PSA: You Can Now Update watchOS On Your Apple Watch Without Your iPhone

Photo courtesy of @HotApplesWanted (Maks Motyka)

watchOS 6 introduced numerous ways for the Apple Watch to be more independent than ever. This includes its own App Store, Podcasts, Apple Books, independent apps, cellular and connectivity settings. But what is more interesting that lessens an Apple Watch’s dependence on the iPhone is the ability to update your Watch independently.

Maks from @HotApplesWanted found out that in the watchOS 6 betas, you can do over-the-air updates from your Apple Watch. He discovered this cool feature by opening the Settings app on his 44mm Apple Watch Series 4 Nike+, then tapping on General.

Once he was on the General page on the Settings app, there’s a “Software Update” button right in the page. He tapped on it and voila, the watchOS 6 developer beta 2 updates popped up right on his Apple Watch! He was able to update his watch over WiFi, without the need of his iPhone 8 Plus. On the contrary, that is another great thing people wanted from watchOS 6: Less dependency with the iPhone, the more independent features your Apple Watch gets!

All in all, this feature requires your Apple Watch to be on watchOS 6 developer beta, a WiFi connection, and your patience. You don’t need to charge your watch anymore, put your iPhone close to your watch for so long and worry too much about your iPhone. watchOS beta testers can obtain the watchOS 6 beta 2 profile from Apple Developer website.

(Thanks for the tip, Maks Motyka!)