How to Install the watchOS 6.1 Beta Without a Developer Account

You can install the watchOS 6.1 beta on your Apple Watch without a developer account. You first need to install the iOS 13.2 beta and then you should check out our reasons to install the watchOS 6 beta and reasons not to, so that you make sure you are committed. watchOS 6 arrived last month, but with problems and issues, Apple is pushing ahead with a watchOS 6.1 beta.

There is no public watchOS 6.1 beta, only a developer one. That said, you can install the watchOS 6.1 beta without a developer account. You just need the watchOS 6 beta profile, and to understand that there is no downgrade. Once you upgrade to watchOS 6.1, you are there for the long haul. While Apple will cover issues for developers, if you walk into an Apple Store with a problem on the watchOS 6.1 beta, you may not get the help you are used to.

Once you install the iOS 13.2 beta on your iPhone, you can install the watchOS 6 beta profile and then install the watchOS 6 beta. Here’s where to find it without a developer account and what you need to do to try watchOS 6.1 early.

How to Download the watchOS 6.1 Beta Profile

This is how to download the watchOS 6 beta profile without a developer account.

For this to work you need to have iOS 13 installed on your iPhone. You cannot use watchOS 6 with iOS 12. Follow these instructions to install the iOS 13 beta before you continue.

1. Download the watchOS 6 beta Configuration Profile from this website to your iPhone.
2. Tap on Apple Watch when prompted.
3. Tap on Install.
4. Enter your passcode.
5. Tap on Install.
6. Restart the Apple Watch when prompted.

This installs a small piece of software that tells Apple your Apple Watch is allowed to install this watchOS 6.1 beta. You only have to do this once. Afterwards, it will install watchOS 6 beta updates just like a normal Apple Watch update.

How to Install the watchOS 6.1 Beta

This is how to install the watchOS 6 beta profile without a developer account.

Once your Apple Watch restarts, you can use your iPhone to install this just like any other Apple Watch update. Here’s how this works, and what to do. Keep in mind your Apple Watch needs to be on the charger, and you need at least 50% battery life. The iPhone needs to remain nearby and this will take a while.

1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on My Watch.
3. Tap on General and Software Update.
4. When you See watchOS 6.1 beta 2 tap on Download and Install.
5. Enter your iPhone passcode.
6. Agree to the Terms & Conditions.
7. With your Apple Watch on the charger tap on Install.

This will start the watchOS 6.1 beta download and then the installation on your Apple Watch. You cannot use your Apple Watch during this process, but you can keep using your iPhone as long as you remain close to your Apple Watch.

Don't Install Because There is No Downgrade

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If you install the watchOS 6 beta on your Apple Watch the only place you can go from there is forward. This means if you have problems, you will need to wait for the next beta update and so on and so on until the watchOS 6 release this fall.  There is no way to downgrade from the watchOS 6 beta to watchOS 5 like you can with iOS 13 and macOS 10.15. This means you need to live with any problems like bad battery life or features not working. It also means you need to stay on iOS 13 once you install this beta on your Apple Watch if it is your primary Apple Watch.  If you have any concerns about this process, don't install the watchOS 6 beta assuming you can go back, or if you think you may want to downgrade from iOS 13 to iOS 12.

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