Apple seeded watchOS 10.5 release candidate 2 (RC 2) to developers on May 8, 2024, one day after the first release candidate. It was a near-final testing build—not a public watchOS update—and arrived five days before watchOS 10.5 became available to customers.
The headline addition was Apple’s Pride Radiance watch face. Developer notes also recorded StoreKit fixes, while Apple’s published material did not identify a major redesign or a verified RC 2 build number.
What Apple released
RC 2 was the second watchOS 10.5 release candidate distributed through Apple’s developer beta channel. Apple describes a release candidate as a build typically used for final testing before customer availability, but an RC is still pre-release software and is not automatically identical to the eventual public version.
MacRumors reported the first candidate on May 7, 2024, followed by RC 2 on May 8. The one-day interval indicates last-minute validation or changes, but Apple did not document a specific bug as the reason for the second seed.
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- S9 SiP Processor: Advanced processor improves overall performance and enables on-device Siri functionality.
No reliable primary-source confirmation of an RC 2 build number is available, so this article does not publish one.
What changed in watchOS 10.5
Pride Radiance watch face
Apple’s principal visible addition was the Pride Radiance face, created to honor LGBTQ+ community and culture. It was a watch-face addition rather than evidence of a broad watchOS redesign. Apple’s public update notes present the release as a point update focused on the face, improvements, bug fixes and security updates. See Apple’s summary at watchOS 10 updates.
StoreKit fixes for developers
Apple’s watchOS 10.5 release notes list two fixes that matter to apps using StoreKit:
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- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
- A crash involving the Terms of Service button in
SubscriptionStoreView. - A failure in which
ExternalPurchaseLink.open()did not open the external purchase URL.
These fixes may not be visible to owners who do not use subscription or external-purchase flows, but they are important compatibility checks for watchOS app teams.
Release timeline
| Milestone | Date | What it meant |
|---|---|---|
| watchOS 10.5 RC 1 | May 7, 2024 | First near-final developer test build |
| watchOS 10.5 RC 2 | May 8, 2024 | Second developer release candidate |
| watchOS 10.5 public release | May 13, 2024 | Customer update for Apple Watch Series 4 and later |
The final release date and compatibility are documented in Apple’s watchOS 10.5 security content. That page describes the public release, not necessarily every change present in RC 2.
What developers needed to test
Apple’s release-candidate guidance says these builds can be used to develop, test and submit apps to App Store Connect. A practical RC 2 pass should include:
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- CARBON NEUTRAL — An aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 paired with the latest Sport Loop is carbon neutral. Learn more about Apple’s commitment to the environment at apple.com/2030.
- ADVANCED HEALTH FEATURES — Keep an eye on your blood oxygen. Take an ECG anytime. Get notifications if you have an irregular heart rhythm. See how much time you spent in REM, Core, or Deep sleep with sleep stages. Temperature sensing provides insights into overall wellbeing and cycle tracking. And take note of your state of mind to help build emotional awareness and resilience.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS PARTNER — The Workout app gives you a range of ways to train plus advanced metrics for more insights about your workout performance. And Apple Watch comes with three months of Apple Fitness+ free.
- INNOVATIVE SAFETY FEATURES — Fall Detection and Crash Detection can connect you with emergency services in the event of a hard fall or a severe car crash. And Emergency SOS lets you call for help with the press of a button.
- Installing and launching the app on both the simulator and a physical watch where possible.
- Checking complications, watch-face interactions, notifications and background refresh.
- Testing workout, Health and sensor-dependent workflows.
- Exercising subscription purchase screens, the
SubscriptionStoreViewTerms of Service control andExternalPurchaseLink.open(). - Measuring performance and battery behavior on the oldest supported watch model as well as newer hardware.
- Reviewing the release notes for API changes, known issues, workarounds and deprecations before submission.
Xcode and SDK context
The watchOS 10.5 SDK was bundled with Xcode 15.4, according to Apple’s developer release notes. Teams should use the Xcode version associated with that SDK and read the Xcode release notes before changing a development machine. Xcode 15.4 was the relevant SDK pairing; the available documentation does not establish that it was mandatory for every form of testing.
How the historical developer installation worked
The following path describes the watchOS 10.5 beta period in 2024. Apple’s beta menus and enrollment rules may differ now.
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- On the paired iPhone, open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates.
- Select Developer beta. At the time, access was tied to an Apple Account linked to Apple’s developer channel.
- Open the Apple Watch app and choose My Watch > General > Software Update > Beta Updates.
- Select the developer beta and enter a passcode if requested.
- Keep the iPhone and watch near each other, with the iPhone on Wi-Fi.
- Ensure the watch has at least 50 percent charge and place it on its charger for the installation.
Apple recommends backing up devices before installing beta software. Its current beta installation guidance warns that watchOS failures can require service. If a watch enters a recovery state or shows a red information icon, Apple says you can try holding the side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears. If that does not work, Apple may need to perform the restore; Apple says its retail stores and authorized service providers cannot perform that particular service.
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- S9 SiP Processor: Advanced processor improves overall performance and enables on-device Siri functionality.
Should an ordinary Apple Watch owner install RC 2?
Generally, no. RC 2 was intended for developers testing compatibility, and the public release followed on May 13—only five days later. A primary watch may be needed for health, workouts, notifications or safety, and Apple Watch beta recovery can be more restrictive than recovery on an iPhone or Mac.
Installing RC 2 made sense when a developer needed to validate an app before launch, was investigating the StoreKit fixes, or had a dedicated test watch and a recovery plan. Waiting for the public release was the sensible choice for anyone who simply wanted the Pride Radiance face or a routine update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Security and compatibility perspective
Apple’s public watchOS 10.5 security page lists fixes involving components including AppleAVD, AppleMobileFileIntegrity, Core Data, Kernel, Maps, Messages, Shortcuts, Spotlight, Transparency and WebKit. Those details document the final May 13 release; they do not prove that every listed fix was already present in RC 2, so they should not be described as RC 2-specific security changes.
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![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
The Series 4-and-later compatibility statement applies to the public watchOS 10.5 release. Model-specific performance and feature behavior can still vary, and developers should test on the oldest hardware they support.
The practical takeaway
watchOS 10.5 RC 2 was primarily a final compatibility checkpoint for Apple Watch developers. Its main user-facing addition was Pride Radiance, while the meaningful technical details were the StoreKit fixes and the Xcode 15.4 SDK pairing. For consumers, the near-term public release made installing the pre-release seed unnecessary.
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