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Apple Releases watchOS 11.6

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple today released watchOS 11.6, the sixth update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.6 comes more than two months after Apple released watchOS 11.5. The update is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2.

watchOS-11-Thumb-2-1.jpg

watchOS 11.6 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

The watchOS 11.6 update focuses on bug fixes and security improvements, with no new features included. Apple's release notes are below.
This update provides bug fixes and important security updates for your Apple Watch.
Click to expand...
Apple will soon replace watchOS 11 with watchOS 26, an update that is set to come out this fall.

Article Link: Apple Releases watchOS 11.6
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/07/29/apple-releases-watchos-11-6/
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I thought it had messed up my Apple weather complications, but they finally came back. I rebooted again and they still hadn't loaded, so figured I'd deal with it after work, but the temp, etc. are back.
 
rjp1 said:
Installing now in hopes of better battery life on U2. It has been horrible for several months now.
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This. I cannot believe how bad it has been. I've had to charge my Apple Watch Ultra 2 daily now. <sigh>

First time I've noticed my watch reporting overheating with charging too (on this last update). Hope it's better :D
 
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Dear Apple: Don't ask me if I want to install the update, then like 30 minutes later after you've downloaded and "prepared" the update, ask me again if I want to install it. I told you the first time.
 
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Dear Apple, Please stop turning on “Automatic Updates” every time software is installed. If I wanted automatic updates, I would turn them on. Installing should not have to be a two step process.
1) install
2) go check/turn off automatic updates (again)
 
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BigMcGuire said:
This. I cannot believe how bad it has been. I've had to charge my Apple Watch Ultra 2 daily now. <sigh>

First time I've noticed my watch reporting overheating with charging too (on this last update). Hope it's better :D
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It can't be worse 🤣 Yeah, I went from charging like every 3rd day or so to just about daily now. I've had my watch go dead so many times lately, because I had gotten so used to it lasting several days.
 
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Has anyone else found that all their Apple Pay cards are no longer active or able to be reactivated on their watch since updating? I have only been able to reactivate one card in the Watch app; the rest all say “Unavailable” (including my Apple Card)
 
Queues said:
Has anyone else found that all their Apple Pay cards are no longer active or able to be reactivated on their watch since updating? I have only been able to reactivate one card in the Watch app; the rest all say “Unavailable” (including my Apple Card)
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I have had this happen once in all the years I’ve used Apple Watch. An update made all my CCs unavailable and I had to re-activate them by removing them and re-adding them (I have too many CCs).

This update looks like it did not do that for me :/.
 
rjp1 said:
It can't be worse 🤣 Yeah, I went from charging like every 3rd day or so to just about daily now. I've had my watch go dead so many times lately, because I had gotten so used to it lasting several days.
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So I couldn’t help but charge last night because I had to change my every other / 3 days charging habit to daily - like you.

I’m sitting at 88% this morning (8:33am) after hitting 100% at 9:52pm last night. That’s really good. I was burning 30-40% in less than a day on the last update.

Will continue to monitor, but already in the Battery Health app on the Apple Watch, the curve seems a lot more flatlined than the previous one which is a good sign.

Hope I’m not jinxing myself.
 
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BigMcGuire said:
So I couldn’t help but charge last night because I had to change my every other / 3 days charging habit to daily - like you.

I’m sitting at 88% this morning (8:33am) after hitting 100% at 9:52pm last night. That’s really good. I was burning 30-40% in less than a day on the last update.

Will continue to monitor, but already in the Battery Health app on the Apple Watch, the curve seems a lot more flatlined than the previous one which is a good sign.

Hope I’m not jinxing myself.
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That's great news. I didn't think to charge before bed. Even just sleep tracking had become a big battery waste. Hoping I have good results!
 
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rjp1 said:
That's great news. I didn't think to charge before bed. Even just sleep tracking had become a big battery waste. Hoping I have good results!
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At 8:33am I was 88%.
At 1:55pm I'm sitting at 79%.

Not bad, better than last version. Looking forward to what you find out.
 
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I’m going to charge my AWU2 before bed and see what I end up with tomorrow morning after sleep tracking. My battery life is still the same today after work. I work outside and track that as my exercise which is 3.5-4 hours of walking. By the end of my 8 hour work day, I was down to 52% battery life. It’s on the charger now for sleep tracking. Normally I just charge it in the morning before I leave out for work and I start my day off with 100%. I have to charge it every day when I work, and every 1.5 days when I’m off work.
 
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1753930956742.jpeg


Yeah notice how it started out nice, then after this morning started its usual drain. Was a lot more flat lined under 2 updates ago. :/
 
I lost 4% with sleep tracking so I guess that’s okay. I’ll more than likely lose the normal amount with tracking my exercise today for the 3.5-4 hours with heart rate and gps tracking. I should be down to 60-50% battery life by the end of my work day.
 
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BigMcGuire said:
At 8:33am I was 88%.
At 1:55pm I'm sitting at 79%.

Not bad, better than last version. Looking forward to what you find out.
Click to expand...
I charged yesterday evening, but forgot to check what % I was at before bed. However, when I got up this morning I was at 87%. A few hours later and I'm at 85%. I think this update might have finally fixed my battery drain.
 
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