Apple releases watchOS 3 beta 4 for Apple Watch to developers

Greg Barbosa | Aug 1 2016 - 9:47 am PT

Apple has just begun rolling out watchOS 3 beta 4 to developers today. Those looking to grab the new release can head over to the Watch app on their iPhones, select General and then Software Update. watchOS 3 beta 4 is available to download as a Configuration Profile from the Apple developer center for newer users looking to test out the upcoming system. Release notes fixes are now at the bottom of the post.

With the previous update, watchOS 3 beta 3 brought in new fixes in areas like Activity Sharing and the Clock face layouts. In an earlier release, watchOS 3 beta 2 saw the introduction of Auto Unlock alongside the macOS Sierra beta 2, Emergency SOS for contacting emergency services in the local area, locking workouts without using Force Touch, and Activity Sharing began working for some. Our previous coverage of watchOS 3 beta 2 with a list of discovered changes can be found here. For more information about Auto Unlock on the Apple Watch, be sure to catch Jeff Benjamin’s video and FAQ posts as well.

The upcoming watchOS, expected to be released later this fall, brings major speed improvements and new user experiences to the Apple Watch. We’ve spent the past few weeks diving into watchOS 3’s features; take a look at the links below to get caught up:

To stay up to date with all of our watchOS 3 coverage, be sure to follow up on our watchOS 3 guide.

Developers looking to install the watchOS 3 beta for the first time on their devices can grab the appropriate Configuration Profiles for watchOS 3 on Apple’s developer center. Current testers and developers looking to grab the latest watchOS 3 beta can navigate to the Watch app on their iPhone and check under the Software Update section.

Once updated, the latest watchOS 3 beta 3 release notes will be found here.

As always, any changes we find will be added here. If you find anything new, feel free to send it to via Twitter @9to5mac or to me personally @gregbarbosa. Our email is also open to any tips.

Small list of fixes from watchOS 3’s beta 4 release notes:

Emergency SOS

If the system volume is turned all the way down when you trigger Emergency SOS, alert tones are heard.

Xcode

• Complication bundles now appear in the Face Gallery in iOS Simulator.

• Time travel is now useable in watchOS Simulator

In today’s beta update, Apple has updated and clarified some of the experience around Emergency SOS as well:

When you press and hold the side button, you can automatically call emergency services. To cancel or disconnect the call, press firmly on the display and tap Cancel. After a call with emergency services is complete, Apple Watch can notify your emergency contacts via Messages that you have contacted emergency services, and will share your location. If you don’t want your emergency contacts notified, you can tap Cancel. To configure Emergency SOS, go to the Watch app on your iPhone, then General > Emergency SOS. Here you can disable Auto Call, add SOS Contacts, and learn more about SOS.

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