After testing the watchOS 26.3 beta for over the past two months, Apple today dropped the release candidate build of watchOS 26.3 to testers. The incremental upgrade goes live with a slew of new features, enhancements, and fixes.
Apple pushes the new software upgrade to the compatible Apple Watch models with 23S618 build number. The update on my Apple Watch Series 7 weighs around 450MB in size. If you’re unaware, a release candidate build is essentially the final version, made available to developers before the public release. We can expect public release later this week or early next week.
If your iPhone is running on iOS 26.3 (beta or RC), you can easily update your Apple Watch to the latest update. For compatibility, the update is available to all Apple Watches running on watchOS 26 or newer.
watchOS 26.2 brought several new features such as enhanced safety controls and sleep refinements. The gradual update – watchOS 26.2.1 added support for the second-generation AirTag, and today’s release is expected to further enhances the watchOS.
watchOS 26.3 RC Update
First things first, you need to update your iPhone to iOS 26.3 release candidate. Once done, you can follow these steps to install the watchOS 26.3 release candidate on your watch.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap General > Software Update.
- Select Beta Updates and enable watchOS 26.3 Developer Beta option.
- Go back and download the release candidate of watchOS 26.3.
- That’s it.
Make sure that your Apple Watch is charged at least 50% and connected to a WiFi network.
Now the watchOS 26.3 release candidate update will download and transfer to your Apple Watch.
Explore More:
- Apple releases the second beta of watchOS 26.3 to developers
- Apple releases watchOS 26.2.1 update to the public
- Apple seeds first beta of watchOS 26.3 to developers
- watchOS 26.2 public release brings Sleep Score updates
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