AppleWatch Ultra 2 won't pair with iPhone nonetheless iOS up to 17.6.1

[Giuanniello]

Got my son an Ultra2 to upgrade his series 8 but he said the watch won't pair due to non updated iOS, I checked and his iPhone 11 is up to date, tried with mine which is a 13 and also on 17.6.1 and the message I receive upon pairing is the same:

iPhone is not updated

so far I understand the watch has to go to Apple for an OS downgrade, is this correct?


Grazie

 

[jz0309]

Got my son an Ultra2 to upgrade his series 8 but he said the watch won't pair due to non updated iOS, I checked and his iPhone 11 is up to date, tried with mine which is a 13 and also on 17.6.1 and the message I receive upon pairing is the same:

iPhone is not updated

so far I understand the watch has to go to Apple for an OS downgrade, is this correct?


Grazie

Reboot your phone and try again.
Have you contacted Apple?

 

[GoofyCyborg]

Where did you get the watch? Sounds like it has beta firmware installed and won’t work on the current public release.

 

[Giuanniello]

Bought it used I am gonna ask the ex owner

 

[GoofyCyborg]

Though as much... The previous owner likely installed the latest beta iOS 18 on their iPhone and updated the watch to with Beta watchOS 11. If so, only Apple can downgrade the devices' firmware. You can, of course, wait for the official release of iOS 18 and watchOS 11 or install the latest Beta.

 

[Howard2k]

Is it the new 17.6.1 or the old 17.6.1?

Apple Re-Releases iOS 17.6.1 With Advanced Data Protection Bug Fix

Apple today released an updated version of iOS 17.6.1, with the new software coming a week and a half after the launch of the original iOS 17.6.1...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Giuanniello]

I updated a few days ago, I suppose the new one

 

[Howard2k]

There is a new 17.6.1 that came out today, so worth double checking.

 

[goldmac2006]

Bought it used I am gonna ask the ex owner

Did you buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 from eBay or from a different second hand store? Had you looked up the serial number of the Apple Watch Ultra on the Apple website? The serial number can be found in the top band channel when you take off the watch band, the original box if it came with it or by pressing the I icon on the bottom right corner of the setup screen.

You can attempt to restart the Apple Watch during the pairing process by force restarting it via pressing the Digital Crown and side button for a couple of seconds and releasing at the Apple logo, or by pressing and holding the side button and sliding power off after pressing the power icon. Restart the iPhone you intend to pair with the Apple Watch as well.

If the original owner/seller does not reach out to you about the watchOS version they last updated it to, you should make a trip to the Apple Store and get the Watch checked out. The Genius Bar has the tool to get in the Apple Watch diagnostic port and can find out which watchOS version the Apple Watch Ultra is on, and can downgrade it for you. Book an appointment with your local Apple Store here.

As it is an Ultra 2 which is the latest Apple Watch, it should be still under warranty as it is still only a few months old.

 

[Giuanniello]

Buongiorno from Italì, I contacted the person who sold me the Watch and also got an app at an Apple partner repair, the watch should be covered by a few more months warranty so I will try that but it might be, as @goldmac2006 mentioned, that it was paired with an iOS18 beta iPhone so I am trying with an older iPhone to update to that and figure it out, in the meantime a walk at the repair center won't harm.

I will keep you posted, thanks for your hints

 

[goldmac2006]

Buongiorno from Italì, I contacted the person who sold me the Watch and also got an app at an Apple partner repair, the watch should be covered by a few more months warranty so I will try that but it might be, as @goldmac2006 mentioned, that it was paired with an iOS18 beta iPhone so I am trying with an older iPhone to update to that and figure it out, in the meantime a walk at the repair center won't harm.

I will keep you posted, thanks for your hints

No problem, sir. Has the seller reached out to you about the watchOS version of the Apple Watch Ultra yet?

Make sure you bring along your iPhone and the chargers for both devices to your Apple Authorized Service Provider appointment, and keep in touch about that. BTW just curious but did you wear an Apple Watch before?

 

[Giuanniello]

There were two issues, first being the watch got paired with a beta iOS 18, I installed it on an iPhone and it paired but the seller forgot to remove the watch off of his iCloud and I couldn't configure it, all fixed.

Thank you so much for your patience and suggestions

 

[goldmac2006]

There were two issues, first being the watch got paired with a beta iOS 18, I installed it on an iPhone and it paired but the seller forgot to remove the watch off of his iCloud and I couldn't configure it, all fixed.

Thank you so much for your patience and suggestions

Alrighty, so glad you ruled it out yourself with the watchOS version itself, and it is 100% it is an Apple Watch Ultra 2 running watchOS 11 beta.

For iCloud Activation Lock to be pulled off, you need to contact the seller and ask them to remove their Apple Watch Ultra off their Apple Account. Had they gotten back to you about that?

 

[Giuanniello]

The seller removed the watch off his iCloud devices list, now the issue is that my son's iPhone 11 seems not to want to download ios18beta (I have not checked personally) even tho it seems like it is supported by the phone so I have to figure how to install 18 on his iPhone so he can pair the watch

 

[jz0309]

The seller removed the watch off his iCloud devices list, now the issue is that my son's iPhone 11 seems not to want to download ios18beta (I have not checked personally) even tho it seems like it is supported by the phone so I have to figure how to install 18 on his iPhone so he can pair the watch

Does he/you have a developer account?

 

[Giuanniello]

I don't, not aware if he does, I could install a iOS 18beta on my secondary phone which is a partly broken screen iPhone 12 but for some reasons the iOS 18beta option doesn't appear on my son's iPhone 11 unless he did something wrong since I didn't check with hime

 

[jz0309]

I don't, not aware if he does, I could install a iOS 18beta on my secondary phone which is a partly broken screen iPhone 12 but for some reasons the iOS 18beta option doesn't appear on my son's iPhone 11 unless he did something wrong since I didn't check with hime

follow this:

How to Install the Fifth iOS 18 Public Beta

Apple has made available the fifth betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 to public beta testers, bringing the new software to the general public. Keep...

www.macrumors.com

 

[goldmac2006]

I don't, not aware if he does, I could install a iOS 18beta on my secondary phone which is a partly broken screen iPhone 12 but for some reasons the iOS 18beta option doesn't appear on my son's iPhone 11 unless he did something wrong since I didn't check with hime

Alrighty, so the activation lock is out of the way now. As it is a watchOS 11 beta Apple Watch Ultra 2, iOS 18 beta is required to be installed. Ask your son if he logged into developer.apple.com with his Apple ID that is connected to his iPhone 11, and check Settings>General> Software Update, the option that says iOS 18 Developer Beta should pop up. See the screenshot below 👇

This is screenshotted from my iPhone XR, which is a similar model to the iPhone 11 and from the year before it.

Install iOS 18 beta 7 on it and try pairing the Apple Watch. Don’t cancel the Apple Authorized Service Provider appointment yet; just in case you run into pairing issues.

 

[Giuanniello]

It's strange, I handled my son's phone a couple min and beta versions don't show up into the updates options, his .Mac account is configured, I really don't understand why

p.s. might the reason be not enough space? still strange that the option to install betas is not there

 

[goldmac2006]

It's strange, I handled my son's phone a couple min and beta versions don't show up into the updates options, his .Mac account is configured, I really don't understand why

Had you followed the instructions on signing into developer.apple.com for the developer beta with his Apple ID?

You can also check out this Apple fan made website where it has resources related to all kinds of iOS and watchOS beta testing: https://betaprofiles.com/
This website covers everything on iOS 18 developer beta versions but also has clearer instructions on installing it, since iOS 16.1 users have a choice between picking the type of beta they want and does not need a profile to install.

 

[jz0309]

It's strange, I handled my son's phone a couple min and beta versions don't show up into the updates options, his .Mac account is configured, I really don't understand why

p.s. might the reason be not enough space? still strange that the option to install betas is not there

The AppleID I am using on my iPhone is registered as a developer account, but I’m not running the beats on my iphone.
Post a screenshot of your sons settings for SW updates, I suspect that his AppleID is not registered as a developer

 

[goldmac2006]

The AppleID I am using on my iPhone is registered as a developer account, but I’m not running the beats on my iphone.
Post a screenshot of your sons settings for SW updates, I suspect that his AppleID is not registered as a developer


View attachment 2408395

That is also another thing I would like to point out, @Giuanniello ~ geez I forgot to screenshot that. You should be able to see these choices and pick the iOS developer or public beta for installation. Do not pick the iOS 17 option, or it will not work.