You can go and ahead and download watchOS 11 beta 3 on your compatible Apple Watch model right now over the air.
watchOS 11 Beta 3 Arrives for Apple Watch, Grab it Over the Air with Bug Fixes and Performance Enhancements
watchOS 11 is an interesting little update. It packs the right amount of features to keep things fresh for those who rely on the wearable on a daily basis. However, until those features are made available to the public, we have to deal with developer betas.
Today, beta 3 of watchOS 11 is available for download over the air. If you have a previous beta installed on your Apple Watch, you can download everything right away. Just start off by connecting your iPhone to a W-Fi network, place your Apple Watch on its charger and ensure 50% or more battery is available, and then navigate to Watch > General > Software Update on your iPhone. Wait for this page to refresh for a few seconds and you’ll see the update. Tap on ‘Update Now.’
watchOS updates are famous for taking a while to download and install. Use this time to do something productive, such as perfecting that espresso shot. Once the update is complete, you can start using your Apple Watch normally, complete with bug fixes and some performance enhancements.
Remember, if you have installed watchOS 11 beta, you cannot downgrade back to watchOS 10. That ship has sailed and the only choice you have is to install the subsequent betas until the final version arrives at the end of the year. Yes, it can be frustrating at times, but that’s how betas on Apple Watch work. This is not the year in which Apple is allowing watchOS downgrades.
If you’re still thinking about giving the watchOS 11 beta a spin, you can check out the compatibility of your Apple Watch by going here, and then follow the tutorial posted here for more details.
At some point, I will make a small compromise and recommend installing iOS and iPadOS betas. That is exactly where I’ll draw the line. I will never ever recommend installing watchOS beta updates unless you have a spare Apple Watch with you. The kind of spare that sits in a drawer for an entire year until WWDC arrives.
Just imagine a situation where you installed the beta on your primary device and the need to sell your Apple Watch arises. Good luck selling it with the beta installed.
