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Apple Releases watchOS 26.3

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Apple today released watchOS 26.3, an update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.3 comes two months after Apple released watchOS 26.2.

watchos-26-gradient-light.jpg

watchOS 26.3 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.3 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the watch. 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.

According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 26.3 includes unspecified bug fixes and security updates, and there were no new outward-facing features discovered during the beta testing process.

Article Link: Apple Releases watchOS 26.3
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/11/apple-releases-watchos-26-3/
  • Wow
Reactions: Z-4195
ive been doing it wrong then

intiate the download from the apple watch app on my phone then turn off bluetooth on my phone
 
mattburley7 said:
ive been doing it wrong then

intiate the download from the apple watch app on my phone then turn off bluetooth on my phone
Click to expand...

It should not matter too much but if you start the download over BT and then kill the BT it will switch to Wifi and try re-regulate the speed. It might just be cleaner to do the entire thing over wifi.

I doubt it makes too much difference over the download period but optically it will likely give you incorrect "... minutes remaining" estimates.


EDIT: Just don't forget to turn BT back on after the download has finished 😀
 

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The Cockney Rebel said:
Mine’s taking longer than both my iPhone and iPad.
Click to expand...
You mean the actual download itself? Mine took <5 min, don't want to know what if would have been via the phone, but yes, preparing, verifying takes another 20-30 min and install is usually about 5 min.
I usually plan on the whole process taking maybe an hour, which is fine with me. Slow, sure, but the computing power in the watch is limited.
 
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jz0309 said:
You mean the actual download itself? Mine took <5 min, don't want to know what if would have been via the phone, but yes, preparing, verifying takes another 20-30 min and install is usually about 5 min.
I usually plan on the whole process taking maybe an hour, which is fine with me. Slow, sure, but the computing power in the watch is limited.
Click to expand...
Cheers.

It’s currently preparing.

Wishing you well, bud.
 
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My Ultra V1 won't charge since 26.2 unless I force restart it. It was fine with 26.1 and previous versions of WatchOS. The problem persists in 26.3. I've tried multiple chargers/cables to no avail.
 
A slight tangent but if we're talking about apple watch - its cool. But i feel like , maybe the idea of it is kind of to motivate folks to be a little more healthy right?

I think apple should either manufacture and design by themselves, or partner with another company to come out with a walking pad.

There's too many issues that need to be solved with walking pads, but at the same time, they're too good of a product for a bunch of no-name companies to be crapping them out.

Apple I feel like has been about like, being innovative, even lately with standards like magsafe becoming qi2, and USBC growing across the industry

I think some company, whether it's apple or someone else, should take that idea of standards, and bring that to the walking pad industry.

For example, while a new walking pad can function ok, I think there's issues like remote controls that aren't standardized (they should be). Handlebars aren't always included. (They should be)

One might say - what about treadmill and point toward $2000+ Nordic track machines or even more expensive $700+ walking pads.

But I think apple or some company should have sort of an iPod moment with walking pads and kind of normalize / standardize / consolidate all the different features and functions and bring it / market it into a sleek ~$500 machine.
 
Does the charging notification not work again for anyone else? It was working fine on the RC...

EDIT: Disregard this please, started working again properly once hard restarting my iPhone.
 
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