How do I fix an Apple Watch update getting stuck during pairing?

Question

Level 1

4 points

How do I fix an Apple Watch update getting stuck during pairing?

Hello, I have one such problem. I bought an Apple Watch in 2022. I wanted to pair it and when I start pairing it, everything seems fine, but then it says that an update is needed. When I let it update, after a while it says that there is the latest software, but nothing happens. Does anyone know what to do with it, how to fix it, or what it could be?

[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: problem with pairing apple watch se 2022

iPhone 13, iOS 18

Posted on Jul 7, 2025 04:05 AM

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Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 9

77,901 points

Jul 8, 2025 06:42 AM in response to stepanpr

Did you try to pair the watch without installing the update during the paring process, and then update the watch after it has been successfully paired to your iPhone?

You can update the watch without the iPhone after that as well:

Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

271,570 points

Jul 7, 2025 02:10 PM in response to stepanpr

Apparently you have an Apple Watch SE. But 2022 was the year the second generation Apple Watch SE was released. So we don’t know if your Apple Watch SE from 2022 is first or second generation.

If it’s second generation, it should be using WatchOS 11.5. That requires a paired iPhone running iOS 18.X.

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Answer 3

stepanpr Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 7, 2025 11:33 PM in response to sberman

I have iOS 18.5 but I don't know how to update the watch, it always gets stuck on this

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