Apple Watch 7 won’t update with WatchOS 11

I’m in a pickle. I took advice off the internet when I was having issues updating my Apple Watch Series 7 with the new watchOS 11.


The update can be prompted, but the estimated loading time never appears. The progress bar doesn’t move from zero, and it keeps saying “there was an error updating WatchOS 11” or whatever. Someone online said restart the Apple Watch, so I did- no dice. Someone else said restart the phone- nothing. Turn off the phone’s Bluetooth, then turn it back on- nada.


Last advice was to unpair and then repair the watch. Now my watch is unpaired and it’s sitting on that annoying jimmy neutron looking atom logo and keeps telling me “error in updating” and I can’t access my watch anymore. I’ve had to let the watch factory reset because I need to go to work and it won’t stop dictating “the Apple Watch logo with lines around it signaling it’s been paired” (btw, it won’t let me get to its functions despite successful repairing- it will keep me on the infernal update screen no matter how paired it is), but I don’t know how to get the stupid thing to download the update.


My internet is not bad here, so I’m not sure why it’s having so much trouble suddenly. Any tips on how to get the update to set in would be much appreciated- or at least to regain access to the controls of the watch.

Apple Watch Series 7, watchOS 10

Posted on Sep 17, 2024 12:04 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 17, 2024 12:20 PM

Did you already try these suggestions?


...

Try these steps:


  1. Make sure that your Apple Watch is connecting properly to its charger
  2. Restart your Apple Watch.
  3. Restart your paired iPhone.
  4. Try again to update your Apple Watch.


If the update won't start:


  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General > Storage.
  3. Delete the update file.
  4. Try again to update your Apple Watch.


...

copied from: Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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10 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 17, 2024 12:20 PM in response to IHatePickles

Did you already try these suggestions?


...

Try these steps:


  1. Make sure that your Apple Watch is connecting properly to its charger
  2. Restart your Apple Watch.
  3. Restart your paired iPhone.
  4. Try again to update your Apple Watch.


If the update won't start:


  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General > Storage.
  3. Delete the update file.
  4. Try again to update your Apple Watch.


...

copied from: Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Sep 25, 2024 01:00 PM in response to Radio_doc

Update guys:-

thanks so much @Ihate_pickles for giving me the solution.

for everyone else facing the same issue-

(if you haven’t already had a mental breakdown, congratulations first of all lol)

just connect your phone to a strong and fast WIFI NETWORK AND IT WILL UPDATE THE WATCH. Even if you have unpaired the watch, it will give you options to restore a back up. Select the most recent one and you are all sorted !


have a nice one !

Sep 25, 2024 02:48 AM in response to Radio_doc

I solved it! It took a few hours yesterday, but I got off my WiFi at home and went to my friend’s place where she has better WiFi than me. It was still struggling at first and I had to stop three more failed updates, but after an hour long installation that I was shocked started, I eventually got it to update and progressed into the set up again. Everything I had on it was wiped, but at least I can still use it, so if you’re not using WiFi, use WiFi- but if the WiFi sucks and it won’t update the watch, go mooch off a friend or family member’s WiFi asap lol

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Apple Watch 7 won’t update with WatchOS 11

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