criticalApple Developer News·July 22, 2025

New 64-bit requirement for watchOS apps

Beginning April 2026, watchOS apps uploaded to App Store Connect must also include 64-bit support and be built with the watchOS 26 SDK. To enable 64-bit support in your project, we recommend using the default Xcode build setting of “Standard architectures” to build a single binary with 64-bit code.

You can test ARM64 compatibility for your apps in the Xcode Simulator, and on Apple Watch Series 9 or 10, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 running watchOS 26 beta.

Learn more about the SDKs included in Xcode

Key Insights

1

Apple Watch apps must include 64-bit support and use watchOS 26 SDK by April 2026 for App Store submission

2

Developers can test ARM64 compatibility using Xcode Simulator or newer Apple Watch models (Series 9/10, Ultra 2)

3

Standard architectures build setting in Xcode is recommended to create compatible 64-bit binaries

New 64-bit requirement for watchOS apps | ASO News