iPhone XS Max (iOS 18.7) and Apple Watch 7 (11.6.1) incompatible!

There is a problem with the latest updates!!!!!!!!

After updating my iPhone XS Max to iOS 18.7 It is NOT possible to update my Apple Watch 7 to watch OS 11.6.1

My iPhone is up to date! When I open the Watch software update on the iPhone it tells me to update my iPhone IOS. When I try to update the watch within the Watch OS software update settings it tells me that there is a problem. I have shut down and restarted both devices. Nothing works. I am now the sad owner of an Apple Watch 7 (gps) that cannot be updated.

I already updated to 18.7 !!!!!

this is NOT normal. Please beta test your updates!!!!!

Thanks for any help.

[Edited by Moderator]

Apple Watch Series 7, watchOS 11

Posted on Sep 15, 2025 5:25 PM

29 replies

Nov 1, 2025 4:44 AM in response to quanhApple

Saw a comment above posted on 2th Oct 2025 (seems to have been removed now??) saying they'd got it to work but I cannot make it work with mine - iphone Xr fully updated as per your screenshot stating that it is up to date, apple watch cannot be updated !! I feel very disappointed that apple store has sold me a watch that cannot receive updates without me purchasing a new iphone as well - they ABSOLUTELY did not make this clear when I bought the watch and therefore I will be contacting my credit card co to dispute the purchase - suggest you all do the same if you were also lied to in-store

Nov 1, 2025 4:49 AM in response to quanhApple

ah - your comment is back (it had been removed??*edit - it appears then disappears - what is going on? -see screengrab ) - what model phone? - mine is Xr 18.7.1 and does NOT allow apple watch to update !

LD150

Level 10

98,077 points

Nov 1, 2025 10:44 AM in response to Andrew Beardsmore

Andrew Beardsmore wrote:

ah - your comment is back (it had been removed??*edit - it appears then disappears - what is going on? -see screengrab ) - ...

Your thread sort order is "Rank". For some reason their forumic majesties have decided that that is a neat idea, but you will keep losing responses as the order changes like the weather.

Go to your forum preferences and change default order to Oldest,