Apple releases watchOS 7.6.1 update with bug fixes, security updates

By Mike Peterson

Apple has released watchOS 7.6.1, a minor update to the Apple Watch operating system that likely only contains bug fixes and security updates.

Credit: Andrew O'Hara, AppleInsider

The watchOS 7.6.1 update, released on Wednesday, comes a couple of days after Apple released iOS 14.7.1 and iPadOS 14.7.1. Those point releases included fixes related to an Apple Watch bug that prevented it being unlocked when connected to Touch ID devices.

Additionally, the software updates also patched a security vulnerability that may have allowed arbitrary code execution. Apple said it is aware of reports that the issue has been exploited in the wild, which likely warranted the minor point release.

As of writing, Apple has yet to update its security updates page with information related to watchOS 7.6.1. However, given that macOS Big Sur 11.5.1 also contained a fix for the issue, it's likely that the watchOS update does, too.

Apple's new watchOS 7.6.1 update should now be available to users as an over-the-air update. Users can also install the update manually in the Watch app on an iPhone, given that the Apple Watch is at least 50% charged and placed on a charger.

Apple on Tuesday also released new public beta builds of its milestone iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and watchOS 8 updates.