watchOS 26 developer beta 2 is now ready for download and installation on Apple Watch. Here’s what you have to do in order to update.
Apple Releases watchOS 26 Beta 2 with Bunch of Bug Fixes and Other Improvements for Developers
It’s been two weeks since Apple released the first developer beta of watchOS 26, and keeping true to its long-standing tradition, the second developer beta is available for download today – exactly two weeks later.
Assuming you already have watchOS 26 installed on your Apple Watch, updating to developer beta 2 is easy. All you have to do is connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi, place your Apple Watch on its magnetic charger, and follow these steps:
- Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Now tap on Software Update.
- When watchOS 26 beta 2 shows up, tap on Update Now.
If there’s a noteworthy change in this new beta, I will highlight it in a separate article, so make sure you’re tuned in for that.
Anyone can go ahead and download the watchOS 26 beta on their Apple Watch as long as they have a compatible device. But do keep in mind that once you do upgrade, you cannot downgrade back to watchOS 11.
Also, you do need an iPhone that is running iOS 26 developer beta. Without it, you cannot download the new watchOS 26 update. It’s a strict requirement and one which you cannot bypass.
The first public beta of watchOS 26 will be available next month. If you can wait that long, install it instead.
Compared to the initial developer betas, the first public beta is relatively stable, but not perfect. Yet good enough for use on a daily basis.
Given you cannot downgrade watchOS updates at all, I will suggest staying away from the beta entirely. Because if something goes wrong, you’ll be left with a useless Apple Watch around your wrist, and you don’t want that to happen.
Once you do install the beta, you can expect a lot of Liquid Glass elements scattered across the operating system. Not only that, Apple is bringing a lot of iPhone, iPad, and Mac features to Apple Watch, such as custom backgrounds in the Messages app.
For fitness buffs, Workout Buddy is going to be a huge game changer. It’s AI on your wrist that keeps you motivated in your workouts by comparing your current progress to past records, and way more.
