5 Things to Know About the watchOS 10.2 Update

Apple’s pushed its new watchOS 10.2 update alongside its iOS 17.2 update for iPhone.

watchOS 10.2 is a milestone upgrade, the second for the company’s watchOS 10 operating system and it brings more than just bug fixes and security updates to compatible Apple Watch models. It has new features on board as well.

The watchOS 10.2 update is an important upgrade for all compatible Watch models and most Apple Watch owners should install the update today.

In this guide we’ll cover everything there is to know about the watchOS 10.2 update for Apple Watch. Our walkthrough goes over the software’s changes, provides some thoughts about its performance, and it takes a look at some of the issues impacting the software.

We’ll start with some quick thoughts about watchOS 10.2’s performance.

watchOS 10.2 Review

Our watchOS 10.2 review provides a quick look at the software’s performance in key areas like battery life, connectivity, and speed.

If your Apple Watch is currently running watchOS 10.1.1, you’ll see a fairly large download. If you’re moving up from watchOS 9, the download will be much larger.

As for the installation, it took around eight minutes to get the software up and running on an Apple Watch 4.

We’ve been using watchOS 10.2 on an Apple Watch 4 for a short time and here’s what we’ve discovered about the software’s performance thus far:

watchOS 10.2 Battery Life & Connectivity

• Battery life is currently stable, we haven’t run into any abnormal drain
• Wi-Fi connectivity is fast and reliable
• Bluetooth is working normally
• GPS is also working properly

App Performance

• Third-party apps including All Trails, ESPN, Spotify, and JetBlue are all working fine
• First party apps like Podcasts are also running well

Speed

• watchOS 10.2 feels fast and we haven’t noticed abnormal lag, lockups, or freezes

If you’re dealing with bugs and/or performance issues on watchOS 10.1.1, or an older version of watchOS, you might want to install the watchOS 10.2 update right now.

watchOS 10.2 Problems

We haven’t run into any major issues with watchOS 10.2, but some Apple Watch users have.

We’ve heard about issues with Notifications, Bluetooth issues, problems with first and third-party applications, UI lag, issues with cellular service, abnormal battery drain and pairing issues.

For more about watchOS 10 problems and how to fix them, head over to our guide.

watchOS 10.2 Features

watchOS 10.2 is a milestone upgrade and it delivers a mix of changes including enhancements, bug fixes and important security updates.

Here’s the full watchOS 10.2 change log, courtesy of Apple:

Features

• Access and log Health app data with Siri (Available on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2)
• Automatically view Now Playing when in proximity of HomePod (2nd generation) or HomePod mini playing media from Music or Podcasts (Available on – Apple Watch Series 6 and later and Apple Watch Ultra)
• Enable the ability to swipe to change watch faces in Settings
• Enable the ability to confirm ending workouts in Settings
• Prioritize the volume of either the music or trainers’ voices in most Fitness+ workouts

Bug Fixes

• Resolves an issue that can cause watch faces added in the Watch app on iPhone to not appear on Apple Watch

Apple says watchOS 10.2 also brings security upgrades and you can learn more about those patches over on the company’s security site.

watchOS 10 Downgrade

A lot of Apple Watch owners already know this, but if you’re a new user, or you’ve simply forgotten, here’s your PSA.

Unlike iOS, iPadOS, and macOS software, you can’t downgrade watchOS software to an older version if you run into trouble and want to move back.

So, you’ll want to approach watchOS 10.2 with a sense of caution. If you’re having a good experience, make sure you read reviews before you tap install.

What’s Next

Apple’s confirmed a new watchOS 10.3 update and the software’s currently in beta testing ahead of its public release next year.

The company hasn’t confirmed a release date for the new firmware, but we expect watchOS 10.3 to land in late January or early February alongside iOS 17.3 for iPhone.

If you don’t want to wait for the official release, you can download the watchOS 10.3 beta on your Apple Watch right now.

For more about watchOS 10.3 update and the beta, have a look at our walkthrough.

Install iOS 17.4.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 17.4.1 update right away. The iOS 17.4.1 update includes two security patches. These patches will help keep your device and its data protected from harm. And that makes iOS 17.4.1 an important upgrade. If you missed iOS 17.4 and older software, you'll get the security patches from updates you missed when you upgrade to iOS 17.4.1. iOS 17.4 had four security patches on board.  The update also delivered quantum security protection for iMessage. The company says the upgrade gives iMessage "the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world."  The iOS 17.3 update brought 15 new security patches to iPhone. The software also added Stolen Device Protection to iPhone. It increases the security of your iPhone and Apple ID by requiring Face ID or Touch ID to gain access to passwords, make purchases in Safari, and more. This is useful if someone gets access to your iPhone and its passcode.  iOS 17.2 delivered 10 new security patches to iPhone. If you wish to find out more, you can head on over to Apple's security site for the details. iOS 17.2 also included iMessage Contact Key Verification which improves the security of iMessage. The company also fixed an exploit that let the Flipper Zero multi-tool lock up iPhones. iOS 17.1.2 had two security patches on board. Both were related to WebKit. If you want to learn more, you can do so right here. iOS 17.1 brought 18 security fixes to iPhone. It addressed issues within Weather, Status Bar, WebKit, and more.  iOS 17.0.3 brought two patches for two security issues Apple identified within the software. If you want to read about the patches, head here. iOS 17.0.1 delivered three important patches to iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. As for iOS 17 itself, it brought 40+ new security patches with it. A staggering number to say the least. If you want to learn more about them, head over to Apple.  In addition to those patches, iOS 17 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including improvements to Communication Safety beyond Messages. It now includes content sent by AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, FaceTime, and the systemwide photo picker. You now have an option to blur out sensitive photos and videos before you choose to view them. There's also an expanded Lockdown Mode which will help protect you against cyber attacks. Apple's also improved sharing permissions and you now have more control over what you share with the apps on your device.  The company also notes that starting in iOS 17, Voice Memos encrypts the titles of recordings stored in iCloud, in addition to the recordings themselves. If you skipped older versions of iOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your iOS 17.4.1 update as well.

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