Apple rolls out watchOS 6.1 update for Apple Watch Series 1 through Series 5 owners

Apple Watch and watchOS 6

Apple Watch's new software, watchOS 6.1, has been in testing since just a week after watchOS 6 was releases for the Apple Watch Series 3 and newer. Beyond the new device compatibility, it doesn't appear to have much in the way of new features for the user.

The watchOS 6.0 release in September included a slew of new features. That update included an Apple Watch-specific App Store and new watch faces. New faces include Solar Dial, Modular Compact, Gradient, California, Numerals Duo, and Numerals Mono. Several existing watch faces were also updated with new design elements.

New to Apple Watch with watchOS 6 was a redesigned Reminders app, and new versions of Apple's own Audiobooks app, Calculator, Voice Memos, and Noise.

Cycle is a new enhancement for watchOS 6. Users can track their menstrual cycle right from Apple Watch and get intuitive notifications which is all synced to the accompanying Health app on iPhone with iOS 13.

How to get watchOS 6.1

The update requires at least 50% battery life to install as well as a connected iPhone with a compatible iOS version. To update Apple Watch, users should place Apple Watch on a charger and launch the Watch app on their iPhone. From there, Head to General > Software Update.

As of this release, Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 are all supported by watchOS 6.1, although some features may be limited to the newer models.