The latest beta version of watchOS 26 has brought to light significant issues for owners of the luxury Hermes edition Apple Watch. The second developer beta is reportedly causing serious problems, including device crashes, overheating, and difficulties with pairing.
Apple has acknowledged these issues in its official release notes and is advising Hermes users to refrain from installing the beta. The bugs appear to be specific to the Hermes models, which feature exclusive watch faces and design elements.
Users who have installed the watchOS 26 beta 2 are experiencing frequent crashes, overheating concerns, and, in some cases, inability to charge their devices. As a result, Apple has strongly recommended that Hermes owners avoid the beta until a suitable fix is made available.
In addition, those who have paired an Hermes watch with an iPhone running the iOS 26 beta 2 have reported complications when trying to access the Apple Watch app. While unpairing the watch allows the app to function normally, users find that they are unable to successfully re-pair the device.
Although Apple has yet to withdraw the beta, it has advised developers who own affected models to stay away from it, as there is currently no timeline for a solution. Developer betas are inherently risky, particularly when it comes to high-end hardware.
These early software versions highlight new features, but are not intended for primary devices and can introduce serious glitches. While Apple is expected to address the Hermes-related crash in later builds of watchOS 26 and iOS 26, users who rely on their Hermes Apple Watch should avoid updating for the time being.
Developers can keep a lookout for updates on the Apple Developer Center, which may announce formal patches or rollbacks in the future. For now, if you own a Hermes edition Apple Watch, it’s best to skip beta 2.
Leave a Reply