Apple has released watchOS 27 beta 7 to developers, continuing its weekly testing cycle ahead of the public release expected this fall. The latest update carries build number 24R5358a, replacing beta 6 build 24R5353a released on August 17.
The latest beta appears focused mainly on stability, performance improvements, and final refinements as watchOS 27 moves closer to its Release Candidate. Apple has not announced any major new user-facing features specifically for beta 7 so far.
How to update to watchOS 27 beta 7
If your Apple Watch is already enrolled in the developer beta program, you can install watchOS 27 beta 7 through the Watch app on your paired iPhone.
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- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Select Software Update.
- Tap Beta Updates.
- Select watchOS 27 Developer Beta if it is not already enabled.
- Return to the Software Update page.
- Tap Download and Install when watchOS 27 beta 7 appears.
Keep your Apple Watch connected to Wi-Fi, place it on its charger, and make sure it has at least 50% battery before starting the installation.
All the major changes introduced in watchOS 27 betas
The earlier watchOS 27 beta releases introduced several larger changes that remain available in beta 7:
- Siri AI: Apple Watch gains the new Siri AI experience, including more natural conversations, access to personal context, broader knowledge, and the ability to perform actions in supported apps. Siri AI requires a compatible Apple Intelligence iPhone.
- Dedicated Siri app: A new Siri app keeps previous conversations in one place and lets users continue conversations that started on another Apple device.
- Dynamic app grid: Pressing the Digital Crown now opens a redesigned grid that highlights frequently used, recently opened, and Siri-suggested apps.
- New Smart Stack gesture: Users can tap their index finger and thumb together once to open or select a Smart Stack widget with one hand.
- Smarter Smart Stack suggestions: watchOS 27 can surface widgets for parked-car locations, birthdays, pinned messages, noise alerts, transit cards, IDs, sleep alarm changes, and other contextual information.
- Updated Liquid Glass design: Apple has refined Liquid Glass throughout watchOS 27 with improved contrast, more consistent refraction, and better readability.
- Workout Buddy improvements: Workout Buddy can work without an iPhone nearby and now tracks progress across metrics such as pace, distance, and workout duration.
- More accurate treadmill tracking: Updated motion-tracking algorithms improve distance measurements during indoor runs and walks.
- Cycle Tracking updates: Cycle Tracking adds support for perimenopause and menopause-related information and symptoms.
- New Find My app: Find Devices, Find People, and Find Items have been combined into one map-focused Find My app, with Precision Finding support for compatible devices and accessories.
- Call Context: Apple Watch can surface useful information while you are speaking with a business, such as showing a flight confirmation number while calling an airline.
- Battery improvements: watchOS 27 includes additional power optimizations and can suggest disabling rarely used features to extend battery life.
- Faster everyday performance: Apple has improved Music playback startup, app extension launches, Wi-Fi connectivity, and other system-level operations during the watchOS 27 beta cycle.
With beta 7 carrying an “a” build suffix, Apple is now approaching the final stages of watchOS 27 testing, although additional beta builds can still arrive before the Release Candidate.
If you’ve already installed the update, let us know your experience in the comments.
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