watchOS 8 helps you stay connected, active and healthy like never before. Share your favourite memories with the enhanced Photos app. Put more fun into your texts. Find new ways to centre yourself and be present. And that’s just the start.
watchOS 8 makes staying connected with the people and things you care about easier than ever. See your photos, control your home and even start your car in powerful new ways — all from your wrist.
Put your favourite photos of friends and family front and centre. Featuring a dynamic, multilayered effect, this new watch face uses Portrait mode photos from your iPhone to give the people you care about a starring role.
Photo highlights from your Memories and Featured Photos now automatically sync to your watch, serving up something new every day.
The photo collection from your Memories is displayed in a unique mosaic grid, giving you a richer view of your library.
With a few taps, now you can share photos via Messages and Mail.
When one of your smart devices is activated, watchOS 8 can automatically make suggestions for others nearby. For instance, if someone rings your connected doorbell, you might see options like unlocking the door or turning on the entry lights.
Access all your security cameras in the new Camera room. A variety of aspect ratios are supported, as is two‑way audio on cameras that offer it. To see a full‑screen view, just tap.
Now you can access your scenes more quickly. watchOS 8 knows which ones you’re most likely to use based on the time of day — then serves them up intuitively.
The current status of all your devices is now conveniently displayed at the top of the Home app screen. Instantly see if your lights or cameras are on, whether your batteries are charged, or if your software needs updating.
Now you can store a digital key to your home within the Wallet app on your watch, so you’re never without it. Home key will work with a variety of popular lock brands, and allow you to open multiple locks with a single key.1
Thanks to the Ultra Wideband technology in Apple Watch Series 7, your digital car key recognises you as you approach your vehicle. Unlock the door, activate the alarm or access climate controls — all from a distance.2
Now you can safely share a digital key with family, guests or even a contractor. Share it once, or multiple times.
To correct errors in dictation, use the Digital Crown to scroll precisely to the spot in a message you want to edit.
Spice up your messages by entering a word or phrase to select from a huge library of GIFs.
Share songs, albums and playlists through Messages and Mail with the redesigned Music app.
Focus helps you stay in the moment when you need to concentrate, allowing only the notifications you want. Choose from suggested Focus options like Mindfulness or Fitness, or create your own. Any Focus you set syncs across your Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Stepping away is easier if others know you’re busy. So when you’re using Focus, your status will be automatically displayed in Messages. And for truly urgent messages there’s still a way for people to notify you.
Now more than ever, good health means not just exercising your body, but also clearing your mind. New features in watchOS 8 bring a holistic approach to health and fitness. So in addition to feeling the burn, you can also feed the soul.
The popular Breathe app has been reimagined, expanded and renamed Mindfulness.
To help you be more mindful in your everyday life, the new Reflect feature asks you to focus on a short, thought-provoking theme. A beautiful animation helps you visualise as a minute passes.
The Breathe feature has been refreshed with new visualisations and tips that help you focus, centre and connect as you breathe.
Breathe and Reflect sessions end with a summary of total Mindful Minutes you’ve achieved, along with your average heart rate — to reinforce your mind-body connection.
By calculating your breaths per minute as you slumber — also known as sleeping respiratory rate — Apple Watch gives you greater insight into your overall wellness.3
See all your Sleep data and trends over time in the Health app on iOS. Along with Sleep, you can now track trends for even more health metrics to better see changes in your health over time.
If you take a hard fall during a workout, your watch will call for
Apple Watch now detects when you’re riding a bike and prompts you to start a cycling workout. It can also automatically pause and start again when you take a break. If you’re riding an e-bike, you’ll now get more accurate calculations of calories burned. And voice feedback can help you safely track your milestones via speaker, AirPods or Bluetooth headphones.
Now there’s a workout for Pilates. A custom algorithm tracks your metrics as you develop greater core strength, posture, balance and flexibility with this series of controlled, progressive exercises. This autumn, Pilates comes to Apple Fitness+ too.
See all your metrics as you clear your mind and reduce stress with tai chi, the 2,000-year-old practice that’s like meditation in motion.
Now you can work out with up to 32 of your friends. Cheer each other on or talk face to face. And get notified when someone closes an Activity ring or moves ahead of the pack, so everyone can celebrate.7
Coming soon
Locate misplaced Apple devices with Find Devices — and never let your AirPods go missing again.
Travel cards for certain regions are now supported, so family members can easily use public transport. Google Calendar and Mail accounts are also supported. And hiking workout metrics are now validated for kids.
Now people who are limb different can use Apple Watch. Built‑in motion sensors help answer calls, control an onscreen pointer and even launch a menu of actions — all through hand gestures.
The Always‑On display allows you to see your watch face without raising your wrist or waking your watch. And now it works with lots of additional apps, including Alarms, Maps, Stopwatch and your favourite third‑party apps.
No more searching for someone’s email address or phone number. Now you can quickly browse, add or edit contacts on your watch.
See real‑time headphone audio levels in Control Centre when you’re listening to media — just like on iPhone and iPad.
The Weather app on Apple Watch now supports severe weather notifications. Get next‑hour precipitation alerts and see rain intensity too.
One for the rice. Another for the veggies. And, of course, don’t forget about what’s in the oven. Start several timers simultaneously and use Siri to give each one a label.
