WatchOS 26.0 update and activity will not work or connect

After completing the latest watch update to 26, my activity and fitness apps will not work. The only way to get them to work is completely resetting my watch. This happened with my old watch and to avoid resetting daily, I had to force restart to watch every night before bed. I finally upgraded to an Ultra to avoid this issue; I’ve had my Ultra for almost a year and no issues. Now I do this update two days ago and I’m back to the same issue. What is most frustrating is Apple’s ONLY response is “unpair and repair”. I don’t want to do that every single day. That is not a proper fix. Anyone have any real fixes?

Apple Watch Ultra, watchOS 26

Posted on Sep 20, 2025 6:09 AM

Top-ranking reply

Ingo2711

Level 9

79,617 points

Posted on Oct 11, 2025 11:13 AM

Did you set up the watch as a new device, without using the latest backup, in case the backup data is corrupt, causing this issue?

Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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21 replies

LD150

Level 10

99,061 points

Oct 29, 2025 9:44 AM in response to BrentWolfe

BrentWolfe wrote:

I have been having the same issues with my Apple Watch Ultra since installing iOS26. It is incredibly frustrating and there doesn't appear to be any fix other than unpair and re-pair, which isn't a fix. …

YES it IS a fix, the standard everyday fix for getting your Watch straight. Why the resistance?

Ingo2711

Level 9

79,617 points

Nov 18, 2025 6:41 AM in response to nextseason

There seem to be increasing reports from iPhone Series 17 users, having issues with their Apple Watches.

So this looks rather like an iOS issue, in my opinion, in which case those users should also use the iPhone Feedback link:

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Jlee122

Level 1

8 points

Nov 18, 2025 7:01 AM in response to krene727

I’m also having issues on my Apple Watch 10 since the update. I just switched to Apple a month ago. Anyone have a fix for activity app? I love keeping track of my steps. Thanks

I’ve been a Samsung user previously and never had this issue on my Samsung watch (had the watch for over 6 years). One thing I miss from this watch is that Samsung gathers both watch and phone steps together. So I can see the combined on my watch and phone. Apple Watch doesn’t combine.

Nov 13, 2025 9:55 AM in response to krene727

I’m having the same problem with my Apple Watch series 9 on WatchOS 26 my workout app keeps glitching and it sometimes doesn’t work

Nov 16, 2025 6:30 AM in response to krene727

Also having this issue. It happened a number of years ago to me. It’s extremely frustrating!

Mward58

Level 1

8 points

Nov 26, 2025 2:13 AM in response to krene727

I have the same exact issues! Real pain. May have to never get an Apple watch again.

[Edited by Moderator]

WatchOS 26.0 update and activity will not work or connect