Updates must be native apps built with latest watchOS SDK

Nov 16, 2017 22:05 GMT  ·  By

Apple published a new developer blog today to inform watchOS app developers that they need to update their watchOS 1 apps to the latest watchOS SDK until April 1 (April Fools' Day), 2018.

In the blog, Apple urges all watchOS application developers to make sure their apps are up-to-date and native, built using either the watchOS 2 or watchOS 4 SDK (Software Development Kit). However, new watchOS apps need to use only the watchOS 4 SDK.

The company says that it won't accept update to first-generation watchOS apps after April Fools' Day 2018, so if you still have apps built for the watchOS 1 ecosystem, you need to make sure they're updated to the latest SDK or you won't be able to touch them.

"Please note that starting April 1, 2018, updates to watchOS 1 apps will no longer be accepted," said Apple. "Updates must be native apps built with the watchOS 2 SDK or later. New watchOS apps should be built with the watchOS 4 SDK or later."

Apple wants developers to update to watchOS 4 and Apple Watch Series 3

To encourage application developers to update their old watchOS apps to the latest watchOS SDK, Apple outlined some of the cool features of the watchOS 4 operating system for Apple Watch devices, such as the increase of the size limit of watchOS app bundle from 50MB to 75MB.

In addition, developers can take full advantage of the numerous new features that Apple implemented in watchOS 4, such as increased performance, new background modes for audio recording and navigation, and the ability to directly connect to accessories with Core Bluetooth.

Of course, some of these features are only supported on the latest Apple Watch Series 3 smartwatch running watchOS 4 or later, and will enable your watchOS apps to connect anytime and anywhere even without an iPhone present. Apple encourages developers to also update to Apple Watch Series 3 if possible.

In the meantime, Apple continues to add improvements and enable new features to the watchOS 4 operating system with the upcoming watchOS 4.2 software update, which is currently in beta stages of development. Developers are encourage to install the latest watchOS 4.2 beta 3 release if they want to keep their apps up-to-date.