Apple releases fourth watchOS 7 public beta

Apple on Thursday released the fourth beta version of its upcoming watchOS 7 update to members of its public software testing program.

The watchOS 7 public beta can be downloaded from the Apple Beta Software Program website. It comes just two days after Apple seeded the seventh watchOS 7 developer beta and a few hours after Apple released public versions of the latest beta builds of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and tvOS 14.

Apple's fourth public watchOS 7 beta arrives exactly one week after the previous variant was released on Aug. 27.

The Apple Watch operating system is the last of Apple's platforms to have a public beta testing debut. Releases of watchOS 7 public betas have also been slower than other updates, including watchOS developer builds. The public beta is on its fourth version, while the developer beta is on its seventh.

Set to arrive alongside iOS 14 and other software updates in the fall, watchOS 7 introduces a new Sleep Tracking feature and a volume safety alert to protect a user's hearing. Additional features include new fitness and workout options, refinements to Apple Maps and Siri, a hand-washing timer, and new watch faces.

AppleInsider, and Apple itself, strongly suggest users avoid installing betas on to "mission-critical" or primary devices, due to the potential for data loss or other issues. It is instead recommended to install betas onto secondary or non-essential devices, and to ensure there are sufficient backups of important data beforehand.