by Juli Clover
Apple today released watchOS 9.2, the second major update to the watchOS 9 operating system that Apple launched in September. watchOS 9.2 comes more than a month after the debut of watchOS 9.1, an update that added battery life improvements.
watchOS 9.2 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by opening it up and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 9.2 includes Race Route, a feature that is designed to let outdoor runners, cyclists, and wheelchair users to compete against their previous performances, plus for outdoor run workouts, it can detect when you arrive at a running track.
There's a new custom kickboxing algorithm, the Noise app now lets you know when sound levels are reduced with AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, and there are optimizations for Crash Detection along with a few bug fixes. Apple's full notes for the update are below:
watchOS 9.2 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
- Outdoor Run workout now automatically detects when you arrive at a running track and provides track specific metrics
- Race Route lets you compete against your previous performance in Outdoor Run, Outdoor Cycle, and Outdoor Wheelchair Workouts
- New custom Kickboxing algorithm in the Workout app for more accurate metrics
- Noise app displays when environmental sound levels are reduced while wearing AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods Max with active noise cancellation
- Family Setup users can be invited to the Home app to control HomePod speakers and smart home accessories, and unlock doors with home keys in Wallet
- Accessibility support to visualize when Siren is in use on Apple Watch Ultra
- Improved response time and accuracy of hand gesture controls for AssistiveTouch and Quick Actions
- Crash Detection optimizations on Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
- Fix for bug that causes display of incorrect watch time immediately after dismissing an alarm in Sleep Focus
- Fix for bug causing interruptions to mindfulness sessionsSome features may not be available for all countries or all areas, for more information visit: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
watchOS 9.2 will require iOS 16.2 to install on an Apple Watch, and it is compatible with all Apple Watch models able to run watchOS 9.
[ 27 comments ]
Popular Stories
Revealed: iOS 18 Works With These iPhone Models
Monday June 10, 2024 3:57 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
iOS 18 will be compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17, according to a post on X today from a private account with a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS updates. iOS 18 will be compatible with the iPhone XR, and hence also the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models with the same A12 Bionic chip, but older iPhone models will miss out. Here is the full...
Read Full Article • 81 comments
Apple Announces iOS 18 With New Customization Features, Redesigned Photos App, and More
Monday June 10, 2024 10:17 am PDT by Hartley Charlton
Apple today previewed iOS 18, the next major update to the operating system for the iPhone, with new customization features, a redesigned Photos app, and more. iOS 18 features new customization tools for the Home Screen. App icons now feature Dark Mode and users can tint them with a color to create a unique look. Apps can also now be placed anywhere on the Home Screen freely. The Control...
Read Full Article • 156 comments
WWDC 2024 Apple Event Live Keynote Coverage: iOS 18, Apple's AI Push, and More
Monday June 10, 2024 9:20 am PDT by Jordan Golson
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors is on hand for the event and we'll be sharing details and our thoughts throughout the day. We're expecting to see a number of software-related announcements with a focus on Apple's efforts to infuse AI throughout its operating systems and apps....
Read Full Article • 1384 comments
10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17
Thursday June 6, 2024 4:47 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
Read Full Article • 159 comments
Amazon Introduces Record Low Prices on Every M3 MacBook Air
Sunday June 9, 2024 7:57 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
On Friday we tracked new all-time low prices on the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, and today Amazon has expanded this sale with record low prices on the 15-inch models as well. Thanks to these additional deals, every single model of the M3 MacBook Air is now available at an all-time low price. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may...
Read Full Article • 33 comments
Massive iPhone Upgrade Coming This Week But These Devices Will Miss Out
Sunday June 9, 2024 1:25 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple is planning a major AI overhaul in iOS 18, with a feature set it is referring to as "Apple Intelligence." However, these new features will not work on older iPhones, even if they do appear on the new operating system's device compatibility list. Apple's initial AI roadmap for iOS 18 is said to come in two parts: Basic AI features that will be processed on-device, and more advanced...
Read Full Article • 245 comments
New: iPadOS 18 Drops Support for These iPad Models
Monday June 10, 2024 4:16 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
iPadOS 18 will drop support for iPad models equipped with the A10X Fusion chip, according to a post on X today from a private account with a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS and iPadOS updates. In other words, iPadOS 18 will drop support for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Support for the sixth-generation iPad, which uses the...
Read Full Article • 94 comments
Top Rated Comments
sjsharksfan12
20 months ago
The Watch update is slow. I still hate that I have to take the watch off and put it on the charger to get the full update when it's still like 90% charged. We're in the ultra stage of the watch now. Come up with a way to update the watch without having to take it off. if it's connected to the phone via bluetooth, then it should still work as intented.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BugeyeSTI
20 months ago
Dop you disable bluetooth entirely beforehand? That way the update is much faster as it's transfered via WiFi.
I didn't realize you could do it that way.. Going to try that next update.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
srknpower
20 months ago
Looks like Apple fixed the “turning off sleep focus manually” bug.
Edit: No. It is still there :(
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PauloSera
20 months ago
I will find out soon enough. It is new. Currently it shows ambient noise levels/or headphone audio
Maybe the "new" part is the supported devices. It already does this for AirPods Pro 2.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
stevenmeans
20 months ago
in general, please Apple and similar companies, try designing more simplicity and speed across the product line: updates, interfaces. Otherwise we need to call them Sorta Kinda Smart Thinamagigs
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sjsharksfan12
20 months ago
I can see why they do this. If the battery is faulty and incorrectly reporting charge level, the Watch could suddenly "zonk out" of juice. Makes sense, for safety reasons, to have the Watch on the charger for downloading the OS and installing.
Would that happen on the newer model watches though? I would think as much as the watch would advance, having an easier way to update it would advance alongside it. We're updating the Apple Watch 8 the same way we update the original Apple Watch. The technology and the battery should be good enough to make the process easier.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments