Apple Seeds watchOS 7.1 Release Candidate to Developers

[MacRumors]

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 7.1 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the fourth beta and more than a month after releasing the watchOS 7 update.

To install the ‌watchOS 7‌.1 beta, developers need to download the proper configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the ‌‌‌watchOS 7‌‌‌ beta can be downloaded through the dedicated ‌Apple Watch‌ app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.

To update to the new software, the ‌Apple Watch‌ needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the ‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌.

The watchOS 7.1 update introduces new hearing health protections, with the watch able to send a notification when music is too loud and could damage hearing. It also brings the ECG app to South Korea and Russia. Apple's full release notes are below:

watchOS 7.1 contains new features, improvements, and bug fixes.
- Adds the ability to be notified when your headphone audio level could impact your hearing
- Adds support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in the Republic of Korea and Russia
- Adds support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in the Republic of Korea and Russia
- Resolves an issue that prevented some users from unlocking a Mac with Apple Watch
- Fixes an issue where the screen may be dark on wrist raise for some Apple Watch Series 6 owners.

watchOS 7.1, like watchOS 7, is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 and later.

Article Link: Apple Seeds watchOS 7.1 Release Candidate to Developers

 

[Gorms]

Does anyone know if this will finally resolve the work out/map issue? I really hope it does

 

[FishyFish]

So far, I am finding this really a smooth release! Performance on all my watch faces seems excellent. Thank you so much Apple!

Gorms, sorry I don't have that issue, so I can't speak to whether it is fixed or not!

 

[realtwang]

Anyone know if the beta finally addresses the unread Messages issue? My watch always shows how many total messages I have instead of number of unread messages. Total number of messages for anyone who saves messages to refer back to is useless information. I have submitted feedback to Apple 4 times over the last year about it.

 

[DinkThifferent]

Does anyone know if this will finally resolve the work out/map issue? I really hope it does

For me this has already been fixed after the latest update.
I'm running WatchOS 7.0.3 on a Series 3 with an iPhone 8Plus on iOS 14.1

 

[Tony_YYZ]

- Fixes an issue where the screen may be dark on wrist raise for some Apple Watch Series 6 owners.

I just started experiencing this on my Series 5. It happened only a couple of times starting just a couple days ago.

 

[Gorms]

For me this has already been fixed after the latest update.
I'm running WatchOS 7.0.3 on a Series 3 with an iPhone 8Plus on iOS 14.1

Ahhhh, then I am in trouble as I am on both of those, series 3 but an X and still got the issue.

 

[Marshalus]

FINALLY can unlock my MacBook Pro with my Watch again. This has been bugging me for weeks, and none of the previous workarounds posted anywhere online were working for me.

 

[sclawis300]

Hopefully it isn't a steaming pile of donkey bleep and can actually install on the watch.

 

[DinkThifferent]

Ahhhh, then I am in trouble as I am on both of those, series 3 but an X and still got the issue.

Sorry to hear that. I did nothing special with my Apple Watch or iPhone to fix the issue, other than just downloading and installing the updates. Hope your watch and phone will be fixed after updating to 7.1

 

[Davidglenn]

Unfortunately no mention of the new intercom feature. It looks like the Apple Watch will need to wait for 7.2 to be implemented. Hoped it might have been released with iOS 14.2 so it works across all devices.

 

[plandersen]

Only seeing watchOS 7.1 Public Beta 4, so apparently the RC is not available for Public Beta testers yet.

BTW. Does an update to watchOS 7.1 require iOS 14.2?

 

[Axiboy]

Only seeing watchOS 7.1 Public Beta 4, so apparently the RC is not available for Public Beta testers yet.

BTW. Does an update to watchOS 7.1 require iOS 14.2?

RC is out now for Public beta. I'm not sure if you need 14.2 or not - I installed it on Saturday.

 

[ShaneReactions]

RC is out now for Public beta. I'm not sure if you need 14.2 or not - I installed it on Saturday.

You don't. I'm on 14.1 and been running the 7.1 beta the last few weeks.

 

[Pearsey]

- Fixes an issue where the screen may be dark on wrist raise for some Apple Watch Series 6 owners.

I just started experiencing this on my Series 5. It happened only a couple of times starting just a couple days ago.

Same. Seems to be ok now on 7.2

 

[Braderunner]

FINALLY can unlock my MacBook Pro with my Watch again. This has been bugging me for weeks, and none of the previous workarounds posted anywhere online were working for me.

Are you running Big Sur on your Mac? I didn’t have this problem until the last Big Sur beta. This Watch update didn’t fix it. Probably have to wait for next Big Sur beta release.

 

[Ladyc0524]

Are you running Big Sur on your Mac? I didn’t have this problem until the last Big Sur beta. This Watch update didn’t fix it. Probably have to wait for next Big Sur beta release.

I’m having this issue. I should have stayed on beta beta 10 of Big Sur instead of updating to 11.0.1. Oh well, I’ll wait for the next update.

 

[TheGeneralist]

Does anyone know if this will finally resolve the work out/map issue? I really hope it does

As it seems this problem is not related to watchOS 7 (...also seems to happen to watchOS 6.2.8 users), but rather to iOS 14. You may have a look at the iOS 14.2 RC release notes, here it is stated that it will be fixed by iOS 14.2.

Hope this holds true - if yes, iOS 14.2 will be the first 14.x version which makes me seriously think about upgrading.
Looks like iOS and its derivates are nearing a more stable phase then...if everything works as announced and no new bummers are introduced, this years OS generation will from my perspective be more stable and reliable than last years at the same time of the year (still had frequent OS crashes / reboots and other rather annoying bugs on my brand new 11 Pro even until the first months of 2020).

 

[deeddawg]

Does anyone know if this will finally resolve the work out/map issue? I really hope it does

That's an iOS14 issue, not a watchOS issue, so probably not.

iOS14.2 may address it though.

 

[Foxgod]

Any indication as to how long it usually takes them to go from RC to full release?
Still haven't been able to transfer my watch backup, since they updated the series 3 to 7.0.3

 

[sclawis300]

Does anyone know if this will finally resolve the work out/map issue? I really hope it does

What is the workout map issue?