Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Dates, Keynote Format: How to Watch

Apple’s annual software event, the Worldwide Developers Conference, will be held from June 9-13 at its Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The event sessions for developers will largely be held online, though a small group of people will be invited to the campus and some developers and students may be eligible to visit in person via a lottery system. 

Apple usually unveils the next versions of all its major platforms - iOS/iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, Swift, and iCloud – along with the frameworks and new tools to allow developers to prepare their apps and services before they launch later in the year. While hardware announcements are uncommon, a few major products have been unveiled or launched at WWDC in the past. 

WWDC 2025 will kick off with a pre-recorded keynote, much like the past few years. It will be streamed globally on Apple’s website, YouTube channel, and Apple TV app. Last year’s keynote began at 10:00am local time (10:30pm IST). CEO Tim Cook is expected to open the keynote with some major news updates and details of the company’s successes over the past year, after which multiple senior executives will share details about their projects.

This year, Apple is expected to announce a more realistic strategy for the rollout of delayed Apple Intelligence features, including the more responsive and contextually aware Siri voice assistant, which was promised last year. Customer enthusiasm for Apple Intelligence has been lukewarm, and some users have even filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging that claims made about the iPhone 16 series’ capabilities have not been fulfilled.

The company is also widely expected to unveil a huge visual overhaul for iOS 19, inspired by the glassier, more rounded elements designed for the Vision Pro headset. This could be the company’s biggest redesign since iOS 7, but while some mockups are circulating online, no actual images have leaked yet. iOS 19 is expected not to break compatibility with devices that received iOS 18, which means iPhones going back to the iPhone XR could get the free update (though not all features and functions). As with iOS 18’s staggered release pattern, not all new features are expected to be rolled out at launch time.

In-person attendance is limited to current members of Apple’s Developer Programme and Developer Enterprise Programme, as well as Swift Student Challenge winners from the past three years. Applications for the lottery for a chance to attend in person will be accepted online till April 2, and will be notified the next day if they have been selected. Winner passes are non-transferable. 

The winners of Apple’s 2025 Swift Student Challenge will be announced on March 27, and a small number of Distinguished Winners will receive passes outside of the lottery system. All in-person attendees will be able to watch the keynote and Platforms State of the Union presentation screenings, as well as interact with Apple experts and attend demos and group labs on campus. There will also be additional unspecified “special activities” and opportunities to meet fellow attendees.