Apple rolls out watchOS 10.3 for all Apple Watch owners

After weeks of testing, Apple has officially released the new watchOS 10.3 update to Apple Watch users with stability and performance improvements.

Following its progression from the first developer beta released on December 12 to the third beta on January 9, watchOS 10.3 is shaping up to be a focused update, honing in on performance improvements and bug fixes.

The beta builds of watchOS 10.3 didn't have any significant new features, suggesting that Apple is concentrating on enhancing the system's underlying stability and performance. This kind of update is crucial for maintaining the smooth operation of the devices and ensuring that new features introduced in previous versions operate at their best.

Meanwhile, the watchOS 10.2 update, released on December 11, brought significant enhancements, particularly in terms of Siri integration and user interface improvements. It allowed Siri to access health data, enabling users to query various health statistics using voice commands.

The addition of Siri access made retrieving information like heart rate or exercise data more convenient, especially during workouts or other situations where hands-free operation is preferable. Additionally, watchOS 10.2 reinstated the swipe gesture for changing watch faces, a user-friendly feature for quickly switching styles or accessing different functionalities.

The watchOS 10.3 update is build number 21S644, replacing watchOS 10.2, build number 21S364.

How to update to watchOS 10.3

1. The Apple Watch should have at least 50% battery life, and it should be placed on its charger throughout the update process.
2. Update its paired iPhone to the latest version of iOS.
3. On the iPhone, open the Watch app. Tap 'My Watch' tab, then go to 'General' > 'Software Update'.
4. Tap 'Download and Install' for watchOS 10.3. Enter the iPhone or Apple Watch passcode if prompted.