Can one keep a watch on a previous OS?

[turbineseaplane]

Hoping someone who knows about this can please help.

I'd like to sample a new or preowned AW Series 10 (titanium, but that doesn't matter here) ... however, my phone is on iOS18 and needs to remain there for the foreseeable future.

Can I set up and use an Apple Watch if I'm still on iOS18?

Is it the sort of thing where I need to find a preowned still on whatever WatchOS version was before v26?

Or how does this work?

Thank you for any tips.

 

[jz0309]

Hoping someone who knows about this can please help.

I'd like to sample a new or preowned AW Series 10 (titanium, but that doesn't matter here) ... however, my phone is on iOS18 and needs to remain there for the foreseeable future.

Can I set up and use an Apple Watch if I'm still on iOS18?

Is it the sort of thing where I need to find a preowned still on whatever WatchOS version was before v26?

Or how does this work?

Thank you for any tips.

if the watch is still on watchOS 11 (was that the pre 26 version?), then sure, no problem. if it has been updated to watchOS 26, no, won't work with iOS 18.
A new, supposedly from a non-Apple store AW 10 should be running watchOS 11 ...

 

[Shirasaki]

Yes you need to find an Apple Watch that is on an OS lower than iOS 18. Dunno if Apple Store employee allows downgrade when your iPhone can be upgraded to iOS 26.

 

[Howard2k]

I've read here that if you send the watch to Apple they may be able to downgrade it. I have no direct experience though.