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

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Top Rated Comments

Gator5000e Avatar
50 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)
BuffaloTF Avatar
50 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)
iStorm Avatar
50 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)
nmcordeiro Avatar
50 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)
Nabby Avatar
50 months ago

Waiting for an option to clear all text message in masse from the watch. The process now is arduous at best.
You're being too kind with that description, even using "at best". Least user friendly process I can recall having to use. And coming from a company that managed to make messaging so easy my mom could do it without asking for help tells me that they could make it SO much better.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gomichaelgo Avatar
50 months ago
I don't see this available.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)