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Apple Watch Series 8 and watchOS 27

N

nanu77

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Hello, I have an Apple Watch Series 8 and I'd like to know if it's compatible with watchOS 27.

If it's not compatible, but I have iOS 27 installed on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, will my Apple Watch Series 8 still work correctly with my iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 27, or will it stop working because I don't have watchOS 27?

What will happen if I don't have watchOS 27 installed on the Apple Watch Series 8 and I do have iOS 27 installed on the iPhone? Will the Apple Watch Series 8 stop working?

Many thanks
 
So far I know, the series 8 is not compatible with WatchOS 27. It will work fine with watchOS 26, even if you upgrade your iPhone to iOS 27.
You probably will get security updates for watchOS 26 when WatchOS 27 is available to the public.
 
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So, the Series 8 would work correctly with iOS 27 installed on the iPhone and watchOS 26 installed on the Apple Watch Series 8? Can anyone confirm this?

Is there anyone with a Series 5 or older who can get their Apple Watch to work with an iPhone running iOS 26?
 
nanu77 said:
So, the Series 8 would work correctly with iOS 27 installed on the iPhone and watchOS 26 installed on the Apple Watch Series 8? Can anyone confirm this?

Is there anyone with a Series 5 or older who can get their Apple Watch to work with an iPhone running iOS 26?
Click to expand...
Correct. I have a series 4 laying around and I'm still able to pair it with iOS 27.
 
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Do the notifications received from the iPhone and steps in the Fitness app also work without any problems?
 
BigMcGuire said:
Yep older unsupported watches work well with iPhones that are on newer and latest iOS versions. I know many people with older unsupported watches. They still exercise, call, text like normal. I had relatives up till recently using my Apple Watch Series 3.
Click to expand...
Do the notifications received from the iPhone and steps in the Fitness app also work without any problems?

Thanks
 
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BigMcGuire said:
Yep older unsupported watches work well with iPhones that are on newer and latest iOS versions. I know many people with older unsupported watches. They still exercise, call, text like normal. I had relatives up till recently using my Apple Watch Series 3.
Click to expand...
Seconded. I have an old series 3 I keep around and it connects and works flawlessly with my 15 pro on whatever the latest OS is.
 
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I have a user with a Series 3 running watchOS 8 paired with an iPhone running iOS 26 without any problems. That includes still syncing messages, fitness tracking, and anything else I can think of.

Apple seems to keep watches running old OS's working. I don't see why it would be an issue with Series 8 running watchOS 26 and a phone on iOS 27. They know they'd have a support nightmare if they suddenly broke that.

I have a Series 8 watch myself and haven't decided what I'm going to do about this. I always said that I would upgrade the watch when OS support dries out, but… I was hoping for at least one more year, and I'm not seeing anything particularly compelling about watchOS 27. (My phone is too old for Siri AI so that wouldn't be available regardless.) I guess I'll wait and see what the Series 12 watches are like before deciding.
 
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i also have a Series 8.
its likely that for at least one more year all of my 3rd party apps will continue to work even though my Watch stays as 26.
its fortunate that it appears apple will not be launching dramatically new sensors in this September's new Watch launches.
so i will remain happy with my Series 8 for one more year.
Hopefully September 2028 has interesting new watch tech.
 
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I had a Series 3 up until last year. You can use old Apple Watches with new iPhones just fine. They continue to work as they did, they just don't get the new features.
 
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nanu77 said:
So, the Series 8 would work correctly with iOS 27 installed on the iPhone and watchOS 26 installed on the Apple Watch Series 8? Can anyone confirm this?

Is there anyone with a Series 5 or older who can get their Apple Watch to work with an iPhone running iOS 26?
Click to expand...
I've pulled an AW 2 and updated the OS to the latest security release available to it while running IOS 26. Feels very dated.
 
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nanu77 said:
Hello, I have an Apple Watch Series 8 and I'd like to know if it's compatible with watchOS 27.

If it's not compatible, but I have iOS 27 installed on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, will my Apple Watch Series 8 still work correctly with my iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 27, or will it stop working because I don't have watchOS 27?

What will happen if I don't have watchOS 27 installed on the Apple Watch Series 8 and I do have iOS 27 installed on the iPhone? Will the Apple Watch Series 8 stop working?

Many thanks
Click to expand...
I use 2 watches, an 8 (with active cellular) and an 11. Generally I sleep with the 11 for health tracking and the 8 during the day for cellular. I'll have to see whether the AI features are worth swapping the cellular.

Last fall, when I bought the 11, it was down to getting another watch, or an Oura ring. Went with the watch since at least I generally have a charged battery now.
 
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