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All Apple Watch Apps Must Be Native Apps Starting on June 1

Friday April 22, 2016 3:43 PM PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today informed developers that starting on June 1, 2016, all watchOS apps submitted to the App Store must be native apps built with the watchOS 2 SDK or later.

When the Apple Watch first launched, watchOS apps were reliant on the iPhone to run on the Apple Watch, but with watchOS 2, Apple introduced support for native apps. With native app support, developers can build apps that are able to run on the Apple Watch, allowing apps to open more quickly and work more smoothly.

Apple's June 1 deadline for native apps hits two weeks before the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, where it is expected to show off new versions of iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch Series 9

Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy)

Top Rated Comments

Aluminum213

109 months ago

THANK YOU

This will help with the fact that 99% of watch apps are slow junk

Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)

OneMike

109 months ago

But native apps are still slow...

Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

MMan5797

109 months ago

I wonder if this is in preparation for a next Gen Apple Watch that is less iPhone reliant to be revealed at WWDC?

Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)

DFierce

109 months ago

Thank god. Slow apps make a really poor experience on the watch.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Sirious

109 months ago

This is good news. I can't count how many times I've given up on an app due to its long load times and completed the task on my iPhone instead.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Pakaku

109 months ago

So even Apple admits the iPhone crutch was a really stupid idea?

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

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