Apple Releases watchOS 5 and watchOS 8 Updates to Keep FaceTime and iMessage Running on Older Apple Watches

[MacRumors]

Apple today released watchOS 5.3.10 and watchOS 8.8.2 for older Apple Watch models that are not able to run the current watchOS 26 update. watchOS 5.3.10 is available for the Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4, while watchOS 8.8.2 is available for the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, and original Apple Watch SE.

According to Apple's release notes, the updates extend the certificate that features like device activation, iMessage, and FaceTime need to function. The certificate update ensures that these apps and features will continue to work after January 2027, which is when the existing certificate was set to expire.

watchOS 8 is the final version of watchOS that's supported on the Apple Watch Series 3.

watchOS 5 is the final version of watchOS able to be installed on an Apple Watch Series 1 or Series 2 using an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus. The Series 1 and Series 2 do support watchOS 6, but installing watchOS 6 requires an iPhone 6s or later.

Article Link: Apple Releases watchOS 5 and watchOS 8 Updates to Keep FaceTime and iMessage Running on Older Apple Watches

 

[bluecoast]

Cool that they're doing this.

 

[t0rqx]

Cool that they're doing this.

You can't FaceTime on an Apple Watch.

 

[1984 Mac Guru]

You can't FaceTime on an Apple Watch.

FaceTime audio

 

[FilipSwiftie13]

Do you think we will get iOS 9.3.7 and iOS 10.3.5 along with older Mac OS updates?

 

[Howard2k]

You can't FaceTime on an Apple Watch.

Your cousin says you can.

 

[Westside guy]

FaceTime audio

"FaceTime Audio" seems like an oxymoron. I mean, it's basically "Faceless FaceTime". 😛

 

[techyOS]

hold up i thought the series 1 and series 2 can run watchos 6?

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

"FaceTime Audio" seems like an oxymoron. I mean, it's basically "Faceless FaceTime". 😛

EarTime ®

 

[svish]

Great to see Apple providing updates for older devices so that they function properly!

 

[Diopter]

hold up i thought the series 1 and series 2 can run watchos 6?

A watchOS 5.x release still needs to be available because those watches can be paired with an iPhone 5S/6/6 Plus, which can only run up to iOS 12.x 🙂

 

[Avenged110]

...while watchOS 8.8.2 is available for the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, and original Apple Watch SE.

Hold up, are you saying Apple provided a build so I can install watchOS "8.8.2" on my Series 7, even though it can technically run watchOS 26 12? Somehow I doubt that because watchOS 8 does work with iOS 15 – which my phone is running (albeit version 15.7.2), but I'm 'not allowed' to install 15.8.x, so that doesn't seem to add up. What am I missing here?

 

[Andreas from Zurich]

WatchOS 26.4 installs just fine on an Series 6 Apple Watch. Presumably, the older versions are only required if your iPhone is at least as old.

 

[ZebraDude]

so....can/should I assume that First Generation/Series 0 watches will no longer work with Messages/Facetime Audio in 2027?

 

[AppleTO]

So what if you do have a series 1 or 2 watch on WatchOS 6? Out of luck?

 

[johntherazz]

Good news if you paid your $17,000 for a whistles-and-bells ‘Edition’ version 10 years ago. Not (totally) defunct quite yet!

 

[CarAnalogy]

WatchOS 26.4 installs just fine on an Series 6 Apple Watch. Presumably, the older versions are only required if your iPhone is at least as old.

What I really want is to do the opposite, install WatchOS 9 (I think it was) on my series 10, right before they killed the Dock and started making every version worse and worse.

 

[ZebraDude]

Good news if you paid your $17,000 for a whistles-and-bells ‘Edition’ version 10 years ago. Not (totally) defunct quite yet!

actually....that version is a Series 0 and it is still up in the air if an update is waiting for it. Ps. I have a Series 0 SS that I will test out soon...

 

[Malkie0831]

WatchOS 26.4 installs just fine on an Series 6 Apple Watch. Presumably, the older versions are only required if your iPhone is at least as old.

That seems to be the case as my S6 is running 26.4 along with my 13 pro. Wish they would bring back the dock from the side button, hated it when they first did it but miss it now. I don’t need control panel to be so readily available 😂.

 

[ZebraDude]

yep, the first generation (Series 0) watches are stuck on 4.3.2 and I am assuming the certificate will expire next year if not sooner...

 

[nottorp]

Why is the SE 1 in that list? It was available for sale only last year.

 

[Diopter]

Why is the SE 1 in that list? It was available for sale only last year.

Because while the SE 1 can run up to watchOS 10, an SE 1 might already be paired with an older device like an iPhone 7 that is only capable of running up to iOS 15.x - which therefore would limit the paired SE 1 to only watchOS 8.x. Thus, they need to provide an updated watchOS 8.x release as well so people in that situation still have support.

 

[CarAnalogy]

That seems to be the case as my S6 is running 26.4 along with my 13 pro. Wish they would bring back the dock from the side button, hated it when they first did it but miss it now. I don’t need control panel to be so readily available 😂.

Exactly, thank you! At least make it configurable!