Apple just took the wraps off the Apple Watch Series 2, but you don’t need to buy a whole new device to refresh your watch. With watchOS 3, which just rolled out as a free upgrade, using your old Apple Watch will feel like a totally different experience.
The third version of watchOS significantly speeds up your watch so apps will launch seven times faster than they did previously. Glances have gone by the wayside, replaced with a new Dock that puts your 10 most-used apps at your fingertips.
And though Apple Watch Series 2 is a better fitness tracker because it’s swimproof and has built-in GPS, your old Apple Watch is also bumping up its activity-tracking abilities with a social activity-sharing feature and a new built-in Breathe app to help you work on being more mindful.
Here’s everything you need to know about watchOS 3. Now it’s time to upgrade.
How to upgrade to watchOS 3
First, you’ll need to upgrade your iPhone to iOS 10. Keep your phone nearby, because you’ll need it to install watchOS 3. Open the Apple Watch app on your phone, then tap My Watch > General > Software Update. Your watch will need to be connected to its charger and within Bluetooth range of your iPhone to successfully download and install the operating system update.
Let us know in the comments if you have trouble upgrading to watchOS 3, or what your favorite new features are once you’ve taken it for a spin.
