Apple has just released watchOS 26.5, the latest software update for Apple Watch. Here’s what’s new in today’s update.
New Apple Watch face and bug fixes added in watchOS 26.5
Apple Watch users, there’s a new update available to install today. watchOS 26.5 is available now, you can find it inside the Watch app on your iPhone.
The update’s main addition is a brand new watch face: Pride Luminance.
Similar to the new iPhone wallpaper in iOS 26.5, Pride Luminance comes with an impressive amount of customization options to make it your own.
Per my colleague Zac’s in-depth explainer:
Customization options include color, dial shape, style, and corner complications for the circular dial shape. Apple provides 11 pre-configured color combinations. You can also pick from over 70 colors, choosing any combination of one to 12 colors as a time.
The new watch face is available to install from the face gallery.
In addition to the new face, watchOS 26.5 also includes bug fixes and performance improvements. Apple specifically highlights these two fixes:
- Fixes an issue where Messages on Apple Watch may use SMS instead of iMessage when paired with a dual SIM iPhone
- Fixes an issue where Workout app audio alerts could fail to play if the phone was not nearby Apple Watch
Bigger changes to the Apple Watch are coming in watchOS 27, which will be unveiled next month. For more on that forthcoming update, see our coverage here.
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