Apple has issued a warning to owners of Hermes edition Apple Watches after multiple reports of severe crashes linked to the second developer beta of watchOS 26. Users who installed the update are experiencing issues ranging from overheating and failed charging to complete device instability.
Hermes-Only Features to Blame
The problems appear to affect only Hermes Apple Watches—luxury models that feature exclusive watch faces and design elements. According to early user reports, the beta causes continuous crashes and, in some cases, prevents the watch from charging or pairing with an iPhone.
Apple acknowledged the bug in its official release notes and strongly advised Hermes owners to hold off on updating until a fix becomes available. Although the beta remains accessible through the Apple Developer Center, developers using Hermes models should avoid installing it.
Pairing Problems with iOS 26 Beta
The trouble doesn’t end with the watch itself. Users who paired a Hermes Apple Watch with an iPhone running iOS 26 beta 2 also faced issues opening the Apple Watch app. While unpairing temporarily restores app functionality, attempts to re-pair the watch fail.
Apple has not yet removed the beta from circulation but is expected to issue a patch in an upcoming update. As of now, no timeline for the fix has been shared.
A Reminder About Beta Risks
Developer betas are intended for testing and may contain bugs that disrupt daily use. Apple often warns that betas should not be installed on primary devices. The Hermes incident is a clear example of why that advice matters—especially when luxury hardware is involved.
