update to apple watch

Hello JuniorMints48,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. If you're having trouble updating via the companion iPhone, try doing so directly on the Apple Watch. Get started with the steps here:

"Update directly on your Apple Watch

If your Apple Watch has watchOS 6 or later, you can install subsequent updates without your iPhone:

1. Make sure that your watch is connected to Wi-Fi.
2. On your watch, open the Settings app.
3. Tap General > Software Update.
4. Tap Install if a software update is available, then follow the onscreen instructions."

Further guidance to get the Apple Watch updated can be found in the Apple Support article:

Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Let us know if you have any questions.

Have a great day!

Unfortunately, if you want to update to WatchOS 9 or higher, you will need a newer iPhone (iPhone 8 or newer) which is capable of running iOS 16 or higher:

• watchOS 9 is available as a free software update for Apple Watch Series 4 or later paired with iPhone 8 or later and iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later, running iOS 16. For more information, visit apple.com/watchos/watchos-9/.

I have the same issue using an iPhone 7 plus with iOS 15.7 (not possible to update to iOS 16) and an apple watch 7.

I cannot update the apple watch from the watch directly too the watch write an error about it's impossible to check update from the server, I tried several times in different hours of the day.

Is there a solution?

Roberto

Question was: “Would having the latest iPhone SE allow the update to iOS16 and thusly allow the update to iWatchOS 9.0?

You replied “Apple Watch SE” which is not what I asked in the question. I, in fact, have an iWatch series 6 that I cannot currently update because my iPhone 7 cannot be updated to iOS16.

You're right. I completely missed the phone as opposed to watch part. YES, if you buy the current iPhone SE, it will already come with iOS 16 and you CAN then update your current Apple Watch Series 6 to Watch OS 9.

What model iPhone?

What series watch?

Sound like you have an iPhone 7 or earlier

You need iOS 16 and that requires an iPhone 8 or later.

Would having the latest iPhone SE allow the update to iOS16 and thusly allow the update to iWatchOS 9.0?

If you have an iPhone 7, no. iPhone 7 can ONLY be updated to iOS 15.7 and cannot EVER be updated to iOS 16. So if you buy the latest Apple Watch SE, you won't be able to pair it with an iPhone 7.

Thank you for clarify that. Not interested in putting out a small fortune for one of the upper level phones.

You don't have to buy the more expensive phones. iPhone SE will do just fine as long as it meets your cell phone needs, feature wise.