11 Ways to Repair an Apple Watch That is Unable to Check for Updates

Is it difficult for you to access the Apple Watch’s update system? Have no fear. Fixing this little issue is as simple as resetting the Apple Watch, connecting it to a reliable WiFi network, restarting the device, resetting the network settings, and possibly even switching the region in the settings.

The Apple Watch is not impervious to this sort of thing. I had one for a while, and it stopped working properly because I forgot to check for updates occasionally. Thankfully, I was able to figure out how to fix the problem quickly on my own. In case you’re having the same trouble, you’ve come to the right place. To choose the one that suits your needs, read on.

How to Repair an Apple Watch That Cannot Download Software Updates

If your Apple Watch isn’t able to check for software upgrades, try the following solutions.

1. Check the Internet Connection

If your internet is down, you won’t be able to manage any updates. In the first place, you need to see if your Apple Watch can communicate with the internet. You may get online with an Apple Watch by either pairing it with an iPhone or connecting it to any open WiFi network.

If you want to keep your Apple device up-to-date, you need a reliable internet connection. Trying to check for updates when the device is online may require toggling the power off and then back on. In order to accomplish this:

Open Settings.
Navigate to WiFi and check if it is active.
Turn off the WiFi.
Wait about 30 seconds.
Toggle WiFi back on.

Once online access is restored, updating your Apple watch should proceed without a hitch.

2. Reboot your Apple Watch

If the Apple Watch software update fails, restarting it may help. This will ensure that the Apple Watch is able to connect to the internet and get updates without any hitches.

In order to restart the Apple Watch:

Press and hold the Side button
Continue holding the button until a menu pops up on the screen.
From the options, choose Power Off.
Drag the slider to turn off the watch.
Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the Side button once more to restart the device.

The software update should be retried after the device has been restarted. There won’t be any hiccups in the procedure anymore.

3. App for Apple Watch Must Be Removed Before Installation

If the firmware update failed, you can also reinstall the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, which is a far more direct and effective option. If there is a problem that prevents the device from receiving software updates, this may solve it.

The steps for uninstalling and reinstalling the app are as follows.

Open your iPhone.
Tap on the Watch App and hold.
Choose “Rearrange Apps” and tap on the minus icon to remove the app.
Tap Delete.
Open the App Store and download the Watch App.

Try updating the watchOS after the installation is complete. At this point, you shouldn’t run into any issues.

4. Clean Shelving

Storage for Apple Watches is typically between 8 and 32GB. It sounds like a lot, but it’s not hard to fill up. If the Apple Watch’s storage is already full, you will be unable to install updates.

So, if you’re having trouble updating the software on your Apple Watch, try emptying some space first.

Observe the following steps to verify and delete data from your Apple Watch:

Open settings.
Go to general.
Click on usage to check the available space.
If the space left is too little, remove files that you don’t use, including the apps.

Once you’ve made some room, try updating your Apple Watch again to see whether the update issue has been resolved.

5. Revoke Tester Account

As a special perk, Apple allows beta testers to try out certain apps before they are made available to the general public through the company’s beta software program. However, improving your Apple Watch profile may cause problems that prevent you from updating to the newest iOS version.

This is because beta releases typically have many issues that must be worked out before they can be released to the public. It’s possible that this is the cause of the issues you’re having with your Apple Watch not being able to check for updates.

If you’re having trouble updating your watch and are using a watchOS beta profile, removing it may solve the problem.

In order to remove a Beta account:

On your iPhone, launch the Watch app.
Tap on the My Watch tab.
Open General.
Tap Profile.
Select the Beta Profile you want to delete and tap “Delete Profile.” Enter your Apple ID password to complete the process.

Your Apple Watch series device should now update without further incident.

6. Input power into the Apple Watch.

When dealing with an Apple Watch update, be sure that the watch is fully charged or connected to a charger. This is done to ensure that the program will not become corrupted in any way if the update is interrupted. Verify the Apple Watch’s battery percentage if it is unable to update. If the battery level is below 50%, plug it into a charger immediately and wait until it reaches 100% before updating. This should immediately resolve any issues with the Apple Watch being unable to check for updates.

7. Put the Apple Watch into recovery mode and repair it.

When you disconnect your Apple Watch SE from your iPhone, it restores factory settings right away. If you’re having trouble updating your Apple Watch and think it might be due to a bug or a software malfunction, consider unpairing it from your phone.

It’s important to remember, too, that you’ll need to delete any Transit cards linked to your Apple Watch from the wallet app. This will ensure that your Apple Watch will work properly the next time you sign in and make an in-app purchase.

If you want to disconnect your Apple Watch:

Place your Apple Watch and your iPhone close to each other.
Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
Navigate to the My Watch tab and select All Watches.
Tap on the info button found next to your Apple watch name.
Choose Unpair Apple Watch and tap to confirm.
You will need to enter your iPhone passcode on your iPhone to complete this process.

After you’ve successfully unpaired your Apple Watch, you’ll need to re-establish the connection before installing any further software updates.

8. To Alter Region

Problems with checking for updates on the Apple Watch may arise if servers in your area are down. Apple servers occasionally being down in certain regions can prevent updates from installing even if you have a good internet connection. If this is the case, try switching regions to see if the updates go through successfully. For this to work, you must first remove your Apple Watch from your phone.

Changing your Apple Watch’s region is as simple as:

Switch to your iPhone.
Go to Settings.
Tap on General.
Navigate to Language & Region.
Tap Region and select another location of a preferred choice from the options.
Repair your Apple Watch to your iPhone device and try updating it.

9. Back Up And Restore

If your Apple Watch stops working as it should, you may restore it back to normal by restoring it from a previous backup. This is especially useful if the problem has been triggered by an app update that may prevent the watch from updating to the newest firmware version.

To restore your Apple Watch from a backup:

On your iPhone, open the Watch app.
Navigate to the My Watch tab and select All Watches.
Tap on the info button beside your Apple watch name.
Choose Unpair Apple Watch and tap once to confirm.
Wait about 5 minutes and re-pair the Apple watch once more, but this time, choose to restore from the backup to complete the process.

10. Alter the Network Parameters

One additional option for fixing Apple Watch update issues is to reset the network settings. Even with a consistent internet connection, updating your Apple Watch may not go smoothly. In such an instance, you might try resetting your network settings to see if it fixes the problem.

When you perform a network reset, all of your cellular data settings, as well as any network customizations and saved passwords, will be deleted. Given that your data will remain unharmed, there is no need to make copies. After the reset is complete, you’ll need to re-establish your WiFi and other connections.

In order to refresh the network configuration:

Open your iPhone.
Launch the Watch app.
Go to the My Watch tab.
Select General, then go to Reset.
Tap on “Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings.”
Enter your iPhone passcode when prompted and let the process run to the end.

If your Apple Watch was having trouble checking for updates, this should fix the problem immediately.

Apple Customer Service

If you’ve tried everything and you still can’t get your Apple Watch to check for updates, it’s probably time to take it in for a professional diagnosis at an Apple Store. Before bringing the item in for a full checkup, be sure to make an appointment, wire a call, have a live chat, or send an email.

Conclusion

This concludes our discussion of potential fixes you can do on your own if your Apple Watch is unable to check for updates. A solution or two should present itself to you. Get the most out of your Apple Watch by updating it as soon as possible so you can start enjoying its enhanced features.

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