Three Changes Coming to Your Apple Watch With watchOS 26.2

Yesterday, Apple revealed the release candidates (RC) for its upcoming slate of updates. An RC, as the name suggests, is the version of a software update that Apple intends to release to the general public. However, before it rolls out, Apple sends the update to beta testers to see if there are any bugs or issues that need to be fixed. Otherwise, here are the updates coming to your Apple devices this month.

This includes watchOS 26.2, Apple’s latest operating system for its smartwatch line. While there aren’t as many new features and changes in this update as in watchOS 26 proper, there are still a few key things to highlight in this RC. In fact, as 9to5Mac notes, there are three:

Sleep Score Updates

watchOS 26 introduced Sleep Score, a feature that was sorely missing on the Apple Watch. Sleep Score analyzes a wealth of data collected while you sleep, including how long you slept, what time you actually went to bed, and any awakenings you may have had during the night, and gives you an overall score. The idea is to take a look at the score and see how you slept that night, so you can either take steps to improve your sleep in the future or know you’re on the right track. The total score is out of 100: duration earns you up to 50 points, bedtime up to 30, and sleep interruptions up to 20.

watchOS 26.2 refines the functionality by adjusting the final Sleep Score measurements. The feature tended to give you higher scores than you might have otherwise expected: a poor night’s sleep might have gotten a “High” score on your chart, which wouldn’t have meant much to you.

Going forward, the score is a bit more conservative. Here’s what you can expect and how scores have changed since the last update:

• Very weak: 0–40 (previously 0–29)

• Weak: 41-60 (previously 30-49)

• ALL RIGHT: 61-80 (previously 50-69)

• High: 81-95 (previously 70-89)

• Very high: 96-100 (previously 90-100)

You’ll also notice that Apple changed the score from “Excellent” to “Very High,” which helps keep the naming a little more consistent.

Fixed an issue in the music app

If you’ve been using the Music app on your Apple Watch, but are having trouble getting your songs to play, good news: Apple says in the release notes for watchOS 26.2 RC that there is now a fix for an issue where the Music app doesn’t skip to the next song.

Improved security alerts

Finally, watchOS 26.2, along with other Apple updates, introduces improved security alerts. According to Apple, this feature will warn you of “imminent threats” including floods, natural disasters and other emergency situations. The feature will also include data such as maps and links to official safety advice.

Apple has positioned the Apple Watch as an overall health and safety device, and this feature only seems to complement that. Newer Apple Watches feature high blood pressure alerts, which can help you passively identify high blood pressure, while drop and crash protection can automatically call for help in an emergency when you can’t reach the phone.

When is watchOS 26.2 released?

Apple does not have a fixed date for watchOS 26.2, nor for iOS 26.2 and macOS 26.2 for that matter. However, now that RCs are available, these updates will likely arrive soon. As long as there are no glaring bugs or issues in these RCs, Apple will likely release the updates this month.