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UPDATE September 16, 2024

Training Load

In the Activity and Vitals apps, users can see how their training load for the most recent seven days compares to their 28-day training load, classified as well below, below, steady, above, or well above. This offers actionable insight into whether the current strain on their body is ramping up, staying the same, or easing off, so they can adjust their training for the best results. Additional information in the Fitness app on iPhone further details the possible impact on their fitness if they continue to train at that current level, like potential changes in fitness or risk of injury.

New Watch Faces

  • The updated Photos face can now help a user select their best photo options by using machine learning to make recommendations based on aesthetics, composition, and even facial expressions. A custom algorithm then finds the best composition by optimizing for the subject’s position within the frame and creating a sense of depth, and the Photos face now offers Dynamic mode so a new image can appear every time a user raises their wrist.
  • The Flux face features a bold graphic design that fills the screen with color second by second, taking advantage of the bigger display and 1Hz refresh on Apple Watch Series 10.
  • The Reflections face features a distinctive shimmering dial that reacts subtly to user movements.

Additional watchOS 11 Updates

  • More workout types available in the Workout app — like Soccer, American Football, Australian Football, Outdoor Hockey, Lacrosse, Downhill Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Snowboarding, Golf, Outdoor Rowing, and more — can now track distance. Route maps are also available for more workout types.
  • Custom Workouts can now be created for pool swims, and a new Up Next workout view for all types of Custom Workouts can show what remains in the current interval and provide a snapshot of the upcoming interval.
  • Apple Maps offers hikes across U.S. national parks, and users can also create their own custom hiking and walking routes within the Maps app on iPhone. These routes can be saved to Apple Watch and accessed offline with turn-by-turn guidance, even without an iPhone nearby.
  • Summarized notifications, powered by Apple Intelligence, will be forwarded from iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max to Apple Watch.3
  • The new tickets in Apple Wallet experience provides even more information, such as when a venue opens, as well as a Live Activity that displays seat and other relevant information at the top of the Smart Stack.4
  • With Tap to Cash, users can send and receive Apple Cash by simply holding their Apple Watch near another Apple Watch or iPhone.5
watchOS 11 is available today for Apple Watch Series 6 and later, and requires iPhone XS or later running iOS 18. Not all features are available on all devices and in all regions.

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  1. Sleep apnea notifications are now available in more than 150 countries and regions, including the U.S., the EU, and Japan. A complete list of regions is available at apple.com/watchos/feature-availability. The feature is supported on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. It is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea for people 18 years old or older without a diagnosis of sleep apnea.
  2. The Vitals app is for wellness purposes only and not for medical use.
  3. Apple Intelligence will be available as a free software update. The first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in beta next month as part of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, with more features rolling out in the months to come. It will be available on iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with device and Siri language set to U.S. English. Later this year, Apple Intelligence will add support for localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Over the course of the next year, Apple Intelligence will expand to more platforms and languages, like Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and others.
  4. Ticket enhancements in Apple Wallet are available for events from participating ticket issuers.
  5. Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank. Member FDIC. Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., is a service provider of Green Dot Bank for Apple Cash accounts. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Learn more about the Terms and Conditions. Only available in the U.S. on eligible devices.