watchOS 26 beta 2 might have the weirdest Apple Watch bug ever

Each year, when Apple deploys beta from new operating systems after WWDC, we advise readers to be prudent to install them on their main devices. Betas are, by nature, unfinished and imperfect software, and they are likely to contain bugs. (Identify insects is what the beta program is for!) So it should not surprise that the second beta developer from Watchos 26 contains a known bug … and it’s quite serious.

For a specific range of Apple Watches, Hermès editions, the installation simply of the second beta version is sufficient to cause continuous crushing. Apple recognizes the problem in its Beta Watchos 26 output notes. By virtue of the Beta 2 section, the Note company:

Known problems: Apple Watch Hermès is blocking continuously in the event of update to Watchos 26 Beta 2. It is advisable that these users do not update themselves to Beta 2. (152604139)

For the moment at least, that’s all we get. No explanation or solution has been given, and owners of Hermès models are invited not to install the second beta version.

The bug is particularly strange because, as we understand, Hermès editions are essentially the same as the standard models (or at least the stainless steel versions) in each generation. The material components inside are identical; They just come with more expensive straps and access to certain exclusive watch faces. It therefore seems likely that Watchos 26 Dev Beta 2 comes in one way or another with a hermès watch face – but if it was so simple, one could imagine that Apple advises users to use a different face rather than completely avoiding the beta version.

We hope that the problem will be addressed in a future beta version, but for the moment, the owners of Hermès should stick to the Beta 1. or, if the bugs are a circuit breaker, it could be wiser to stay on Watchos 11 until the final release of Watchos 26.0 is ready in the fall.