watchOS 8 helps you stay connected, active, and healthy like never before. Share your favorite memories with the enhanced Photos app. Put more fun into your texts. Find new ways to center 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, share your favorite music, and send and reply to messages in powerful new ways — all from your wrist.
Put your favorite photos of friends and family front and center. 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.
Quickly browse, add or edit contacts right on your watch.
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 visualize as a minute passes.
The Breathe feature has been refreshed with new visualizations and tips that help you focus, center, 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.1
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.
See all your metrics as you clear your mind and reduce stress with Tai Chi, the 2000-year-old practice that’s like meditation in motion.
Locate misplaced Apple devices with Find Devices — and never let your AirPods go missing again.
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 favorite third‑party apps.
No more searching for someone’s email address or phone number. Now you can quickly browse, add, or edit contacts right on your watch.
See real‑time headphone audio levels in Control Center when you’re listening to media — just like on iPhone and iPad.
One for the rice. Another for the veggies. And, of course, don’t forget about what’s on the grill. Start several timers simultaneously and give each one a label.
