Apple releases watchOS 7.3 with Unity watch face, expanded ECG availability, and more

Apple today released watchOS 7.3, the third major update to the watchOS 7 operating system released in September. watchOS 7.3 comes more than a month after watchOS 7.2, an update that brought support for Apple Fitness +

‌‌The watchOS 7.3 Update‌‌ can be downloaded for free via the dedicated Apple Watch app on iPhone by going to General> Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch must have a minimum battery of 50 percent, placed on a charger, and be within range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌.

watchOS 7.3 adds a “Time to Walk” feature for Apple Fitness + subscribers by adding an audio experience in the Workout app where those running a run can listen to inspiring stories as they walk. Time to Walk features stories from music artists, athletes, and other influential people that Apple Watch owners and Apple Fitness + subscribers can listen to while walking.

Each episode is 25 to 40 minutes long and features guests such as country music star Dolly Parton, musician Shawn Mendes, actress Uzo Aduba and NBA player Draymond Green. Speakers share “lessons learned, meaningful memories, conscious thoughts and gratitude, moments of levity, and other thought-provoking topics.” Time to Walk is available to Apple Fitness + subscribers. Apple technically released Time to Walk before watchOS 7.3, but it is mentioned in the release notes for the update and is considered an addition to watchOS 7.3.

With the watchOS 7.3 update, ECG functionality extends to Japan, Mayotte, the Philippines and Thailand, while irregular heart rhythm notifications come to Japan, Mayotte, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.

The update adds a new Unity watch face, inspired by the colors of the Pan African flag (black, red and green), with shapes that change with movement throughout the day. The face also has black, red, green and yellow color options along with a black / gray color option.

watchOS 7.3 also includes a bug fix for an issue that would cause the Control Center and Notification Center to stop responding when Zoom is enabled, with full release notes below:

watchOS 7.3 includes new features, improvements and bug fixes, including:

– Unity watch face – inspired by the colors of the Pan-African flag, the shapes change throughout the day as you move, creating a face unique to you
– Time to Walk for Apple Fitness + subscribers – an audio experience in the Workout app where guests share inspiring stories as you walk
– ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Japan, Mayotte, Philippines and Thailand
– Irregular heart rhythm notifications in Japan, Mayotte, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand
– Fixed an issue where Control Center and Notification Center might not respond when Zoom is enabled

For more information about everything included in the ‌watchOS 7‌ operating system, we have a special watchOS 7 summary.