The watchOS 27 public beta has been releasd, and it brings Siri AI on your wrist, a dynamic app grid, a one-handed tap gesture, and a smarter Smart Stack. If your Apple Watch is on the compatibility list and you want early access, follow our step-by-step guide below to do so.
Compatible models: Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3. Series 6, 7, 8, and the original Ultra will not receive watchOS 27 at all, beta or otherwise.
Before starting, your paired iPhone must run iOS 27 (public beta or developer beta). This is not optional as without it the beta update option will not appear in the Watch app. You will also need your Apple Watch at 50% charge or higher, placed on its charger, and within Bluetooth range of your iPhone during installation.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 owners should pause before proceeding. The current build has a critical Siri bug where any request requiring device knowledge, setting a timer, opening an app, controlling HomeKit devices, fails every time. General-knowledge questions still work, but core wrist functionality is broken. Apple is aware and a fix should arrive in the next beta, but installing now means waiting for a patch before Siri becomes usable for its most important functions. Other models do not exhibit this problem.
You cannot easily roll back to a previous watchOS version if a beta build causes problems. If something breaks, you are waiting for Apple to issue a newer build. Proceed with that reality in mind.
Installation Steps
- Enroll in the Apple Beta Software Program. Visit beta.apple.com, sign in with your Apple Account, and accept the program terms. If you enrolled for iOS 27, your account is already active; skip this step.
- Confirm your iPhone runs iOS 27. Open Settings, go to General > About, and verify the software version. If it shows iOS 27, proceed. If not, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates, select iOS 27 Public Beta, and install it first.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap My Watch at the bottom of the screen.
- Navigate to beta updates. Go to General > Software Update > Beta Updates. WatchOS 27 Public Beta should appear here. If it does not, confirm your iPhone runs iOS 27 and your Apple Account is enrolled in the beta program.
- Select watchOS 27 Public Beta. Tap to enable it, then return to the main Software Update screen. Your watch should show a pending update.
- Charge your Apple Watch. It needs 50% battery or above and must remain connected to its charger and near your iPhone throughout installation.
- Tap Download and Install. The update downloads and installs; your watch will restart during this process. Installation typically takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on connection speed and file size. Leave everything connected until the watch face reappears.
Once installation completes, watchOS 27 will be up and running. More beta updates will arrive throughout the summer before the final release this fall. Siri AI only landed in developer beta 3 last week, so expect the next few builds to prioritise stability around that feature.
