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Apple Releases watchOS 9.6 With Bug Fixes

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple today released watchOS 9.6, a minor bug fix update for the Apple Watch. watchOS 9.6 is a free software update that comes a month the launch of watchOS 9.5, an update that brought the new 2023 Pride watch face.

watchOS-9-header.jpg

watchOS 9.6 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by opening it up and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌.

According to Apple, the update includes bug fixes and security improvements for Apple Watch owners, with no new specific features.

watchOS 9 will soon be replaced with watchOS 10, the next-generation version of watchOS that Apple is currently beta testing.

Article Link: Apple Releases watchOS 9.6 With Bug Fixes
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/24/apple-releases-watchos-9-6-with-bug-fixes/
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These updates are being pushed to the watch wirelessly, never quick. I've had multiple update failures trying to install this update. The phone never gets past "Estimating time remaining...". Both have been restarted.
 
Just took the usual long evening walk around town and although time/distance/elevation/pace/heartrate registered as always, it shows 0 active/total calories, and the bar graph thinks I haven't burnt any since the early afternoon update. Paging the QA department...
 
My Ulta no longer connects to my Tmobile cellular after the update. For cellular status it reports no connection most of the time (this is off wifi and with no iphone around.) If I toggle cellular on/off it sometimes connect. I think they hosed something.
 
I’m not seeing this update available for my Series 8 Watch….

Edit:
I apologise as I just realised that while my Series 8 was on the charger and I tried checking for the update my iPhone connected to my old S2 watch and that’s why no updates were showing LOL 😂
 
Last edited:
Still seeing the grey/green background issue on my Series 5 - sigh.

In the dark it literally repeatedly flickers different shades of grey like Christmas tree lights.

This has been an issue for months now, sort it out Apple!!
 
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iAssimilated said:
Because I put my watch on before my iPhone is turned on.
Click to expand...
That makes sense, but again out of curiosity, why do you turn your iPhone off?
Sorry, not trying to “challenge” you, just curious as I never turn my iPhone off, nor my AW for that matter. Nor my Mac Studio unless I’m out of the house for more than a couple days
 
jz0309 said:
That makes sense, but again out of curiosity, why do you turn your iPhone off?
Sorry, not trying to “challenge” you, just curious as I never turn my iPhone off, nor my AW for that matter. Nor my Mac Studio unless I’m out of the house for more than a couple days
Click to expand...

No worries... I don't see it as a challenge... simply a question. I rarely turn off my Macs (if ever). My watch is only turned off if it is acting weird (so probably two to three times since I've owned one... I started with a S5). My phone gets turned off every night (unless it is charging) due to the habit created over the years of owning a cell phone. I like my sleep and don't need a text, amber alert, or phone call disturbing it.
 
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iAssimilated said:
No worries... I don't see it as a challenge... simply a question. I rarely turn off my Macs (if ever). My watch is only turned off if it is acting weird (so probably two to three times since I've owned one... I started with a S5). My phone gets turned off every night (unless it is charging) due to the habit created over the years of owning a cell phone. I like my sleep and don't need a text, amber alert, or phone call disturbing it.
Click to expand...
Makes sense, I have similar habit in that I got “attached” to the phone 24x7 10 years ago when I broke my femur and we had to setup a bed downstairs and using the phone was the easiest way to communicate with my wife if needed. Have since used “do not disturb” during night/sleep except for wife/kid for emergency…
 
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itsmemuffins said:
Is anyone having battery issues with this update? Series 5 battery getting absolutely hammered. Battery going down one percent every minute or so.
Click to expand...
Hate to revive an older thread. Did this ever fix for you? My SS S5 is on 9.6.1 and I started having issues where it would drain from 100-30% overnight during sleep tracking. Started a couple weeks ago. I have just tried unpairing and restoring and will see if this fixes, but I don’t think so based on the couple hours since the restore. Battery health is at 80% so I’m borderline to start an AppleCare+ Battery service.
 
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