Eager to test out everything arriving with watchOS 8 like the new Mindfulness app, Focus fashion, Photo watch faces with Portrait mode, multiple timers, AssistiveTouch, and more? Read along for how to install watchOS 8 public or programmer beta.

Update: The free public beta for watchOS viii is at present available.

Apple tree unveiled the adjacent major version of watchOS at the WWDC keynote and made the developer beta available to test on Apple Scout. And the showtime public beta of watchOS 8 arrived on June thirty.

  • watchOS 8 for Apple Watch brings Photos improvements, mindfulness features, multiple timers, more
  • Hands-on: watchOS 8 brings major e'er-on brandish upgrades for third-party and Apple apps
  • Apple Lookout Series 3 back up continues for another yr with watchOS 8

Beneath we'll expect at how to install both the watchOS 8 public beta and developer beta.

How to install watchOS 8 public beta

Important: In that location is no manner to downgrade to watchOS 7 after yous install watchOS 8 beta. Depending on your take a chance tolerance, this may exist best for secondary/exam Apple Watches (Serial iii and later).

  • The watchOS 8 public beta is now available, but remember – at that place's no way to downgrade
  1. Information technology'south never a bad idea to make a fresh fill-in of your Apple Watch – this happens when you support your iPhone – but go on in listen Apple tree doesn't allow downgrades from watchOS 8 to watchOS 7
  2. On your iPhone running the iOS 15 beta, caput to Apple tree'south public beta website
  3. Tap the pointer  in the top correct corner, sign in if you're non already
  4. At present choose watchOS under the "Guide for Public Betas"
  5. Swipe downwards and nether the Get Started  section, tap enroll your Apple tree Scout
  6. Swipe downward again and tap Download Profile
  7. Tap Allow  to download the contour, hitting Close
  8. Head to Settings  on your device and tap Profile Downloaded  near the acme
  9. Tap Install  in the top right corner, enter your passcode if needed
  10. Read the consent understanding, then tap Install  ii more times
  11. Your iPhone will prompt you to restart to consummate the changes
  12. After your Apple Watch reboots, head back to the Apple Watch iPhone app  > General  > Software update
  13. You should encounter watchOS 8 public beta available, tap Download and Install
    • Make sure your Apple tree Scout is on the charger almost your iPhone with at least 50% battery
How to install watchOS 8 beta walkthrough 1 - public beta
How to install watchOS 8 beta walkthrough 2 - public beta

How to install watchOS 8 programmer beta

Important: There is no way to downgrade to watchOS vii after you install watchOS 8 beta. This is best for secondary/test Apple Watches (Series 3 and later).

If you lot're not already enrolled equally an Apple Developer, you'll need to do that here (runs $99/year). Or you can await for the free public beta program that should launch in July.

  1. It's never a bad idea to brand a fresh backup of your Apple Lookout man – this happens when you lot back up your iPhone – but keep in mind Apple doesn't let downgrades from watchOS 8 to watchOS vii
  2. On your iPhone running the iOS 15 beta (or 14.seven beta), head to Apple'southward Programmer website
  3. Tap the two-line icon  in the height left corner, sign in if you're not already under Business relationship
  4. Tap the two-line icon in the top left corner again, choose Downloads
  5. Swipe down (below iOS fourteen.7 beta) and tap Install Profile next to watchOS 8 beta
  6. Tap Let  to download the profile, hit Close
  7. Head to Settings  on your device and tap Profile Downloaded  near the tiptop
  8. Tap Install  in the tiptop correct corner, enter your passcode if needed
  9. Read the consent agreement, and then tap Install  ii more times
  10. Your iPhone will prompt y'all to restart your Apple tree Watch to complete the changes
  11. Afterward information technology reboots, caput back to the iPhone Apple Spotter app  > General  > Software Update
  12. You lot should run into watchOS 8 bachelor; tap Download and Install
    • Brand certain your Apple Sentry is on the charger most your iPhone with at least l% battery

Here'due south how the process looks on iPhone:

How to install watchOS 8 beta - walkthrough 1
How to install watchOS 8 beta - walkthrough 2
How to install watchOS 8 beta - walkthrough 3

Read more than 9to5Mac tutorials:

  • How to install the iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 public beta or developer beta
  • Hands-on: Here's how iPhone'due south Live Text OCR works in iOS 15
  • How to enable, find, and play Spatial Sound on Apple tree Music
  • Hands-on: Hither's how the new iPhone Focus mode works in iOS xv

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Michael Potuck

Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac. Since joining in 2016 he has written more 3,000 articles including breaking news, reviews, and detailed comparisons and tutorials.

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