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watchOS 9.0 Public

Full article
Public release

Recorded context

About this appearance

watchOS 9.0 reached the public channel on September 12, 2022 with new faces, expanded fitness and running metrics, redesigned navigation tools, sleep stages, health tracking, accessibility, and power controls.

Date
Sep 12, 2022
Availability
available
Revision
No

Release notes

What changed

Original editorial synthesis. Linked references appear with the claims they support and in the source ledger.

Public release

Apple launched watchOS 9 on September 12, 2022. The public build introduced a broad set of visible changes spanning personalization, workouts, outdoor navigation, sleep, medication and heart-health tracking, accessibility, and battery management.[1][2][3]

Release boundary

Apple's launch article marked Race Route and automatic track detection as later-in-the-year additions, so neither is assigned to 9.0 here. The listed changes are those documented as present at launch; later point-release fixes and unverified community observations remain outside this event.[4][5]

Source ledger

References

Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.

  1. About the security content of watchOS 9

    Apple Support · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · Released September 12, 2022

    Back to text ↑
  2. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · UPDATE September 12, 2022; watchOS 9 is available today

    Back to text ↑
  3. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9

    Back to text ↑
  4. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · Updates for Runners — features marked coming later this year

    Back to text ↑
  5. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9.2

    Back to text ↑
  6. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · First-of-Its-Kind AFib History

  7. About the security content of watchOS 9

    Apple Support · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · Kernel; WebKit; Accelerate Framework; AppleAVD; Contacts; Notifications; Sandbox; Siri; Wi-Fi

  8. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · Medications

  9. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · New and Expanded Watch Faces

  10. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · Redesigned Compass App

  11. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · September 12, 2022

  12. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · Sleep Insights

  13. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9 — Accessibility

  14. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9 — AFib History

  15. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9 — Compass

  16. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9 — Medications

  17. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9 — Other features and improvements

  18. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9 — Sleep

  19. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9 — Watch Faces

  20. About watchOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-29 · watchOS 9 — Workout

  21. watchOS 9 is available today

    Apple Newsroom · Apple · 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z · Workout App Updates; Updates for Runners; Swimming Enhancements

Release changes

Changed in this release

Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.

feature · introduced

New and expanded watch faces

documentedconfirmed

The launch added four named faces, broadened access to Nike designs, and refreshed complications, colors, Portraits subjects, and Focus-linked face selection.

  1. [1] watchOS 9 is available today · New and Expanded Watch Faces
  2. [2] About watchOS 9 Updates · watchOS 9 — Watch Faces

enhancement · changed

Expanded Workout and running metrics

documentedconfirmed

watchOS 9 substantially expanded training views and alerts, added structured workouts and multisport recognition, exposed running form and power data, and improved pool-swim tracking.

  1. [1] About watchOS 9 Updates · watchOS 9 — Workout
  2. [2] watchOS 9 is available today · Workout App Updates; Updates for Runners; Swimming Enhancements

feature · introduced

Sleep stage tracking

documentedconfirmed

watchOS 9 classified sleep into four states and surfaced detailed stage history and comparison charts through Apple Watch and the paired iPhone's Health app.

  1. [1] watchOS 9 is available today · Sleep Insights
  2. [2] About watchOS 9 Updates · watchOS 9 — Sleep

feature · introduced

Low Power Mode

documentedconfirmed

watchOS 9 introduced a power-saving mode that kept primary Watch capabilities active while disabling features such as the always-on display and some background health notifications.

  1. [1] About watchOS 9 Updates · watchOS 9 — Other features and improvements

security · fixed

watchOS 9 security repairs

documentedconfirmed

Apple's launch advisory records broad security work and identifies one kernel issue and one WebKit issue that it said may have been actively exploited.

  1. [1] About the security content of watchOS 9 · Kernel; WebKit; Accelerate Framework; AppleAVD; Contacts; Notifications; Sandbox; Siri; Wi-Fi

feature · introduced

AFib History

documentedconfirmed

watchOS 9 added a regulated AFib History experience with weekly estimates and Health-app context for supported users, plus a PDF designed for sharing with a clinician.

  1. [1] watchOS 9 is available today · First-of-Its-Kind AFib History
  2. [2] About watchOS 9 Updates · watchOS 9 — AFib History

feature · introduced

Medication schedules, reminders, and logging

documentedconfirmed

The release brought medication schedule viewing, reminder delivery, and dose logging to the wrist, with the related list and health information managed across Watch and iPhone.

  1. [1] watchOS 9 is available today · Medications
  2. [2] About watchOS 9 Updates · watchOS 9 — Medications

enhancement · changed

Redesigned Compass, Waypoints, and Backtrack

documentedconfirmed

The redesigned Compass exposed additional coordinates and elevation data, allowed points of interest to be marked, and could record a route for later retracing on supported models.

  1. [1] watchOS 9 is available today · Redesigned Compass App
  2. [2] About watchOS 9 Updates · watchOS 9 — Compass

feature · introduced

Apple Watch Mirroring and expanded accessibility controls

documentedconfirmed

The accessibility update added remote Watch control from iPhone with assistive-technology support, expanded Quick Actions, and allowed Bluetooth keyboard pairing.

  1. [1] About watchOS 9 Updates · watchOS 9 — Accessibility