Apple Breaks watchOS Updates On Older Apple Watch Models [Update: Fixed]

[MacRumors]

With today's watchOS 11.3 update, Apple accidentally broke watchOS updates for some older Apple Watch models, according to information circulating on social networks.

For Apple Watch models that are unable to be updated to watchOS 11, such as the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5, there is an unintended bug that prevents some of them from installing the latest version of watchOS 10, watchOS 10.6.1.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1883972875851637114

An Apple Watch that was not running watchOS 10.6.1 prior to the release of watchOS 11.3 and iOS 18.3 is now unable to have the watchOS 10.6.1 update installed. So an Apple Watch SE 1, Series 4, or Series 5 owner running an older version of watchOS cannot install watchOS 10.6.1 at the current time.

Further, some Apple Watch models running earlier versions of watchOS 10 cannot be paired to an iPhone.

This issue only applies to Apple Watch models that are limited to watchOS 10, and it is further only applicable to those not already running watchOS 10.6.1, an update that came out last August. Apple will likely fix this issue in the near future.

(Thanks, lunotech11!)

Update: Apple appears to have addressed this issue.

Article Link: Apple Breaks watchOS Updates On Older Apple Watch Models [Update: Fixed]

 

[KingofGotham1]

annoying sure, but wouldn't this be an easy fix?

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

Instead of focusing on Apple Intelligence.
Software Stability is what they need to focus on for all the devices including iPhones.

 

[now i see it]

IH8 updates

 

[macfacts]

zero testing going on.
copying zuckerburg's work moto, work fast, break things.

Move fast and break things - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[WilliApple]

Why not give the Series 4 and 5 watchOS 11? There, problem solved!

 

[spazzcat]

zero testing going on.
copying zuckerburg's work moto, work fast, break things.

Move fast and break things - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I guess expect the months of public beta testing; stuff happened.

 

[thefrost]

Maybe if Apple focuses more on fixing their software, these kinds of things wouldn't happen.

 

[citysnaps]

Maybe if Apple focuses more on fixing their software, these kinds of things wouldn't happen.

Holy smokes! You mean a large company where humans are involved does not execute 100% perfectly 100% of the time?

 

[thefrost]

Holy smokes! You mean a large company where humans are involved does not execute 100% perfectly 100% of the time?

Have I implied that is the case?

 

[citysnaps]

Maybe if Apple focuses more on fixing their software, these kinds of things wouldn't happen.

Have I implied that is the case?

Apple could spend 10X the time they spend now on software and there will still be bugs.

You will never find 100% perfection 100% of the time when humans are involved.

 

[thefrost]

Apple could spend 10X the time they spend now on software and there will still be bugs.

You will never find 100% perfection 100% of the time when humans are involved.

Never said they had to be perfect. I just said if they could spend more time, there would be less issues.

 

[citysnaps]

Never said they had to be perfect. I just said if they could spend more time, there would be less issues.

How much more time is required?

 

[thefrost]

How much more time is required?

Maybe we should end there since you clearly aren't getting the point. Have a nice day.

 

[citysnaps]

Maybe we should end there since you clearly aren't getting the point. Have a nice day.

I get the point. I'm just wondering what the proper amount of time is needed to not have bugs.

Wishing you a nice day as well.

 

[JapanApple]

It would be nice if it was less e-waste by having obsolete models still serviceable.

 

[spazzcat]

Apple could spend 10X the time they spend now on software and there will still be bugs.

You will never find 100% perfection 100% of the time when humans are involved.

You find the people that have no idea what goes into software development.

 

[spazzcat]

I get the point. I'm just wondering what the proper amount of time is needed to not have bugs.

Wishing you a nice day as well.

There is no such thing as bug free code.

 

[tyrnnsrs]

I don't find Apple products to be very buggy at all in my experiences with official releases.

 

[citysnaps]

There is no such thing as bug free code.

And that was my point.

 

[citysnaps]

I don't find Apple products to be very buggy at all in my experiences with official releases.

I don't either.

 

[Adora]

Why not give the Series 4 and 5 watchOS 11? There, problem solved!

I want iOS 18 for my 8 Plus.

 

[nicolas17]

annoying sure, but wouldn't this be an easy fix?

Yes, it's literally one number in a file that they changed for no reason when releasing 11.3, they just need to change it back to the old value and it's fixed.

 

[sw1tcher]

annoying sure, but wouldn't this be an easy fix?

Yes. Easy fix is to just buy a newer Apple Watch.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple could spend 10X the time they spend now on software and there will still be bugs.

You will never find 100% perfection 100% of the time when humans are involved.

There is no such thing as bug free code.

All of Apple's (m)emoji updates have been 100% bug free perfection.