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PSA - watchOS 3.1.1 is bricking Series 2 Watches

Beards said:
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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I hear you. It's like upgrade roulette and if you're out of warranty it's truly frustrating. It's not even that the device fails, it's a software glitch brought on by something that is supposed to make your device better. What's even more frustrating is that they spend how many weeks testing these builds in a beta environment? How does this happen?
 
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Phogro said:
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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Eugh - this does not bode well for my appointment this afternoon at Apple Authorised Service Centre.... it's always more difficult with them because they can't authorise an exception as not directly Apple. The Apple bloke on the phone said that if they charged me too much to repair, that Apple may make an exception (despite fact that my warranty has expired) because of fact that was installing an OS update.

Will let you guys know...
 
Mine bricked with similar experience as OP.

Started the upgrade at 10pm before bed. When I was ready to leave for work at 9am the white progress ring was full but still showing. Pressing power button gave the red exclamation mark.

Off to Apple I go...
 
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I don't understand how this can happen, there are so few variants, and it's got little aging legacy code. Windows/Android have to cope with an absolutely massive variation in hardware, and cope.
 
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Happened to my wife's watch. Super pissed that she has to be without a watch for weeks due to something 100% the fault of Apple. I tried to get them to do express replacement but not an option without AppleCare. Ridiculous that a 2 month old watch is bricked due to Apples software and they don't bend over backwards to resolve it asap.
 
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wope said:
Happened to my wife's watch. Super pissed that she has to be without a watch for weeks due to something 100% the fault of Apple. I tried to get them to do express replacement but not an option without AppleCare. Ridiculous that a 2 month old watch is bricked due to Apples software and they don't bend over backwards to resolve it asap.
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When I purchase my watch I'll definitely be getting Applecare +!
 
My update went smoothly AW Series 2 here. Just thinking did you maybe update from beta WatchOS or you have beta profile certificate installed? It is also true that i waited the process to be done then i take off the watch from the charger . Even the battery it seems its bit better.
 
Started mine late last night/in the morning (~3AM) and it went through just fine and was updated by the time I woke up:
FullSizeRender.jpg

I'm thinking it might have been a problem for the first few hours (perhaps bad copies sent out), but it seems that everyone who updated it a little later went through just fine.
 
So am 50 days out of warranty, but after being put through to an Apple Senior Advisor they have created an exception because of fact that watch was bricked when was carrying out an OS install, and can now go to authorised service centre for them to send off and get replacement. Pissed off to be without watch for a few weeks, but glad that Apple has agreed to exchange despite being out of warranty. However, does make me completely lose faith in watch OS installs. At least with a phone, you can reset to factory settings.. a watch when it bricks.. there is nothing you can do....
 
redsteeler said:
My update went smoothly AW Series 2 here. Just thinking did you maybe update from beta WatchOS or you have beta profile certificate installed? It is also true that i waited the process to be done then i take off the watch from the charger . Even the battery it seems its bit better.
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Good thought, but no, not on the beta track at all for the watch or phone right now.
 
I'm wondering if Apple has pulled the 3.1.1 update?

Software Update on my iPhone says "watchOS 3.1 Your software is up to date."
 
I upgraded last night on an AW2. Took quite a while but eventually finished and rebooted no problems. I think the key is to be really patient with it and keep it on the charger. (or maybe just be lucky)
 
My co-worker has the same issue. Kind of glad he mentioned it to me. I'll wait on the update. I do want to update it but maybe placing it on the charger helps while the update is running. Though not sure why that would make a difference.
 
Hmm, my phone won't let me update. It says the update can't be verified as I'm not connected to the internet (which I most certainly am). Wonder if it's been pulled?
 
Upgrade went fine here. S2 42mm. After reading this thread I will never install in the first week+ anymore.
 
My first watch updated ok but it took ages. Second watch wouldnt update telling me that it was up to date with 3.1 so they have definitely pulled the update.
If you watch is brick, then in the uk you have a case to demand a replacement as the watch was damaged by Apple and not through neglect
 
The update must have been pulled by Apple for the time being due to this issue.
Yesterday I had the 3.1.1 available, today it shows up to date at 3.1. Very glad I didn't feel like messing with an update last night.
 
I dont know what Apple are playing at these days. Its shocking quality control to release an update that destroys their own hardware. One or two odd cases might be just unlucky but to have so many customers have their watches bricked by Apple. Someone's head at Apple will roll for this
 
My Garmin Chronos just got updated and works great!
JSPerry said:
The update must have been pulled by Apple for the time being due to this issue.
Yesterday I had the 3.1.1 available, today it shows up to date at 3.1. Very glad I didn't feel like messing with an update last night.
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Yep it looks like Apple pulled the update as mine now shows 3.1 and no updates available.
 
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