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Apple Watch Series 3 Owners Now Required to Perform Restore When Updating Due to Storage Constraints
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I just went through this last weekend, with my wife's Series 3. A giant PITA - it basically took all afternoon. She had two backups listed, so that made it even more fun. Time for her to upgrade.
I have a Series3 GPS+Cellular. WatchOs 7.5. I don't have photos. I have very little music (85 songs). No mail. Two 3rd-party apps.
It says: Capacity: 11,6GB, Free: 8GB.
I have never had that unpair/pair problem. The update worked as usual.
Where does it says, that ALL S3 users have to do that process from now on?
The Apple Support document says: "Learn what to do _IF_ your Apple Watch says you need more available storage to install a watchOS update." (emphasis added)
Are you sure that the Portuguese screenshot is enough proof to state it as a fact that ALL S3 users have to Unpair their watch for EVERY new update?
It says: Capacity: 11,6GB, Free: 8GB.
I have never had that unpair/pair problem. The update worked as usual.
Where does it says, that ALL S3 users have to do that process from now on?
The Apple Support document says: "Learn what to do _IF_ your Apple Watch says you need more available storage to install a watchOS update." (emphasis added)
Are you sure that the Portuguese screenshot is enough proof to state it as a fact that ALL S3 users have to Unpair their watch for EVERY new update?
This might only apply to the GPS only version with 8 GB. My wife had that one and we had to wipe it to install every update for the past year. I finally got fed up and got her a Series 6. The GPS + Cellular version has 16 GB. I have this version and have never had to wipe mine for an update.
This article was not fully thought out I think. Obviously the Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular has higher storage than those without, so those cellular models probably don’t have that issue?!
It's not a great look that they sell a watch as new that… basically can't update itself to newer software without a complete wipe. It's also not a great look that they left this entirely unaddressed for months.
I'm guessing in fall, the SE will drop to $199, and the 3 will no longer be sold as new. Maybe it won't even get watchOS 8 at all? That would be a drastic move, but it's not getting any smaller.
I get the engineering constraints here, but what I don't understand is how they didn't anticipate this years before. Did management not hear the concerns?
I'm guessing in fall, the SE will drop to $199, and the 3 will no longer be sold as new. Maybe it won't even get watchOS 8 at all? That would be a drastic move, but it's not getting any smaller.
I get the engineering constraints here, but what I don't understand is how they didn't anticipate this years before. Did management not hear the concerns?
I mean, yes, actually.
I used my Apple Watch "Series 0" until 2020, extensively. Now I'm on an SE. It's a useful daily companion and if I get about three to four years out of it, I'm fine with that.
The money spent on a Rolex would fund a lifetime supply of Apple watches.
Well my problem is I can't figure out how to reinstall the default apps after you delete them, and my issue with the unpariring and reparing is something no one seemed to have mentioned yet in this thread: it creates ANOTHER Apple Watch as a source in the Health App... I already have 4 apple watches listed there and I've only had 1 series 3 watch... It really bothers my OCD... I hate how I can't just merge all the apple watch sources into one.
I guess I won't be updating until I buy a new SE or a future iteration of the Apple Watch come September...
This was always my fear with Apple Watch. I felt like it should have been a 7-10 year purchase but knew that couldn’t be the case. I have the cellular/ GPS series 3 and have experienced the terrible updates, but am happy to experience once every 6 months. I wonder if they need to start having multiple watch OS’s in order to provide more life to the older models. If people want the new tech they can buy a new watch.
Following the iOS 14.6 and watchOS 7.5 updates, Apple Watch Series 3 owners who update their devices to a new version of watchOS are prompted to unpair and re-pair the Apple Watch from the iPhone during the update process because of storage space constraints.
The GPS-only version of the Apple Watch Series 3 only has 8GB of internal storage, which limits the amount of space available for software updates, and Apple's solution to this problem is to wipe the Apple Watch Series 3 and start fresh from a backup whenever an update is required.
As 9to5Mac points out, prior to the iOS 14.6 update, Apple Watch Series 3 owners who attempted to install new versions of watchOS continually ran into an issue with not having enough storage space to download and install new software.
Rather than requiring users to clear apps and media from their Apple Watches, iOS 14.6 prompts users to go through the extra step of unpairing and re-pairing. "To install the watchOS update, unpair your Apple Watch and pair it again in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone," reads the notification that Apple Watch Series 3 owners receive. The popup is depicted below, but shown in Portuguese.
It's worth noting that prior to this update, Apple did recommend unpairing and re-pairing for Apple Watch Series 3 owners experiencing issues, but now it appears to be part of the installation process.
Given the age of the Apple Watch Series 3, the limited storage space, and the extra step to install new software, it's likely that Apple is planning to discontinue the Apple Watch Series 3, likely when new Apple Watch models are released later this year. Apple is at the current time still selling it as a low-cost option, but we do not recommend purchasing it over a Series 6 or an Apple Watch SE, both of which feature much newer technology.
Article Link: Apple Watch Series 3 Owners Now Required to Perform Restore When Updating Due to Storage Constraints
Yep. That’s what I’ve had to do for awhile. My thought was about what I’d do with it when it truly does get left behind and can’t pair.
the issue is with the gps versions that have 8gb. The cell versions, like yours, have 16gb and don't have this issue
Every time I do this I end up with a stack of snail mail from my credit card companies, who all seem to insist upon sending me a postal mail letter every time I (re)add a card to Apple Pay on a device.
In my experience it was unpair, set up as new, update, reset, restore from backup.
I’ve had to do this the last couple of updates. Even deleting all the apps manually and seeing enough space it would always say out of space. Had to unpair, repair, update, unpair, restore. It took a good amount of time. But a couple of days ago I had it on the charger and came home to it boot looping. So I guess I will be getting a new watch this fall.
Management is always the last group of people that bothers about these concerns.
It happens to me as well and I have 18 “Apple watch” sources in my health app. But, apparently, this is a nonissue for most people. Maybe they are not aware or don’t care.
Hm, I just checked and have "five", which map to two actual physical watches.
Does it really matter that much, though?
Just five - this is not really much. I do have 12 of them. I suppose it adds a new source, every time you set up the watch as new. 4 watches, some already gone. Just leave it that way, i think you will lose data, if you remove the old source...
You will. Even if you use the same name, apple identifies each source with some sort of UID that changes from watch to watch and reset upon un-pairing. Don’t ask me how I know this.