What Apple Watch you need to run watchOS 8

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in Apple Watch edited September 2021
Not all Apple Watches can run Apple's latest watchOS 8, find out which ones are compatible with the latest operating system release.

watchOS 8 runs on almost all Apple Watches available
watchOS 8 runs on almost all Apple Watches available


Apple has released a new Apple Watch every year since it was originally announced and only the first three generations have lost compatibility so far. The original Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 1, and Apple Watch Series 2 are the only ones that won't work.

The rest of the Apple Watch lineup are capable of running watchOS 8. This includes the Apple Watch Series 7, which Apple revealed in September and will be shipping later in the fall.

Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 8

  • Apple Watch Series 7
  • Apple Watch Series 6
  • Apple Watch Series 5
  • Apple Watch Series 4
  • Apple Watch Series 3
  • Apple Watch SE
Apple does warn that not all features will be available on all models, with older Apple Watch units less likely to have more recent function additions.

For owners of the Apple Watch Series 3, Apple has also warned that users should unpair and restore their device before proceeding with the watchOS update.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 9
    andyringandyring Posts: 54member
    WOW.

    STILL supporting the Series 3?!?!?
    Fidonet127watto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 9
    bageljoeybageljoey Posts: 2,004member
    andyring said:
    WOW.

    STILL supporting the Series 3?!?!?
    Lol!  Still supporting it??? 
    They are STILL SELLING it. New. In the Apple Store. Right now. 
    mike1watto_cobrabeowulfschmidtlongpathfastasleepelijahgcuriousrun8
  • Reply 3 of 9
    MplsPMplsP Posts: 3,925member
    bageljoey said:
    andyring said:
    WOW.

    STILL supporting the Series 3?!?!?
    Lol!  Still supporting it??? 
    They are STILL SELLING it. New. In the Apple Store. Right now. 
    Yes, the post should have been "STILL selling the series 3????"

    (or maybe "Still expecting people to spend 2 hours wiping and reinstalling just to get a software update????")
    elijahg
  • Reply 4 of 9
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,755member
    bageljoey said:
    Lol!  Still supporting it??? 
    They are STILL SELLING it. New. In the Apple Store. Right now. 
    lol - if they weren't support it still there would be all the comments about forced obsolescence  :p   

    No winning with the Internet crowd.
    edited June 2021 Dogpersonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 9
    longpathlongpath Posts: 393member
    andyring said:
    WOW.

    STILL supporting the Series 3?!?!?
    Since they still sell it, and they still offer AppleCare+, they are certain to support it for at least another two years, as failure to support an under warranty device is an engraved invitation to multiple lawsuits, class action and otherwise, and a violation of law in multiple countries. When Apple stops selling it, then and only then will the countdown to end of support start. Indeed, if Apple follows their own pattern, with the Series 2, that’s exactly how it will play out. For example, if Apple ceases selling the Series 3 this Autumn, depending on the specific date relative to the release of WatchOS 8, the Series 3 can be expected to support WatchOS 10. If the Series 3 isn’t discontinued until the Spring, then WatchOS 11 support is likely.
    muthuk_vanalingamelijahg
  • Reply 6 of 9
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,284member
    longpath said:
    andyring said:
    WOW.

    STILL supporting the Series 3?!?!?
    Since they still sell it, and they still offer AppleCare+, they are certain to support it for at least another two years, as failure to support an under warranty device is an engraved invitation to multiple lawsuits, class action and otherwise, and a violation of law in multiple countries. When Apple stops selling it, then and only then will the countdown to end of support start. Indeed, if Apple follows their own pattern, with the Series 2, that’s exactly how it will play out. For example, if Apple ceases selling the Series 3 this Autumn, depending on the specific date relative to the release of WatchOS 8, the Series 3 can be expected to support WatchOS 10. If the Series 3 isn’t discontinued until the Spring, then WatchOS 11 support is likely.
    Wrong. Don't confuse warranty and repair support (which is 7 years in some locales) with being able to handle newer operating systems.
    It means they will do warranty and out-of-warranty repairs and maintain parts. It does not force them to make the OS backwards compatible. If OS8 was the latest it could run, they would continue to create security updates and possibly other minor improvements to OS8.
  • Reply 7 of 9
    jeff fieldsjeff fields Posts: 159member
    MplsP said:
    bageljoey said:
    andyring said:
    WOW.

    STILL supporting the Series 3?!?!?
    Lol!  Still supporting it??? 
    They are STILL SELLING it. New. In the Apple Store. Right now. 
    Yes, the post should have been "STILL selling the series 3????"

    (or maybe "Still expecting people to spend 2 hours wiping and reinstalling just to get a software update????")
    Is there anything you won't whine about?
  • Reply 8 of 9
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,358member
    My whine: would it kill AI to provide a link to Apple Support proper that says an S3 should be unpaired and restored instead of or along with a link to another AI article to another site to a tweet that says the Watch should be unpaired and restored? Não falo português.     
  • Reply 9 of 9
    AppleishAppleish Posts: 691member
    My 4 updated in less than 15 minutes and is working great.
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