watchOS facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

watchOS

A customized watch face on watchOS 6
Company / developer	Apple Inc.
Programmed in	C C++ Objective-C Swift assembly language
OS family	Unix-like, iOS
Working state	Current
Source model	Closed, with open-source components
Initial release	April 24, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-04-24)
Marketing target	Smartwatch
Available language(s)	45 languages
Supported platforms	ARMv8-A (watchOS 5 and later) ARMv7-A (watchOS 1 – watchOS 8.8.1)
Kernel type	Hybrid (XNU)
Default user interface	Cocoa Touch (GUI)
License	Proprietary software except for open-source components

watchOS is the special software that makes your Apple Watch work. It's like the brain of the watch! Apple Inc. created it. This software is similar to iOS, which is the software used on iPhones. watchOS first came out on April 24, 2015, at the same time as the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch is the only device that uses watchOS.

Over the years, watchOS has been updated many times to add new features and make the Apple Watch even better. For example, watchOS 2 allowed apps from other companies to run directly on the watch. Later versions added cool things like the "Walkie-Talkie" feature, ways to track your sleep and handwashing, and many improvements for health tracking. The newest version, watchOS 10, came out on September 18, 2023, and made the watch even easier to use.

How the Watch Works
Tracking Your Health
HealthKit: Your Health Data Hub
watchOS Updates Over Time
Images for kids
See Also

How the Watch Works

The main screen on your Apple Watch is called "Carousel." It shows all your app icons in a circle. You can zoom in or out using the Digital Crown (the little dial on the side of the watch). To open an app, you just tap its icon on the screen. This helps you quickly get to your favorite apps.

Before watchOS 3, there was a feature called "Glances." This let you quickly see summaries from your most-used apps by swiping up. But in watchOS 3, Glances were replaced with a new Control Center. This Control Center works a lot like the one on your iPhone, making it easier to use all your Apple devices. You can open it by swiping up from the watch face. Also, the side button, which used to show your friends, now opens a special "Dock" for your apps. This makes it simpler to switch between apps.

Older versions of watchOS (before watchOS 7) used a feature called Force Touch. This meant the watch screen could tell how hard you pressed it. Different actions would happen if you tapped lightly or pressed firmly. But with watchOS 7, Force Touch was removed. Now, all those actions are done through options in the Settings app or by holding down on the screen for a longer time. This change helps make the watch easier to use, similar to other Apple devices that don't have Force Touch.

With watchOS 10, the way you use the watch has been made even better. You can now customize your app screen more easily. Apps also open faster and look smoother when you use them. These updates show that Apple is always trying to make the watch simple and fun to use, while keeping its cool, simple design.

Tracking Your Health

watchOS helps you keep track of many different things about your health. Since it first came out, more and more health features have been added. Here are some of the things it can measure:

Heart Rate: Your watch can constantly check how fast your heart is beating.
VO2 Max: This measures how much oxygen your body can use during exercise. It was added in watchOS 4 and improved in watchOS 7.
EKG/ECG: This is like a mini heart test that checks your heart's electrical activity. It was added in watchOS 5.1.2.
Blood Oxygen: Your watch can measure the oxygen levels in your blood. This feature came with watchOS 7. (Note: This feature is not available on some newer watches sold after January 15, 2024, due to legal reasons.)
Menstrual Cycle: For girls, watchOS 6 added a way to track your menstrual cycle.
Sleep Tracking: watchOS 7 brought features to track how long you sleep and how fast you breathe while sleeping.

HealthKit: Your Health Data Hub

Apple has been working on something called HealthKit for many years. It's a way for Apple to get involved in the health and wellness world. HealthKit helps collect all your health information from your Apple Watch and other apps in one place.

Jony Ive, who used to be a top designer at Apple, said that health was a super important part of the Apple Watch from the very beginning. He explained that the watch and its software were designed to help with health. For example, one of the first apps on the watch encouraged users to move, exercise, and stand up. He said that having such a powerful device always with you opens up amazing opportunities for your health.

Apps have been made for watchOS that not only help you stay active but can also help find signs of illnesses. For instance, an app called DeepHeart uses the data from your Apple Watch's heart sensor to help detect conditions like irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and even diabetes.

watchOS Updates Over Time

watchOS has received many updates since it first launched. Each new version brings improvements, new features, and sometimes stops supporting older Apple Watch models. Here's a look at some of the major updates:

watchOS 1: The Beginning

watchOS 1 was the very first version, released with the original Apple Watch.

It had a home screen with circular app icons that you could zoom in on.
It came with 9 different watch faces, including a Mickey Mouse one!
There were 20 built-in apps, like Activity, Alarm, Calendar, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, and Siri.
Later, version 1.0.1 improved how well the watch worked and added support for more languages.

watchOS 2: Native Apps Arrive

watchOS 2 was a big update because it allowed app developers to create "native" apps. This meant apps could run directly on the watch without needing your iPhone as much.

New Watch Faces: It added cool time-lapse watch faces and allowed you to use your own photos.
Siri Got Smarter: Siri could now help with workouts, maps, and even FaceTime audio calls.
Activity & Workout: Workouts from other apps could now count towards your Activity rings.
Apple Pay: You could use Apple Pay for more types of cards.
Friends: You could add more friends and send colorful sketches.
Maps: New transit views helped with public transport.
Developer Features: Apps could now use the watch's sensors like the heart rate monitor and the Digital Crown.

watchOS 3: Faster and Easier

watchOS 3 focused on making the watch faster and simpler to use.

Quick Navigation: It introduced the "Dock" for favorite apps, making them open much faster.
Control Center: Glances were replaced with a Control Center, similar to the iPhone.
New Watch Faces: More fun faces like Minnie Mouse and Activity faces were added.
Activity Sharing: You could now share your activity rings with friends and family to motivate each other.
Workout Improvements: Workouts started faster and had more customizable views.
Breathe App: A new app was added to guide you through relaxing breathing sessions.
Communication: Messages got fun full-screen effects and new ways to reply.
Scribble: You could write letters on the screen, and the watch would turn them into text.
Emergency SOS: A new feature allowed you to quickly call emergency services by holding the side button.

watchOS 4: Smarter Siri and Health

watchOS 4 brought a smarter Siri and more detailed health tracking.

Siri Watch Face: A new watch face that showed information based on your daily routine.
Toy Story Faces: Fun animated characters from Toy Story came to your watch face.
Activity & Workout: Personalized notifications and monthly challenges helped you stay active.
Heart Rate: The Heart Rate app showed more detailed graphs and could even notify you if your heart rate was too high when you weren't active.
Music: The Music app was redesigned, and you could sync multiple playlists to your watch.

watchOS 5: Walkie-Talkie and More Workouts

watchOS 5 introduced the popular Walkie-Talkie feature and new workout types.

Walkie-Talkie: A fun new app that let you talk to friends like a walkie-talkie.
Workout: New workouts like Yoga and Hiking were added. The watch could also automatically detect when you started a workout.
Siri: You could just raise your wrist to talk to Siri without saying "Hey Siri."
Notifications: Notifications were grouped, and you could do more actions directly from them.
Podcasts: A new Podcasts app let you listen to your favorite shows on your watch.
This version stopped supporting the very first Apple Watch.

watchOS 6: App Store on Your Wrist

watchOS 6 was a big update because it brought the App Store directly to your Apple Watch.

App Store: You could now find and download apps right on your watch, without needing your iPhone.
Cycle Tracking: A new app helped track menstrual cycles.
Noise App: This app could detect loud noise levels around you to help protect your hearing.
Voice Memos: You could record voice memos directly on your watch.
Activity Trends: The Activity app showed trends over time to help you see how you were doing.
New Watch Faces: Many new watch faces were added, including Numerals, Meridian, and Gradient.
This version stopped supporting Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 for future major updates.

watchOS 7: Sleep and Handwashing

watchOS 7 focused on sleep tracking and a clever handwashing feature.

Sleep Tracking: The watch could now track your sleep patterns, and a new Sleep app helped you manage your sleep schedule.
Handwashing: The watch could automatically detect when you were washing your hands and start a 20-second timer!
Watch Face Sharing: You could now share your custom watch faces with friends.
New Workouts: Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training, and Cooldown workouts were added.
Family Setup: This allowed family members (like children or older adults) who don't have an iPhone to use an Apple Watch.
This version stopped supporting Apple Watch Series 1 and 2.

watchOS 8: New Ways to Connect

watchOS 8 brought updates to health monitoring, new ways to interact, and more visual changes.

New Watch Faces: Portrait photo and World Time watch faces were added.
Home App: You could control your smart home devices more easily from your watch.
Wallet: Added support for home, hotel, and even car keys.
Workout: New Tai Chi and Pilates workouts were included, along with better tracking for outdoor cycling.
Mindfulness: Improvements to the Breathe app and new Reflect sessions.
Messages and Photos: Easier ways to send messages and share photos directly from your watch.
This was the last version to support Apple Watch Series 3.

watchOS 9: Advanced Workout Metrics

watchOS 9 focused on more advanced workout features and new health insights.

Workout: You could see new heart rate zones, elevation views, and running power graphs during workouts.
Compass: A new Compass app with waypoints and a "backtrack" feature to help you find your way back.
Sleep: More detailed sleep tracking with new comparison charts.
Medications: A new app to help you add, schedule, and get reminders for your medications.
AFib History: For those with irregular heart rhythms, it provided weekly summaries.
This version stopped supporting Apple Watch Series 3.

watchOS 10: A Fresh Look

watchOS 10 brought a major redesign to many apps and new ways to interact with your watch.

New Watch Faces: Fun new faces like Snoopy, Palette, and Nike Globe.
App Redesign: Many built-in apps were redesigned to show more information at a glance.
Smart Stack: A new feature that shows you important widgets based on your time and location.
Workout: Enhanced workout views with more metrics.
Double Tap Gesture: A new gesture that lets you control your watch by tapping your thumb and index finger together (on newer models).
This version stopped supporting iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X.

watchOS 11: Continued Evolution

watchOS 11, announced in 2024, continues to improve the Apple Watch experience.

This version stopped supporting Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, and the first-generation Apple Watch SE.

Images for kids

The watchOS logo
A customized watch face on watchOS 6