Apple Stores Will Soon Be Able to Restore Apple Watch Software In-House

[MacRumors]

Apple retail locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers will soon be able to restore Apple Watch software in-store without needing to send an Apple Watch to a service center, according to a retail source that spoke to MacRumors.

Right now, Apple Watches that can't be restored using an iPhone need to be mailed to an Apple Repair Center for service. There is no in-store repair option, so customers have to wait for the Apple Watch to be shipped to the repair depot, get repaired, and be shipped back.

Starting later this month, Apple Stores and AASPs will be able to use an Apple Watch repair dock that connects to a Mac to restore the software on an Apple Watch. An in-store option for fixing software will make software-based repairs much quicker.

With watchOS 8.5 and iOS 15.4, Apple introduced an iPhone-based wireless restore option, but it is limited. It can only be used when a restore prompt is shown on the Apple Watch. For software issues where the iPhone restore doesn't work, the Apple Watch needs a specialized repair currently unavailable in retail stores. Failed updates, bricked devices, and boot loops can't be fixed with an iPhone.

Early Apple Watch models had a diagnostic port that Apple Stores could use for software fixes, but it was removed with the Apple Watch Series 7, and Apple switched to a wireless restoration process. After the port was dropped, Apple Watch software repairs had to be done at Apple Service Centers, making software-based failures a hassle for customers.

Article Link: Apple Stores Will Soon Be Able to Restore Apple Watch Software In-House

 

[EvilEvil]

It's so crazy, it took this long.

 

[dontwalkhand]

This took long enough. I have had to do depot repair twice now, due to a flopped update. And now if you update to Beta and decide to go back to normal, you finally can without sending the watch off!

 

[techfreak23]

Never noticed on my Series 8 that they had removed the diagnostic port, not that they had ever made that useable to the public anyway.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Can’t believe they can’t already do that

What iOS generation did this capability first become available? I thought this was available for iPhones in store starting in like 2010, under Steve Jobs

 

[alexandr]

Some stores do this. I went to a different town to get this done. Of course the restore process failed, but that's a different story. 🙂

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Apple Stores now have these⬇️ kinds of capabilities but NOT restore capabilities? Even tho it’s been out since 2015?! 🙃

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Considering how popular the watch is, I’m kinda surprised they can’t yet factory restore (in-store) but it’s good that they finally added this

 

[jz0309]

Good to know. Never needed it in over 10 years.

 

[dominiongamma]

It's so crazy, it took this long.

“It just works… when we get around to it”

 

[iModFrenzy]

My first thought was “they couldn’t???” after reading that headline, how did it take that long

 

[goonie4life9]

Folks, Apple is a tiny startup with limited resources. Because the Apple Watch is the best-in-class wearable device, they have been focused on taking its game-changing features to a whole new level. While doing so, Apple discovered the secret to in-store Restoring. Apple can’t wait to see the incredible things customers are able to do after this ALL NEW service.

But seriously, I suspect Apple saw a significant failure rate of Restoring, and didn’t want to have to train so many store employees on troubleshooting it. That problem is likely now solved.

 

[MrRom92]

And then MacRumors people will try to tell you that OTA updates and restores are perfectly fine

 

[Blackstick]

The watch remains infuriatingly dependent on an iPhone and the Bluetooth link between them is so sluggish.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Apple Stores Will Soon Be Able to Restore Apple iWatchOS Software In-House​

Fixed that.

 

[Charlie Bonesx]

Reading all the other same comments and then still posting….

They couldn’t already do that?!?!

 

[ignatius345]

an Apple Watch repair dock

So, I guess there's a hidden physical port somewhere in the watch?

 

[wilderkun]

So, I guess there's a hidden physical port somewhere in the watch?

I’m not sure anymore. There used to be one when the watch originally came out. But that was until like the 6. Not sure what the mechanism is for new watches, but would assume it’s a wireless thing like that iPad

 

[Veoronox]

Let’s hope they at least make it available for all repair shops and not only the Apple stores itself. Even though I kinda know the answer to that already.

 

[SidricTheViking]

Let’s hope they at least make it available for all repair shops and not only the Apple stores itself. Even though I kinda know the answer to that already.

Well, the first line of the article says it’s not just Apple Stores but Apple Authorised Service Providers too. That means places like Best Buy in the US, Select in the UK and COMSPOT in Germany. So, that’s good, right?

 

[iLuddite]

Let’s hope they at least make it available for all repair shops and not only the Apple stores itself. Even though I kinda know the answer to that already.

You’d know had you read the first sentence:

Apple retail locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers will soon be able to restore Apple Watch software in-store without needing to send an Apple Watch to a service center, according to a retail source that spoke to MacRumors.

 

[Radeon85]

If the watches are capable of being restored wirelessly, why can't they build in the ability to restore it via the iPhone, iPad, or Mac?

 

[svish]

Good to know. Should make it much easier to repair. Glad to see this available now.

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

Folks, Apple is a tiny startup with limited resources. Because the Apple Watch is the best-in-class wearable device, they have been focused on taking its game-changing features to a whole new level. While doing so, Apple discovered the secret to in-store Restoring. Apple can’t wait to see the incredible things customers are able to do after this ALL NEW service.

But seriously, I suspect Apple saw a significant failure rate of Restoring, and didn’t want to have to train so many store employees on troubleshooting it. That problem is likely now solved.

Small endie company

 

[cicalinarrot]

In other news, BMW won't ship your car to Germany to change windshield wipers anymore.

 

[alexandr]

In other news, BMW won't ship your car to Germany to change windshield wipers anymore.

They won't, but some parts are on backorder from Germany for many moons... 🙂