Apple WatchOS 9 (2022): New Options, The best way to Obtain, Compatibility

When you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is way and away the best fitness tracker. The one draw back maybe (apart from the battery life) is that Apple’s well being software program has traditionally been considerably missing. It’s not unusual to see Apple Watch customers instantly switch their knowledge to extra helpful and simply actionable software program, like Strava or Nike Run Membership. However that would all change with a complete host of recent health options debuting in WatchOS 9. 

If options like measuring stride size and vertical oscillation work as meant, they may simply flip the Apple Watch into the best running watch and finest look ahead to endurance athletes, interval. That’s along with a complete host of brand-new features on the new Series 8, equivalent to crash detection and a physique temperature sensor that can assist individuals who wish to change into pregnant monitor their fertility. Right here, we break down all the highest new options in WatchOS 9. Remember to take a look at our Best Apple Watch and the Best Apple Watch Accessories guides for extra. 

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Is Your Apple Watch Appropriate?

Will your watch be capable of obtain WatchOS 9? The next fashions are appropriate:

• Apple Watch Collection 4
• Apple Watch Collection 5
• Apple Watch SE (2020)
• Apple Watch Collection 6
• Apple Watch Collection 7
• Apple Watch SE (2022)
• Apple Watch Collection 8
• Apple Watch Extremely

You will additionally want an iPhone with assist for iOS 16, which incorporates the iPhone 8 (2017) or later. You possibly can try our iOS 16 features roundup for directions on how one can obtain the brand new OS in your handset.

The best way to Set up WatchOS 9

You possibly can set up WatchOS 9 with both your iPhone or your Apple Watch. Whichever methodology you select, you may wish to ensure your iPhone is linked to Wi-Fi and operating iOS 16, and that your Apple Watch battery is at 50 % (at the least). You will even have to verify your watch and iPhone are subsequent to one another, to maintain them in vary.

To replace your watch utilizing your iPhone, open the Apple Watch App and faucet on the My Watch tab. Then faucet Normal > Software program Replace and Obtain. From there, you may see a progress wheel in your Apple Watch indicating the replace has begun. Should you select to put in an replace instantly on the Apple Watch, you may have to verify the watch is linked to Wi-Fi. Then open the Settings app in your watch and faucet Normal > Software program Replace > Set up. 

It could take as much as an hour to put in WatchOS 9, so ensure you will not have to entry your smartwatch throughout that point. Should you do want it, you possibly can select to replace your Apple Watch in a single day as an alternative. If you obtain a notification that the brand new OS is accessible to obtain, faucet the Replace Tonight possibility. Then in your iPhone, affirm that you just wish to replace your watch in a single day. Earlier than you go to mattress, ensure each your iPhone and Apple Watch are charging all through the night time.

Well being and Health Options

There are a selection of enhancements to the Apple Watch’s well being and health apps. Here is the lowdown. 

Higher Exercise Views

To higher optimize your exercises, Apple up to date its Exercise app to indicate extra stats, and you’ll rotate the Digital Crown to cycle via completely different views like Coronary heart Price Zones, Exercise Rings, and Energy and Elevation. You will even have the choice to construct Customized Exercises full with work and relaxation intervals, together with alerts for coronary heart price, tempo, energy, and cadence whereas understanding.

Compass App 

The redesigned Compass app now has a hybrid view that features each the straightforward analog compass that reveals path and bearing, plus a brand new digital one. Turning the crown reveals related navigational data, equivalent to latitude, longitude, elevation, and incline. It additionally consists of new orienteering options, like Waypoints and Backtrack. Faucet the Waypoint icon to position a marker on a focal point. Backtrack makes use of GPS knowledge to indicate the person the place they have been in the event that they change into disoriented and want to show round. 

In-Depth Operating Metrics

Anybody who makes use of an Apple Watch whereas operating can be pleased to know you can now monitor new metrics like Floor Contact Time, Stride Size, and Vertical Oscillation—all of which might help enhance your type. You possibly can add them to your Exercise Views, or view them within the Health app abstract in addition to the Well being app (the Health app is lastly available for iPhones as of iOS 16). You will additionally be capable of see traits and patterns over time.

Health+ Options

Should you’ve been streaming your Health+ exercises to a second display screen (like your TV) utilizing AirPlay as an alternative of Apple TV, you’ll lastly be capable of see your coronary heart price, energy, and Burn Bar in real-time on the show (if it is appropriate). Talking of metrics, there’s additionally a brand new “coach callouts” function integrated into your stats—with phrases like “Onerous” and “All Out!”—that will help you push your depth ranges whereas exercising. 

Sleep Levels

Sleep monitoring now reveals completely different sleep levels. Leveraging the guts price sensor and accelerometer, your smartwatch will establish once you’re in REM, Core, and Deep sleep. You possibly can verify this knowledge every morning utilizing the Sleep app on the watch. A extra detailed breakdown that features issues like time asleep, coronary heart price and respiratory price, and sleep comparability charts will sync to the Well being app.

Log Your Drugs

In iOS 16, the Well being app now incorporates a new Medications tab. You need to use it to log drugs, create schedules, and set reminders. These reminders will then seem in your Apple Watch (and your iPhone), with the flexibility to log the second you’re taking them by tapping the notification in your watch.

Monitor Your AFib Historical past

Should you’ve been identified with atrial fibrillation, now you can allow the AFib Historical past function for a weekly replace on deeper insights pertaining to your situation. You possibly can see an estimate of how typically your coronary heart rhythm reveals indicators of AFib and the way different components equivalent to train, sleep, and alcohol affect your AFib. You possibly can entry an in depth historical past by way of the Well being app too—with the choice to obtain a PDF to provide to your major care doctor. In response to Apple, the function has “acquired quite a few native clearances and approvals from well being authorities around the globe, and can be accessible in additional than 100 international locations and territories, together with the US, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Mexico, South Africa, the UK, and extra.” Will probably be accessible in Australia later this fall.

Temperature Sensing (Collection 8 and Extremely Solely)

With a two-sided temperature sensor—one on the again of the smartwatch near your pores and skin and one underneath the show—the Apple Watch Series 8 packs a brand new function that may assist detect modifications in your physique relying in your temperature. Whereas asleep, it may measure your wrist temperature to detect any variations to your baseline temperature that could be attributable to one thing equivalent to sickness or exhaustion. Should you monitor your interval utilizing the Well being app, you may obtain “retrospective ovulation estimates” to assist with household planning and enhance interval predictions.