Right after October’s “Unleashed” special event, Apple released watchOS 8.1 RC for developers and public beta users. The update comes alongside iOS 15.1 RC and macOS Monterey RC, which were also released to beta users today.
watchOS 8.1 beta was introduced in September, but the changes were uncertain as Apple never provided any details about what’s new. The update likely fixes system bugs and improves overall security.
This is the second update to the Apple Watch operating system since watchOS 8.0 was released last month with the new Mindfulness app, AirTag support, improved always-on mode, and new watch faces. It’s worth noting that watchOS 8 is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3 or later, although some features require newer models.
watchOS 8.1 RC is now available to developers and public beta testers via OTA with build number 19R570.
If you already have watchOS 8.1 beta installed on your Apple Watch, you can download watchOS 8.1 RC by going to the General > Software Update menu in the Watch app on your iPhone. If you’re running an earlier version of watchOS, watchOS 8.1 RC can be installed through a configuration profile available on the Apple Developer website or Apple Beta Software Program.
The official release of watchOS 8.1 is expected on Monday, October 25, along with macOS Monterey.
Read also:
- macOS Monterey RC now available to developers ahead of public release next week
- Apple releases iOS 15.1 RC to developers and public beta users
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