Apple has officially rolled out watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 Beta 6 for developers, bringing more polish and improvements ahead of the public launch. If you’re a developer or an early beta tester, here’s what’s new and how to get these updates on your devices.
What’s New in watchOS 26 Beta 6?
watchOS 26 Beta 6 continues to enhance Apple’s ambitious Liquid Glass UI design and intelligence-driven features, focusing on performance and user experience refinements. watchOS 26 brings:
- Workout Buddy Smarter than Ever: Improved AI-driven workout suggestions and more personalized, real-time coaching feedback.
- Faster Live Translation: WatchOS now translates on-wrist conversations with greater speed and accuracy.
- Notes App Improvements: Rich text formatting in Notes syncs better across macOS and iOS devices.
- UI Refinements: Subtle tweaks in Smart Stack and notification center that align with visionOS aesthetics.
tvOS 26 Beta 6: Smoother and More Responsive
tvOS 26 Beta 6 brings further performance boosts and UI polish for an elevated Apple TV experience. Major changes with tvOS 26 include:
- Karaoke Sync Enhancements: Fixes for audio-video sync issues when using iPhone as a microphone with Apple Music Sing.
- Quicker Multi-User Switching: Profile switching is even faster, with smarter personalized content suggestions.
- New Aerial Screensavers: Additional stunning high-definition global landmarks for Apple TV’s aerial views.
- Improved UI Responsiveness: Smoother app navigation and menu transitions.
visionOS 26 Beta 6: Elevating Spatial Computing
visionOS 26 Beta 6 fine-tunes immersive experiences while preparing for deeper collaborative environments:
- Stable Spatial Widgets: Better anchoring and fluid responsiveness for widgets in mixed-reality spaces.
- Enhanced Persona Animations: More natural facial expressions and realistic lighting effects.
- Improved Shared Environment Sync: Reduced latency and faster syncing when multiple Vision Pro users share the same virtual space.
How to Download watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS26 Beta 6
To install Beta 6, you must be a registered Apple Developer. Follow the steps for your device below:
For Apple Watch and Apple TV:
- Open Settings > General > Software Update.
- Ensure your Apple ID is linked to a developer account.
- Select the Beta 6 update and tap Download and Install.
Note: There is no way to downgrade your Apple Watch to an older version of watchOS, be it beta or final. Once you update, you will have to wait till a newer update rolls out.
For visionOS (Apple Vision Pro):
- Connect your Vision Pro to a Mac running the latest Xcode.
- Sign in with your Apple Developer ID.
- Check for updates in Vision Pro’s settings and install Beta 6.
Final Thoughts
watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 Beta 6 further refine Apple’s ecosystem with performance upgrades, polished UI tweaks, and smarter AI-powered features. Developers have plenty to explore ahead of the official release this fall, while users can look forward to a smoother, more immersive experience across devices.
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