Apple Releases watchOS 8.5.1 With Security Updates and Bug Fixes - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Releases watchOS 8.5.1 With Security Updates and Bug Fixes

Apple today released watchOS 8.5.1, a minor update to the watchOS 8 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 8.5.1 comes two weeks after the launch of watchOS 8.5.

watchOS 8 on Apple Watch feature
‌‌watchOS ‌8.5.1 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌‌.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, watchOS 8.5.1 adds security updates and bug fixes for the Apple Watch.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Second watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday April 13, 2026 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes two weeks after Apple released the first betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word ...
General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Third watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday April 20, 2026 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the third betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the second betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on ...
General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Fourth watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday April 27, 2026 10:01 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the fourth betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the third betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on ...

Top Rated Comments

54 months ago
Waiting for an option to clear all text message in masse from the watch. The process now is arduous at best.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago

Waiting for an option to clear all text message in masse from the watch. The process now is arduous at best.
I’d just be happy if what I delete on my phone mirrored over to the watch. It does for every other device from iPad to Mac… just add this in already.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago

Waiting for an option to clear all text message in masse from the watch. The process now is arduous at best.
You might already know this, but the watch only keeps the last 30 days of messages. Because of this, I’ve stopped managing messages on my watch since they’ll eventually get cleared out anyway.

I agree though, there needs to be better syncing with the phone.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago
Hopefully this fixes the Series 7 charging issue. I can have my watch on the charger for 3 hours and only go up 10%.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago

Waiting for an option to clear all text message in masse from the watch. The process now is arduous at best.
Or better yet, if you have the option enabled in iPhone settings, just have them sync over iCloud like every other device Apple makes. The act of laboriously deleting them one-by-one at a later time just rubs salt in the wound. It's absolutely laughable that they still haven't sorted this out after many generations of both hardware and software.

On the whole, Apple updates these days feel like they're just papering over the cracks and sticking their fingers in leaking holes while dozens of unfathomable design choices go stubbornly unaddressed for years at a time. I sometimes have to wonder if anyone of influence in Apple actually uses their devices.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago
I don't see this available.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Sport | Business | Opinion | World News | Entertainment