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PSA - watchOS 3.1.1 is bricking Series 2 Watches

P

profets

macrumors 603
Original poster
Mar 18, 2009
5,171
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It seems that many Series 2 owners have been ending up with bricked watches after doing the 3.1.1 update yesterday.

I started mine at 9pm when I was going to sleep. Multiple times during the night when I opened my eyes the watch was on the progress screen (Apple logo in centre with white ring showing progress around it). Once it was full it stayed like that for hours. Pressing the power button caused it to boot to the red exclamation mark screen:

2j6721l.jpg


I quoted many of the Series 2 owners responses on the following post:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nce-improvements-and-new-emoji.2021203/page-3

Any others experience this? Any Watch Series 2 owners do the update and it finished without issue?

Would love for MacRumors to mention this somewhere so others can be warned if it's really an issue.

Update: Shyos mentioned that his install went smooth, took 20 minutes on a Series 2.
 
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no issue on mine. i wanted to update mine as on the previous update my watch just randomly just started to switch off then the apple logo came on and it happened several times each day. So far this hasn't happened yet..
 
Same issue. Started the update process at 8:30pm before crawling into bed. Woke up at 1am with the frozen progress screen. Space Grey Sport, Series 2 that came with 3.1 factory installed (in case that matters).
 
The Game 161 said:
did this happen as you downloaded or has it happened a day later?
Click to expand...

It did the download, and then started the install. And the progress circle screen (for lack of a better description) was taking forever:

4lsgo0.png


And then it spent the majority of the night with the ring full and nothing else happening, until I pressed the power button in which case it started boot up to the screen with the red exclamation mark.
 
profets said:
It did the download, and then started the install. And the progress circle screen (for lack of a better description) was taking forever:

4lsgo0.png


And then it spent the majority of the night with the ring full and nothing else happening, until I pressed the power button in which case it started boot up to the screen with the red exclamation mark.
Click to expand...
damn that sucks.

so guessing you can't just reset it? not sure why this has happened. very odd. would think they would actually test these properly.
 
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The Game 161 said:
damn that sucks.

so guessing you can't just reset it? not sure why this has happened. very odd. would think they would actually test these properly.
Click to expand...

Following the link to Apple's site, it mentions to do a hard reboot, but every time it just boots up to the red exclamation mark. After that, Apple's support online says to bring it in store.

Earliest appointment is 4 days away where I am. And I'm quite sure all the store can do is send it back to Apple for repair. So I'm sure it'll be at least a week that I'm without it.
 
Same issue for me. Red exclamation point appeared after installing the software for hours.

Support said to send in for repair. I asked if I could take it to the store since it's near my house. Appointment is 4 days away. This stinks. I wish they would just replace it. We shouldn't have to suffer because of their software defect. Grrrrr!!!
 
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pmccr8 said:
Support said to send in for repair. I asked if I could take it to the store since it's near my house. Appointment is 4 days away. This stinks. I wish they would just replace it. We shouldn't have to suffer because of their software defect. Grrrrr!!!
Click to expand...
To quote myself from another thread: I have seen a few people on Reddit say that apparently the Stores can't do anything other than send it off so you may want to contact Apple Support directly to arrange a mail in (or Express Replacement if you have AppleCare+). It will probably be quicker than waiting for an appointment and then another wait after that while it gets sent off.
 
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JayTay said:
To quote myself from another thread: I have seen a few people on Reddit say that apparently the Stores can't do anything other than send it off so you may want to contact Apple Support directly to arrange a mail in (or Express Replacement if you have AppleCare+). It will probably be quicker than waiting for an appointment and then another wait after that while it gets sent off.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. I will call apple for the mail in.
I've only had it since 10/14.
Nike + version
 
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I have an Apple Watch Series 0 - just 50 days past warranty, and same thing happened after updating to 3.1.1. Bricked watch. Now only comes up with Red Exclamation Mark. Going to take it to an Apple Authorised Service place today. Anyone had any luck with Apple or with authorised service places once the watch is past guarantee? Worried that they're going to either charge me silly amounts to get it fixed/replaced, or worse still, say I have to buy a new one. Pretty pissed off considering that it was Apple's new software that bricked watch.
 
Called Apple support. First they've heard of this. Overnighting a replacement Series 2. It's gonna be a long day for them.
 
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profets said:
It did the download, and then started the install. And the progress circle screen (for lack of a better description) was taking forever:

4lsgo0.png


And then it spent the majority of the night with the ring full and nothing else happening, until I pressed the power button in which case it started boot up to the screen with the red exclamation mark.
Click to expand...
Exactly what happened with mine Apple Watch Series 2 overnight too.
Probably will send it in since in Berlin you can only get an appointment if you wait til midnight and then make an appointment in 1 week from then...
 
kissfan said:
Called Apple support. First they've heard of this. Overnighting a replacement Series 2. It's gonna be a long day for them.
Click to expand...

Geez. I called and they said I would have to send it in and then wait for it to come back. And with timelines right now it would take 2-3 weeks.

I guess you have apple care + and it's express replacement?
 
Blamueg said:
I have an Apple Watch Series 0 - just 50 days past warranty, and same thing happened after updating to 3.1.1. Bricked watch. Now only comes up with Red Exclamation Mark. Going to take it to an Apple Authorised Service place today. Anyone had any luck with Apple or with authorised service places once the watch is past guarantee? Worried that they're going to either charge me silly amounts to get it fixed/replaced, or worse still, say I have to buy a new one. Pretty pissed off considering that it was Apple's new software that bricked watch.
Click to expand...

Seeing as I too have a series 0 with no AppleCare, I'd be interested to know how you got on with Apple.
 
I made the mistake of coming to the store (I have one somewhat close) as I know they're pretty good about having walk in appointments. I got an appointment right away. And the genius rep has been spending the past 15 minutes attempting to reboot the watch.

Amazingly:

-They're insisting that the watch is fine and that it just needs to be repaired

-That this never happens and they've never seen an update cause this

-Second time I've been asked if I removed the watch from charger as that will definitely cause the update to fail


And now, they're still attempting to re-pair the watch to my phone......
 
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I just wanted to confirm that after talking with an Apple Support rep all they can do at the store is try and force restart it. If that fails, their only other option is to send it out for repair. If you're on Apple Care+ you can opt for Express Replacement - seems like a painless process.

Apple's has been dropping the ball lately on these updates lately. I'm not sure I'll ever want to update my watch again after this. :-(
 
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Phogro said:
Apple's has been dropping the ball lately on these updates lately. I'm not sure I'll ever want to update my watch again after this. :-(
Click to expand...

You're not wrong. Latest updates are making me increasingly nervous. Especially as I'm concerned if a software update breaks my watch which is no longer under warranty and with no Apple Care I'll be left to financially sort it out myself.
 
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