Quick Brief
- watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 (build 23T5221e) released February 23, 2026 for developers
- Only confirmed visible change in Beta 2 is tweaked animations; more features may arrive in later builds
- Public betas expected to follow developer betas within approximately one day
- New emoji support is anticipated during the 26.4 cycle but not yet confirmed in Beta 2
Apple released watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 on February 23, 2026, and the confirmed changes are narrow but deliberate. This build is squarely focused on stability and animation refinements, with larger features likely held for upcoming betas. Here is every verified detail, with nothing speculative included.
What Beta 2 Actually Changes: Tweaked Animations
The only confirmed visible change in watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 is tweaked animations. These are refinements within the Liquid Glass design language Apple introduced with watchOS 26 in September 2025, not structural changes to navigation or core app layouts.
Animation polish at this stage of a beta cycle typically signals Apple is stabilizing the visual layer before advancing to deeper feature work. 9to5Mac, which tracks beta changes closely, noted that new features may still arrive in forthcoming updates.
Average Bedtime: Confirmed in watchOS 26.4, Details Still Emerging
MacRumors confirmed that watchOS 26.4 introduces an Average Bedtime metric that syncs sleep data to the iPhone Health app. This is a concrete addition to the sleep tracking system Apple built into watchOS 26, which already includes Sleep Score based on sleep duration, bedtime consistency, and sleep interruptions.
The exact display parameters of the Average Bedtime metric, such as the timeframe it covers, have not been confirmed by any verified source. That detail has been removed from this article pending official documentation.
New Emoji: Code Found, Not Yet Live
Code discovered in iOS 26.4 Beta 1 indicates Apple plans to introduce new emoji during the 26.4 software cycle. Whether those emoji will appear in watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 specifically was unconfirmed at the time of publication. Apple typically rolls emoji updates across all platforms simultaneously, so watchOS inclusion is plausible but not verified in this build.
What Beta 2 Does Not Include
No new health sensors, watch faces, fitness tools, or navigation changes have been confirmed in watchOS 26.4 Beta 2. Apple has not published formal release notes for this build. The absence of release notes is consistent with Apple’s approach for stability-focused point releases where changes are minor.
watchOS 26.4 Beta Access: Who Can Install It
Currently, only developers can install watchOS 26.4 Beta 2. Public betas are expected to follow within approximately one day of the developer release, based on the pattern Apple has followed in the 26.4 cycle. Installation requires an Apple Watch compatible with watchOS 26, a paired iPhone running iOS 26, and at least 50 percent battery on the watch while placed on a charger.
Supported devices include:
- Apple Watch Series 6 and later
- Apple Watch Ultra (all models)
- Apple Watch SE 2 and later
- Paired iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26
What watchOS 26 Already Delivers Before 26.4
watchOS 26.4 builds on the foundation Apple shipped in September 2025. The full watchOS 26 release already includes:
- Sleep Score based on sleep duration, bedtime consistency, and sleep interruptions
- Workout Buddy with Apple Intelligence-powered motivational audio during exercise
- Hypertension Notifications for Series 9 and later, and Ultra 2 and later (for users 22+, without prior diagnosis, not pregnant)
- Wrist Flick gesture to dismiss notifications one-handed (Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later)
- Liquid Glass design across the full interface
- Notes app on Apple Watch
- Live Translation in Messages (Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, requires Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone)
- New watch faces: Exactograph, Flow, and Waypoint (Waypoint is Ultra only)
watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 vs. watchOS 26 at a Glance
| Feature | watchOS 26 (Stable) | watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep Score | Available | Unchanged |
| Average Bedtime metric | Not available | Added, syncs to Health app |
| Animations | Liquid Glass standard | Tweaked refinements |
| New emoji | Not included | Anticipated, not yet confirmed |
| Hypertension Notifications | Series 9+, Ultra 2+ | Unchanged |
| Wrist Flick gesture | Series 9+, Ultra 2+ | Unchanged |
| Notes app on Watch | Available | Unchanged |
Limitations and Considerations
watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 is not a significant feature update. Users expecting new health sensors, additional watch faces, or fitness tools will not find them in this build. Some watchOS 26 features, including Hypertension Notifications and Wrist Flick, remain limited to Series 9 and Ultra 2 hardware and are not expanding to older models in this release. Beta software carries stability risks and is not recommended for a primary device..
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is new in watchOS 26.4 Beta 2?
The only confirmed visible change in watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 is tweaked animations within the Liquid Glass interface. The broader 26.4 cycle also adds an Average Bedtime metric syncing to the Health app. Apple has not published formal release notes for this build, and more features may arrive in later betas.
When can the public install watchOS 26.4?
Public betas for watchOS 26.4 are expected within approximately one day of the developer beta release, based on the pace Apple has set during this cycle. A stable public release date has not been announced by Apple.
Which Apple Watch models support watchOS 26.4?
watchOS 26.4 supports Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and Apple Watch SE 2 and later. A paired iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26 is required. Features including Hypertension Notifications and Wrist Flick remain limited to Series 9 and Ultra 2 hardware.
How do I install watchOS 26.4 Beta 2?
Open the Apple Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to General, then Software Update, and select the developer beta profile. The watch must have at least 50 percent battery and be placed on a charger during installation. A free Apple developer account is currently required for Beta 2.
Will watchOS 26.4 add new emoji to Apple Watch?
New emoji are anticipated during the 26.4 software cycle based on code found in iOS 26.4 Beta 1. However, they have not been confirmed as present in watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 specifically. Apple typically ships emoji updates across all platforms simultaneously, so watchOS inclusion in a future build is expected but not yet verified.
What is the Average Bedtime feature in watchOS 26.4?
Average Bedtime is a new metric confirmed for watchOS 26.4 that syncs bedtime pattern data to the iPhone Health app. It complements the Sleep Score feature introduced in watchOS 26, which grades sleep quality based on duration, consistency, and interruptions. Specific display details such as timeframe covered have not been confirmed in any verified source.
Is watchOS 26.4 Beta 2 stable enough for daily use?
Beta software carries inherent risks including app incompatibilities and unexpected behavior. Beta 2 is more stable than Beta 1, but Apple does not recommend beta installations on primary devices. If your Apple Watch is critical for health monitoring, fitness tracking, or alarms, wait for the public stable release.
