Charger required to update

[philpalmiero]

Why must the Apple Watch be on a charger to update? It’s at 100% charge and yet apple insists I connect it to a charge to install the update.

 

[svanstrom]

Why must the Apple Watch be on a charger to update? It’s at 100% charge and yet apple insists I connect it to a charge to install the update.

Probably just because then people actually will leave it alone, instead of doing something that potentially could brick it.

 

[bricktop_at]

Most definitely to minimize any risks as, if the watch gets bricked somehow, you end up sending it for repair or having it exchanged

 

[waw74]

it's possible the update might temporarily stop the battery controller, or at least has the potential to.
and if you've got charger + battery you've got a little extra protection against either dropping out.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I always have any i-device plugged into power when I'm updating it...

 

[EM2013]

I remember you used to be able to update once it was charged to a certain percentage. Don’t know which watchOS changed that.

 

[tcphoto1]

The battery needs to be at 50% or better in order to update software.

 

[nilk]

The battery needs to be at 50% or better in order to update software.

Last update I had 75% battery, but it still said I need 50% or better and required me to put it on the charger to update. Haven't owned it long enough to know if this is different than normal, but maybe was something unique with the last update?

 

[waw74]

Last update I had 75% battery, but it still said I need 50% or better and required me to put it on the charger to update. Haven't owned it long enough to know if this is different than normal, but maybe was something unique with the last update?

the battery needs to be over 50% AND the watch has to be on the charger

75% and not on the charger does not meet the requirements,

as another example... 25% and on the charger would also not meet the requirements. the watch would continue to charge though, and if you've got it ready to go, it can start the update once it has enough juice in the battery.

it's been like this since the beginning.