Apple has released the official version of watchOS 7. We recommend that you back up before upgrading. Please note that this is done automatically together with the iPhone backup.

In order to download the system, start the Watch application on your iPhone, go to General and Upgrades respectively. To upload an update, you need to connect your watch to the charger and have the battery at least 50 percent charged. The update is also available from the watch. To do this you need to enter Settings, General and Software Updates respectively.

Below is a list of watches that will receive support for watchOS 7:.

  • 3rd generation Apple Watch (including Nike+ and Hermes models)
  • 4th generation Apple Watch (including Nike+ and Hermes models)
  • 5th generation Apple Watch (including Nike+ and Hermes models)

Please note that watchOS 7 also requires the installation of iOS 14.

In the video below you can also see the new shields that have been implemented to this system.

watchOS 7 makes Apple Watch more powerful and more personal than ever before—with new ways to discover and share watch faces, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, and new workout types. Stay connected to your loved ones by pairing an Apple Watch for a family member to your iPhone with Family Setup. And watchOS 7 includes the Memoji app, cycling directions in Maps, and Siri language translation.

Watch Faces

  • New Stripes face that lets you select the number of stripes you want, choose colors, and rotate the angle to create a watch face that reflects your style (Series 4 and later)
  • New Typograph face with numerals in classic, modern, and rounded type styles and displayed in Arabic, Arabic Indic, Devanagari, or Roman (Series 4 and later)
  • New Artist face created in collaboration with Geoff McFetridge that animates and morphs into a new creation with the time or when you tap the display
  • New Memoji watch face features all the Memoji you have created and all of the Memoji characters (Series 4 and later)
  • New GMT face that tracks a second time zone displaying a 12-hour inner dial with local time, and a 24-hour outer dial (Series 4 and later)
  • New Chronograph Pro face that records time on scales of 60, 30, 6, or 3 seconds, or measures speed based on time traveled over a fixed distance with the new tachymeter (Series 4 and later)
  • New Count Up face lets you easily track elapsed time by tapping the bezel (Series 4 and later)
  • Share watch faces with Messages and Mail, or post a link online
  • Discover and download curated watch faces from your favorite apps in the App Store or from websites and social media
  • Support for rich complications on the X-Large face
  • New color filters available to customize the Photos face
  • New World Clock, Moon Phase, Altimeter, Camera Remote and Sleep complications

Sleep

  • New Sleep app to help you meet your sleep duration goal with sleep tracking, custom sleep schedules, and a view of sleep trends over time
  • Uses data from the accelerometer to detect when you are awake and when you are asleep
  • Sleep mode minimizes distractions by turning on Do Not Disturb and turning off Raise to Wake and the display
  • Wake up with alarm sounds and haptics on your watch
  • Option to receive reminders to charge your watch before your scheduled bedtime and reminders when your watch is fully charged

Handwashing

  • Automatic handwashing detection using motion sensors and microphone
  • Once hand washing is detected, 20 second countdown starts
  • Receive encouragement to keep washing for the recommended 20 seconds when watch detects you’ve stopped early
  • Option to be reminded to wash your hands when arriving home
  • Review how many times and how long you washed your hands in the Health app on iPhone
  • Available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Family Setup

  • Use your iPhone to pair and manage a watch for your family members, with their own phone number and Apple ID
  • Screen Time and Downtime support for managing contacts, setting communication limits, and scheduling time away from the screen
  • Schooltime mode turns on Do Not Disturb, limits interaction, and replaces watch face with distinctive yellow clock
  • Set a custom Schooltime schedule and view times when watch exits mode
  • Users 13 and under can track Move minutes instead of active calories, and can track walking, running, and cycling workouts with more accurate metrics
  • Set up one-time, recurring, or time-based location notifications for family members
  • Send money to family members and review transactions of users under 18 with Apple Cash Family (US only)
  • Family members have the option to share their activity and health data, and will be notified when you create automatic location notifications
  • Requires Family Sharing and can be used with up to five family members
  • Available on cellular models of Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Memoji

  • New Memoji app to create new Memoji or customize existing Memoji
  • New hairstyles, more age options, and three new Memoji stickers
  • Use your Memoji creations in the Memoji watch face
  • Send Memoji stickers in Messages

Maps

  • Turn by turn directions with larger font sizes that are easier to read
  • Cycling directions provide routes along bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-friendly roads, taking into consideration elevation or how busy a street is
  • Search for and add places optimized for cyclists to your route, like a bike shop
  • Support for cycling directions is available in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Shanghai, and Beijing

Siri

  • On-device dictation for faster and more reliable request handling and further protecting privacy (Series 4 and later, US English only)
  • Translate phrases right on your wrist, with support for over 50 language pairs
  • Adds support for Announce Messages

Other features and improvements:

  • Change goals for exercise minutes and stand or roll hours in the Activity app
  • New custom algorithms in the Workout app for Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training, and Cooldowns for accurate tracking of relevant metrics
  • Redesigned and renamed Fitness app on iPhone with streamlined summary and sharing tabs
  • Manage health and safety features of Apple Watch in the Health app on iPhone with new Health Checklist
  • New Mobility metrics measured by Apple Watch available in the Health app, including low-range VO2 max, stair ascent speed, stair descent speed, and six-minute walk estimate
  • ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later now available in Colombia, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates
  • Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Colombia, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates
  • Support for additional interactions on Apple Watch Series 5 without having to wake the display including access to Control Center and Notification Center, the ability to change watch faces, and more
  • Create group threads in Messages
  • Inline replies let you reply to a specific message and see all related messages in their own view
  • New Shortcuts app to access and run shortcuts you have previously created
  • Add shortcuts to your watch face as a complication
  • Share your audiobooks with Family Sharing
  • Search now available in the Music app
  • Redesigned Wallet app
  • Digital car key support in Wallet (Series 5)
  • View downloaded media in Music, Audiobooks, and Podcasts apps
  • Current location available for World Clock and Weather apps