Apple Seeds watchOS 27 Beta 2 to Developers [Download]

Apple has seeded the second developer beta of watchOS 27 for testing. The update carries build number 24R5305g and arrives roughly two weeks after the initial beta rolled out following the company's annual developer conference.



Interestingly, this specific build does not appear to be available for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 just yet. Apple occasionally staggers beta firmware releases across its hardware lineup to address device-specific bugs, meaning an update for the latest rugged wearable will likely surface soon.


The watchOS 27 cycle introduces a range of system enhancements and tighter integration with Apple's artificial intelligence initiatives. The software brings a dynamic app grid and a unified Find My app to the wrist, alongside a new tap gesture for opening widgets directly from the Smart Stack.

Because the update lays the foundation for the upcoming Siri AI experience, Apple has significantly tightened the hardware requirements this year. The company recently dropped support for five older models to maintain performance standards, limiting watchOS 27 strictly to the Apple Watch Series 9 and newer, the Apple Watch SE 3, and the Ultra 2 and Ultra 3.

Registered developers can access the new test build by navigating to the Software Update menu within the Watch app on a paired iPhone. The smartwatch must be connected to its charger and have at least 50 percent battery to complete the installation.