	2023-02-13	Bug fixes.^[26]
9.4	20T253	2023-03-27	Bug fixes.^[27]
9.5	20T562	2023-05-18	Bug fixes.^[28]
9.5.1	20T570	2023-05-30	Bug fixes.^[29]
9.5.2	20T571	2023-06-21	Bug fixes.^[30]
9.6	20U73	2023-07-24	Bug fixes.
9.6.1	20U80	2023-08-15	Bug fixes.
9.6.2	20U90	2023-09-07	Bug fixes.
9.6.3	20U502	2023-09-21	Bug fixes.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 watchOS 9 delivers new ways to stay connected, active, and healthy, Apple Inc. 2022-06-06.
↑ Apple events 2022: Apple’s next event is 6 June by Karen Haslam, Macworld. 2022-04-06.
↑ WWDC 2022 - June 6 by Apple, YouTube. 2022-06-06.
↑ Apple previews innovative accessibility features combining the power of hardware, software, and machine learning, Apple Inc. 2022-05-17.
↑ Apple announces iOS 16 door detection, live captions, and more accessibility features by William Gallagher, AppleInsider. 2022-05-17.
↑ Apple's fall iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 event is on September 7 by Malcolm Owen, AppleInsider. 2022-08-24.
↑ Leaked renders offer first look at redesigned Apple Watch Series 8 by Anam Hamid, Phone Arena. 2022-05-17.
↑ watchOS 9 — the new Apple Watch features we want in 2022 by Kate Kozuch, Tom's Guide. 2022-04-06.
↑ watchOS 9 beta (20R5287q), Apple Developer. 2022-06-06.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9 beta 2 (20R5307h), Apple Developer. 2022-06-22.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9 beta 3 (20R5316f), Apple Developer. 2022-07-06.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9 beta 4 (20R5332g), Apple Developer. 2022-07-28.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9 beta 5 (20R5343e) Apple Developer. 2022-08-08.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9 beta 6 (20R5353a), Apple Developer. 2022-08-15.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9 beta 7 (20R5359a), Apple Developer. 2022-08-23.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9 RC (20R361), Apple Developer. 2022-09-07.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9 (20R361), Apple Developer. 2022-09-12.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.0.1 (20R8380), Apple Developer. 2022-09-22.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.0.1 update arrives in time for Apple Watch Ultra launch by José Adorno, 9to5Mac. 2022-09-22.
↑ watchOS 9.0.2 (20R383), Apple Developer. 2022-10-10.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.0.2 for Apple Watch fixes microphone bugs, Spotify interruptions, more by Filipe Espósito, 9to5Mac. 2022-10-10.
↑ watchOS 9.1 (20S75), Apple Developer. 2022-10-24.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.2 (20S361), Apple Developer. 2022-12-13.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.3 (20S648), Apple Developer. 2023-01-23.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ Apple releases first iOS 16.3 public beta, here’s everything new by Filipe Espósito, 9To5Mac. 2022-12-15.
↑ watchOS 9.3.1 (20S648), Apple Developer. 2023-02-13.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.4 (20T253), Apple Developer. 2023-03-27.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.5 (20T562), Apple Developer. 2023-05-18.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.5.1 (20T570), Apple Developer. 2023-05-30.^{[DEAD LINK]}
↑ watchOS 9.5.2 (20T571), Apple Developer. 2023-06-21.^{[DEAD LINK]}

External links

watchOS 9 at Apple (archived 2022-09-07)
- watchOS 9 Preview (archived 2022-06-06)
- Get ready for watchOS 9 at Apple Developer (archived 2023-05-28)
  - watchOS 9 Release Notes
- About watchOS 9 Updates at Apple Support
watchOS 9 at 9to5Mac
watchOS 9 at MacRumors
watchOS 9 at the BetaWiki
watchOS 9 at Wikipedia

This article is a semistub. You can help by expanding it with some more information.

Apple Watch
Apple Watch (original) · Series 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · SE · 6 · 7 · 8 · SE 2 · Ultra · 9 · Ultra 2 · 10 · 11 · SE 3 · Ultra 3
Apple Watch Edition \| Apple Watch Hermes \| Apple Watch Nike+ \| Apple Watch Sport
Apple Watch bands and cases · faces \| watchOS: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 ● 26

[apple-watchos9-delivers-1] 1.0 ^1.1 watchOS 9 delivers new ways to stay connected, active, and healthy, Apple Inc. 2022-06-06.

[macworld-next-apple-event-2] Apple events 2022: Apple’s next event is 6 June by Karen Haslam, Macworld. 2022-04-06.

[yt-apple-event-wwdc2022-06-06-3] WWDC 2022 - June 6 by Apple, YouTube. 2022-06-06.

[4] Apple previews innovative accessibility features combining the power of hardware, software, and machine learning, Apple Inc. 2022-05-17.

[5] Apple announces iOS 16 door detection, live captions, and more accessibility features by William Gallagher, AppleInsider. 2022-05-17.

[yt-apple-event-2022-far-out-6] Apple's fall iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 event is on September 7 by Malcolm Owen, AppleInsider. 2022-08-24.

[7] Leaked renders offer first look at redesigned Apple Watch Series 8 by Anam Hamid, Phone Arena. 2022-05-17.

[8] watchOS 9 — the new Apple Watch features we want in 2022 by Kate Kozuch, Tom's Guide. 2022-04-06.

[9] watchOS 9 beta (20R5287q), Apple Developer. 2022-06-06.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[10] watchOS 9 beta 2 (20R5307h), Apple Developer. 2022-06-22.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[11] watchOS 9 beta 3 (20R5316f), Apple Developer. 2022-07-06.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[12] watchOS 9 beta 4 (20R5332g), Apple Developer. 2022-07-28.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[13] watchOS 9 beta 5 (20R5343e) Apple Developer. 2022-08-08.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[14] watchOS 9 beta 6 (20R5353a), Apple Developer. 2022-08-15.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[15] watchOS 9 beta 7 (20R5359a), Apple Developer. 2022-08-23.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[16] watchOS 9 RC (20R361), Apple Developer. 2022-09-07.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[17] watchOS 9 (20R361), Apple Developer. 2022-09-12.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[18] watchOS 9.0.1 (20R8380), Apple Developer. 2022-09-22.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[19] watchOS 9.0.1 update arrives in time for Apple Watch Ultra launch by José Adorno, 9to5Mac. 2022-09-22.

[20] watchOS 9.0.2 (20R383), Apple Developer. 2022-10-10.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[9to5mac-watchos902-21] watchOS 9.0.2 for Apple Watch fixes microphone bugs, Spotify interruptions, more by Filipe Espósito, 9to5Mac. 2022-10-10.

[22] watchOS 9.1 (20S75), Apple Developer. 2022-10-24.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[23] watchOS 9.2 (20S361), Apple Developer. 2022-12-13.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[24] watchOS 9.3 (20S648), Apple Developer. 2023-01-23.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[25] Apple releases first iOS 16.3 public beta, here’s everything new by Filipe Espósito, 9To5Mac. 2022-12-15.

[26] watchOS 9.3.1 (20S648), Apple Developer. 2023-02-13.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[27] watchOS 9.4 (20T253), Apple Developer. 2023-03-27.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[28] watchOS 9.5 (20T562), Apple Developer. 2023-05-18.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[29] watchOS 9.5.1 (20T570), Apple Developer. 2023-05-30.^{[DEAD LINK]}

[30] watchOS 9.5.2 (20T571), Apple Developer. 2023-06-21.^{[DEAD LINK]}

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