Release record
Release notes
Editorial synthesis with inline references and a source ledger when citations are available.
watchOS 7.3 was released on January 26, 2021. Apple documented the Unity face, Time to Walk for Fitness+ subscribers, ECG and irregular-rhythm notification expansion, and a fix for Control Center and Notification Center becoming unresponsive with Zoom enabled.[1][2]
Source ledger
Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.
Apple Support · Apple · 2021-01-26T00:00:00.000Z · Released January 26, 2021
Apple Support · Apple · 2021-01-26T00:00:00.000Z · APFS; CoreAudio; ImageIO; Kernel; WebKit; WebRTC
Documented & observed
Source-linked features, fixes, known issues, removals, and community-observed behavior recorded across this version’s appearances and verified builds.
Release changes
Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.
security · fixed
Apple's advisory records fixes across APFS, CoreAudio, ImageIO, the kernel, WebKit, and WebRTC, including a kernel issue Apple said may have been actively exploited.
Recorded at Public
compatibility · introduced
Apple expanded the regulated ECG app to four additional markets, subject to supported hardware and local availability.
Recorded at Public
feature · introduced
The Workout app gained Time to Walk, pairing guest stories and audio with a guided walking session for Apple Fitness+ subscribers.
Recorded at Public
feature · introduced
watchOS 7.3 added the Unity face, whose changing shapes and color treatment were designed to recognize Black history and culture.
Recorded at Public
bugFix · fixed
Apple repaired an accessibility-related interaction failure affecting the two system overlays while display Zoom was enabled.
Recorded at Public
compatibility · introduced
The update extended irregular-rhythm notification availability to five additional markets where the feature had received support.
Recorded at Public
Milestones
Every recorded channel appearance in chronological order. Open an appearance for any available build, scope, notes, and sources.
Developer beta
Developer beta
Release candidate
Public release
watchOS 7.3 reached the public channel on January 26, 2021 with a commemorative watch face, a guided walking experience, expanded heart-health availability, a Zoom-related fix, and security repairs.
Historical context
Pace, intervals, and duration compared with earlier releases on the same platform.
Historical avg for .3 releases
50 days, 5.0 milestones
Based on 5 previous watchOS .3 releases
Cycle vs. platform average
41d (avg: 58d)
17 days shorter than the watchOS average
Duration ranking
#34 of 49
Middle of the pack watchOS beta cycles
Longest gap in this cycle
28 days
Between Beta 1 and Beta 2
| Version | Year | Cycle | Milestones | Avg. Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| watchOS 8.3 | 2021 | 47d | 6 | 9d |
| watchOS 5.1.3 | 2019 | 43d | 4 | 14d |
| watchOS 4.3 | 2018 | 63d | 7 | 11d |
| watchOS 3.2.3 | 2017 | 64d | 5 | 16d |
| watchOS 3.1.3 | 2017 | 33d | 3 | 17d |
Scroll horizontally to compare every historical field.