Apple’s next Apple Watch update, Watch OS 11, is official. The company showcased the new software on Monday during its annual WWDC keynote, held at its Apple Park campus.
Apple’s software updates typically span fitness, health and connectivity among other areas. Last year, for example, Apple updated the user interface with new widgets and added new tools and metrics for cyclists. Before that, it added new stats for runners with WatchOS 9 in 2022.
WatchOS 11 will be available as a full release in the fall, but a developer beta is available to download now. It’s compatible with all Apple Watches from the Series 6 and later and you’ll also need an iPhone running iOS 18. Apple dropped support for the Series 4 and 5 with WatchOS 11.
When paired with an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, an Apple Watch running WatchOS 11 will forward summarized notifications to the watch — one component of Apple Intelligence.
Training load
The Apple Watch now offers a way to measure the intensity of your training routine and how it might affect your recovery. Called training load, it uses data like your heart rate, pace and elevation, and combines it with your weight and height to give an estimate of your training effort with a score from 1-10. You’re also able to adjust the effort in case it doesn’t reflect how you feel.
Training load can better indicate how well your body is going with your workout routine. This can be helpful when you’re training for a marathon or other competitive event when you may be at risk of over- or under-training. Training load is available for many cardio-based workouts, but for workouts where an estimation isn’t provided, like strength training, you are able to enter in an effort rating. Many other wearables offer a similar view of recovery and training load data, including Garmin watches.
You’ll be able to see a weighted average of your training load over a 28 day period, then compare your past seven days of effort against it.
An example of training load on WatchOS 11.
Pause your activity rings
When you need to take a rest day, or you’re sick, the Apple Watch now lets you pause your activity ring progress in WatchOS 11. You’ll also be able to further customize activity goals for each day of the week.
Watch this: WWDC 2021 in 11 minutes
Vitals app
The Vitals app is another new place to check on your health metrics, like heart rate. It will show you how your vitals track over time and whether or not they fall into a typical range based on your historical data. The app will also alert you when metrics are out of range and provide a tailored message with potential explanations.
The Vitals app on WatchOS 11.
New Double Tap features
Apple has opened up Double Tap to developers. This lets you double tap your thumb and forefinger to interact with apps like skipping tracks in the music app, or sending a message without touching the screen. Available only on the Series 9 and Ultra 2, Double Tap was only available on a selection of Apple’s own apps, but now developers will be able to access the feature. During the keynote, Apple showed off a demo where a third-party baby-tracking app lets you start a timer to track your baby’s sleep while it’s in your arms.
Double Tap can also now scroll through any app, including Messages and Weather, so you don’t need to touch the screen.
Watch face customizations
WatchOS 11 now has a redesigned Photos watch face that uses machine learning to automatically curate photos it thinks will look best as a watch face. It will customize the photo, including creating a sense of depth in the image, then present options for a clock with different font and colors to display the time. Dynamic mode is a new option that automatically gives you a new watch face image every time you raise your wrist.
Live Activities coming to the Apple Watch
Smart Stack first appeared on the Apple Watch with WatchOS 10 when you scroll with the digital crown or swipe up from the watch face. In WatchOS 11 it now shows additional widgets including Live Activities at the top of the stack. For example, if you’re following a sports game the score will appear at the top of your stack, or if you call an Uber, the ETA appears. Shazam, the Photos app and Distance are also new to the Smart Stack and you’ll also see severe weather alerts like thunderstorm warnings.
The Apple Watch also now has a Translate app and that widget appears in the Smart Stack automatically when you travel to a location with a different language. Dictate into the watch and hear a response in another language.
More WatchOS 11 features
- Cycle tracking now supports more options for pregnancy tracking, including gestational age.
- The Workout app also now supports a check-in feature, so you can notify friends and family when you get home from a workout.
- Custom workouts are now supported for pool swims.
- Apple Watch supports more interactive widgets for smart home devices.
- Apple Maps supports offline turn-by-turn navigation for custom walking routes and hikes for all U.S. national parks.
- Tap to Cash lets you send and receive Apple Cash by holding the Apple Watch near another watch or iPhone.
