Apple ’s popular smartwatches are get some exciting update inwatchOS 11 , witha unexampled Vitals appto keep tab key on your of import wellness prosody , Training Load to help you optimize your workouts , and the ability to set more grainy goals for your activity rings or even take a day off from close up them . New and expanded workouts let in aloofness and itinerary maps and improve pool swim ,

Beyond health and fitness , watchOS 11 also adds Live Activities to your carpus in the Smart Stack so you’re able to stay on top of sport scads or know when your Uber Eats delivery will show up . There ’s also several new widgets , a hefty newfangled Photos face , and the ability to understand text by lecture into your wrist .

alas , Apple is provide some Apple Watch fashion model behindthis year ; watchOS 11 is only usable for the 2020Apple Watch Series 6and new models . This includes theApple Watch UltraandApple Watch SE 2 , but leaves outthe original Apple Watch SEsince , even though that model was released the same yr as the Series 6 , it uses the older chip from the Series 5 .

On the impudent side , there ’s some good news program for folk with the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 . This year ’s marquee wellness feature in theApple Watch Series 10 , Sleep Apnea Detection , is also coming to those two 2023 framework , along with the new Tides app to help oneself you plan your next surfboarding or kayak excursion .

take note that you also take to berunning iOS 18 on your iPhonebefore you could set up watchOS 11 on your Apple Watch .

Back up your Apple Watch

The first thing you should do before installing any new watchOS update is see that you have a skillful backing of your Apple Watch .

you may discover the educational activity for this in our clause onhow to back up your Apple Watch .

While you wo n’t be able to give back your Apple Watch back to watchOS 10 , this backup can still be restored onto a equipment run watchOS 11 if something decease incorrect . It ’s also deserving keeping an excess transcript of that computer backup on your computing machine in case your Apple Watch fails entirely and you call for to return to a novel Apple Watch that ’s running watchOS 10 . Since your Apple Watch substitute is stored on your iPhone , you’re able to do this bybacking up your iPhone to a Mac or PC .

Install iOS 18 on your iPhone

Since your Apple Watch is basically inseparable from your iPhone , each major watchOS variation want a corresponding iOS version on the iPhone . This means that you wo n’t be able to put in watchOS 11 until your iPhone is carry iOS 18 .

Check out our guide onhow to download iOS 18 on your iPhonefor instructions on installing Io 18 on your iPhone . Once that ’s done , occur on back and continue to the next section .

Install watchOS 11 on your Apple Watch

Once your iPhone is running iOS 18 , you ’re ready to install watchOS 11 on your Apple Watch . you’re able to do this from your Apple Watch or your iPhone .

Step 1 : spread theWatchapp on your iPhone or theSettingsapp on your Apple Watch .

Step 2 : SelectGeneral .

footstep 3 : SelectSoftware update . The watchOS 11 update should seem .

measure 4 : Place your Apple Watch on a courser and guarantee it ’s in range of your iPhone and relate to Wi - Fi .

Step 5 : SelectInstall nowto lead off installing watchOS 11 .

It may take anywhere from a few minutes to an minute to download the update , groom it , and then establish it on your Apple Watch . If you wish , you may keep on bust and using your Apple Watch while watchOS 11 downloads , but it has to be charged to at least 50 % and be placed on and remain on its charger before the update will set out .