The watchOS 11 software update will be available for installation starting September 16, allowing anyone with a compatible Apple Watch to enjoy all the new features Apple first announced at WWDC 2024

To use watchOS 11, you must first install iOS 18 on your iPhone You also want to make sure your Apple Watch meets watchOS 11 compatibility requirements watchOS 11 is available for download if you have an Apple Watch Series 6 or later (including Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2) watchOS 11 Once you have installed the software, you can enjoy the new features of the Apple Watch

For those with Apple Watch Series 9 or later, this includes sleep apnea detection watchOS 11's release coincides with the FDA's approval of this feature This means that those with compatible watches will soon be able to set up sleep apnea notifications

But if not, where to start? watchOS 11 adds over 10 changes and new features, so try these out first

In watchOS 11, we see a new watch face: the iconic “photo” watch face that has been around for several years It was updated a few years ago to support portrait-style photos, and watchOS 11 takes it even further

The “Photo” watchface has been completely updated with machine learning to suggest photos to use as your watchface based on the best photos in your library You can choose one of these photos or let the watch cycle through your entire album The clock is intelligently framed around your image, and you can adjust the final product with a selection of fun fonts and color filters

Off days Or when you need to relax after a few days of intense exercise Pausing the Activity Ring takes the pressure off of closing the Apple Watch ring, giving you more time to prioritize recovery

The point of pausing the Activity Ring is that the activity stream is not compromised This is a feature that users have been asking Apple to provide for years, so it makes sense that watchOS 11 would be the first to try it Of course, the watch's extensive fitness tracking features should also be utilized, so we don't recommend pausing for too long

The Smart Stack on the Apple Watch is designed to give you a convenient at-a-glance view of all the information that might be relevant to you, organized into scrollable tiles watchOS 11 has made some upgrades to the Smart Stack to make it even more intuitive than before For example, if rain is imminent in your area, the weather forecast will be displayed Similarly, if you are located in another country, you may see a location-based translation widget

In general, the smart stack is smarter than ever One thing I like right now is the support for live activity from both native and third-party apps; I can see at a glance how far I am from an Uber ride or check Check In, which is very useful

Speaking of Check In, be sure to try it out in watchOS 11 first available for the iPhone in iOS 17, Check In is a feature that allows users to share their location with friends and family when Check In is set up, it will let you know that you have arrived at your destination safely When Check In is set up, an alert will be sent to a designated contact if they do not notify the user that they have arrived safely at their destination

watchOS 11 allows users to manage Check In from the Apple Watch Smart Stack, or create a Check In from the Workout app when starting an outdoor workout This should give you a little more peace of mind when you go for an evening run

watchOS 11 also has a new wellness app that we encourage you to try out Vitals is essentially a version of the Health app for Apple Watch that allows you to see your health and fitness trends in one cohesive place by keeping your Apple Watch on every day, you can see how different markers (activity, sleep, heart rate, etc) are affecting your health activity, sleep, heart rate, etc) are impacting your health

The Vitals app can also alert you when trends form that concern your health For example, if you are sleep deprived for several days in a row, Vitals may tell you that something is wrong with your body