Apple releases watchOS 11.6 developer preview Beta 3

By Nsan Neji

CALIFORNIA (CONVERSEER) – Apple, on Monday, pushed the watchOS 11.6 Developer Preview Beta 3 update (internal version number: 22U5074b) to Apple Watch users. This update is 14 days away from the last Beta/RC release.

watchOS 11.6 is an updated version of watchOS 11. You can refer to the main features of watchOS 11. watchOS 11 was officially released on September 16, 2024, adding the Vitals app (to help users understand their daily health status), fitness function updates, and improvements to the Smart Stack.

watchOS 11 introduced health sensor functions such as blood pressure monitoring and continuous blood glucose monitoring. watchOS 11.6 may further optimise or add new features on this basis.

Although there is currently limited information about the specific new features of watchOS 11.6, as a minor version update, it usually fixes known issues and improves system stability. More details will need to wait for Apple’s official release notes or subsequent beta updates.

How to upgrade iOS / iPadOS / watchOS / macOS development and beta versions?

• Public beta version : You need to register for the Apple Beta Software Programme, and then upgrade through [Settings] [General] [Software Update] [Beta Update];

• Development Preview Version : You need to log in and register for the Apple Developer Programme, and then upgrade through [Settings] [General] [Software Update].

Attached is the complete list of Apple iOS historical firmware downloads:《Apple iOS / iPadOS / macOS Firmware Download / Update Log》

Attached is the release history of watchOS 11:

• 2025-07-01: watchOS 11.6 Beta 2 (22U5065c)

• 2025-06-17: watchOS 11.6 Beta (22U5054b)

• 2025-05-13: watchOS 11.5 (22T572)

• 2025-05-07: watchOS 11.5 RC (22T572)

• 2025-04-29: watchOS 11.5 Beta 4 (22T5567a)

• 2025-04-22: watchOS 11.5 Beta 3 (22T5559d)

• 2025-04-15: watchOS 11.5 Beta 2 (22T5553d)

• 2025-04-03: watchOS 11.5 Beta (22T5542f)

• 2025-04-01: watchOS 11.4 (22T251)

• 2025-03-25: watchOS 11.4 RC (22T250)

• 2025-03-18: watchOS 11.4 Beta 4 (22T5244a)

• 2025-03-11: watchOS 11.4 Beta 3 (22T5234f)

• 2025-03-04: watchOS 11.4 Beta 2 (22T5228e)

• 2025-02-22: watchOS 11.4 Beta (22T5212l)

• 2025-02-11: watchOS 11.3.1 (22S560)

• 2025-01-28: watchOS 11.3 (22S555)

• 2025-01-22: watchOS 11.3 RC (22S553)

• 2025-01-15: watchOS 11.3 Beta 3 (22K5553a)

• 2025-01-08: watchOS 11.3 Beta 2 (22S5540e)

• 2024-12-17: watchOS 11.3 Beta (22S5534d)

• 2024-12-12: watchOS 11.2 (22S101)

• 2024-12-06: watchOS 11.2 RC (22S99)

• 2024-11-21: watchOS 11.2 Beta 3 (22S5094a)

• 2024-11-12: watchOS 11.2 Beta 2 (22S5083e)

• 2024-11-05: watchOS 11.2 Beta (22S5077d)

• 2024-10-29: watchOS 11.1 (22R585)

• 2024-10-23: watchOS 11.1 RC (22R582)

• 2024-10-15: watchOS 11.1 Beta 5 (22R5575a)

• 2024-10-08: watchOS 11.1 Beta 4 (22R5569a)

• 2024-10-04: watchOS 11.0.1 (22R361)

• 2024-10-02: watchOS 11.1 Beta 3 (22R5559b)

• 2024-09-24: watchOS 11.1 Beta 2 (22R5554e)

• 2024-09-18: watchOS 11.1 Beta (22R5545g)

• 2024-09-17: watchOS 11 (22R349)

• 2024-09-10: watchOS 11 RC (22R349)

• 2024-08-21: watchOS 11 Beta 7 (22R5348a)

• 2024-08-13: watchOS 11 Beta 6 (22R5340a)

• 2024-08-06: watchOS 11 Beta 5 (22R5328e)

• 2024-07-24: watchOS 11 Beta 4 (22R5318h)

• 2024-07-09: watchOS 11 Beta 3 (22R5309f)

• 2024-06-11: watchOS 11 Beta (22R5284o)

• 2024-06-11: watchOS 11 Beta 2 (22R5299d)