Apple watchOS 9 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
End of Life
Apple watchOS 9 reached end of life on 18 Sept 2023. It no longer receives security fixes.
1,056 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Apple watchOS 26. Support timeline
Official dates from the Apple watchOS release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 12 Sept 2022 | — |
| End of life | 18 Sept 2023 | 2.9 years ago |
| Latest release | 9.6.4 · 2 Feb 2026 | final |
Where to go from 9
Recommended target: Apple watchOS 26.
The newest actively supported branch is Apple watchOS 26 (latest release 26.6).
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple watchOS 9 still safe to use?
Apple watchOS 9 reached end of life on 18 Sept 2023, 1,056 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Apple watchOS 9?
Yes — the final release (9.6.4) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Apple watchOS 9 to?
Upgrade to Apple watchOS 26, the newest actively supported branch.