Apple Releases watchOS 8.5

15 MARCH 2022 - What should one look for when watching Apple Watch? MacRumors lists a few new features tied to watchOS 8.5, also released on Monday. With the update:

• Users can now authorize Apple TV purchases and subscriptions from the watch

• AFib identification is said to have been improved

• Fitness+ adds a bit of accessibility, with audio guidance for moves demonstrated visually during workouts

• EU COVID vaccination records have made it to the Wallet on Apple Watch, just like they did in iOS 15.4

Restoration: Hardware

There’s also an updated feature that belongs not to iPhone, nor to Apple Watch, but to both. A piece from iDownloadBlog says users can now restore an Apple Watch with an iPhone, assuming the phone is running iOS 15.4 and the Apple Watch is running watchOS 8.5. 

To be honest, I’m having a hard time figuring out why this would be something you need. Turns out though, I don’t have to. The hardware combo will apparently let you know. According to the piece:

…if a problem arises with the Apple Watch which means it needs to be restored or updated, a nearby iPhone can handle that now.

[An Apple] support document says that if the Apple Watch in question is indeed having an issue, an animation should appear on the nearby iPhone saying as much. It will indicate that the user simply needs to bring the Apple Watch and iPhone together to start the restore/update process.

All of that and 22 security fixes, too! Made for Apple Watch Series 3 and up, the watchOS 8.5 update is available through the Watch app on an associated iPhone.