Apple quietly confirms it will end support for three older Apple Watches with watchOS 11
Got a Series 5 or earlier? Its time has come
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Applehas confirmed that it will end support for three older Apple Watches – the Series 5, Series 4 and the original SE – after announcing watchOS 11 during itsWWDC 2024keynote (you can catch up on everything Apple announced at ourWWDC 2024 live blog).
During Apple’s reveal ofwatchOS 11we learned that it ’s packing quite a few new features, such as an improved widget stack with live activities, AI assistance used for selecting new photos for your watch face, and all-new wellness tools including the Vitals app and Training Load feature.
However, users who haven’t upgraded to thebest Apple Watchesand are still using older models were likely watching with baited breath to see if their watch would make the cut and remain supported for another year.
It was expected that theApple Watch Series 4would go, but unfortunately, Apple has chosen to cut support for multiple generations at once. Users of theApple Watch Series 5and originalApple Watch SE, which debuted together in 2019, will not be able to download the new watchOS 11 when it officially launches in September this year.
This is according to an official post from theApple Newsroom, which states that “watchOS 11 will be available onApple Watch Series 6or later paired with iPhone Xs or later”. Users with anApple WatchSeries 6, 7, 8, 9, Apple Watch SE 2 or either Apple Watch Ultra model will remain unaffected.
What happens if I have an older Apple Watch?
If you have one of the older watches, first of all: don’t panic! You can continue using your watch as-is, and it will work just fine with your iPhone. However, it won’t receive any further updates, including security ones, and it may become buggy or slow down without these updates over a period of time.
Alternatively, you could choose to upgrade. If you’re looking for the cheapest option, your best bet is an updatedApple Watch SE 2, which will continue to be supported for many years yet. Getting an older Series 6 at a discounted price may put you in the same position next year, so it’s better to buy newer and get the most bang for your buck.
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Matt is TechRadar’s expert on all things fitness, wellness and wearable tech. A former staffer at Men’s Health, he holds a Master’s Degree in journalism from Cardiff and has written for brands like Runner’s World, Women’s Health, Men’s Fitness, LiveScience and Fit&Well on everything fitness tech, exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing.
Matt’s a keen runner, ex-kickboxer, not averse to the odd yoga flow, and insists everyone should stretch every morning. When he’s not training or writing about health and fitness, he can be found reading doorstop-thick fantasy books with lots of fictional maps in them.
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