Apple on Wednesday asked developers to begin submitting watchOS 6 apps for the new standalone Apple Watch App Store.
Developers can now create watchOS 6 apps that will be built to run solely on the Apple Watch, with no need for a companion app on the iPhone.
With watchOS 6, customers around the world can use the new App Store on Apple Watch to easily discover, browse, search, and install apps directly on their wrist. And for the first time, you can distribute an app just for Apple Watch, without a companion app on iOS. Build your watchOS apps using Xcode 11 GM seed, test them on devices running the latest watchOS 6 GM seed, and submit them for review.
Starting April 2020, all new watchOS apps and app updates submitted to the App Store must be built with the watchOS 6 SDK and support Apple Watch Series 4 or later.
Once watchOS 6 is available and installed on a users’ Apple Watch they will be able to install apps directly from the Apple Watch App Store on their wrist, even if an iPhone isn’t available.
Apple told developers that starting in April 2020, all new watchOS apps and app updates submitted to the App Store will be required to be built with the watchOS 6 SDK, and to support the Apple Watch Series 4 or newer.
The Apple Watch Series 5, which launches on Friday, September 20, will come with watchOS 6 installed.
The public release of watchOS 6 will be available for Apple Watch Series 3 and later on September 19 and for Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 later this fall.