The first watchOS 10 public beta release is now available — here's where to get it

watchOS features on Apple Watch
(Image credit: Apple)

The watchOS 10 update is the next big software release for your Apple Watch and while it isn't yet ready for everyone, you can download and install it today.

That's after Apple made the first public beta of watchOS 10 available for download, ready for anyone who is willing to put it through its paces and then report bugs as they go. And bugs are to be expected, especially in this first public beta.

While Apple is clearly of the opinion that this beta is more stable than the developer releases that came before it, we would still advise against installing it on Apple Watches that you rely on. Downgrading watchOS isn't a simple process should things go wrong, so keep that in mind also.

watchOS 10, coming to a wrist near you today

Apple first announced watchOS 10 to the public during the WWDC 2023 event on June 5 and while the Vision Pro headset took many headlines, the Apple Watch software refresh is a notable one.

Anyone who wants to get in on the watchOS 10 public beta can head to the Apple Beta Software Program website and sign up using their Apple ID. Once installed, watchOS 10 will bring with it a few new features including a brand-new snoopy watch face.

Beyond that, Apple says that virtually all of its Apple Watch apps have had a refresh this year, while Smart Stacks will make widgets easier to find than ever before. Control Center will also be activated by tapping the side button at any moment.

Other changes include new cycling tracking capabilities as well as improvements for hikers. All of that and more is coming to an Apple Watch near you this fall.

The watchOS 10 update will be available for plenty of Apple Watches, but you can treat yourself to a brand-new one if you check out our list of the best Prime Day Apple Watch deals. Don't upgrade to an Apple Watch Series 8 or Apple Watch Ultra until you do that. Your wallet will thank you.

Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.

Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.