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Correct, sir. You’ll need to keep your Apple Watch Ultra on 26 until you visit an Apple Store or mail it to an Apple repair center for downgrade.

Since our watches don’t have ports that require a proprietary tool accessible only to Apple repair centers, the diagnostic tool, you can’t downgrade it yourself, unlike you could on an iPhone iPad
Can this be done in store while you wait? Or does it need to be sent out
 
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Can this be done in store while you wait? Or does it need to be sent out
Apple Store will send out the Apple Watch as they don't service Apple Watch in store.
They’ll have to send it out but that’s better as you don’t have to pay postage to do it yourself and it’ll be a replacement unit or they’ll downgrade the watch at the repair depot depending on the service
 
I’m slightly stressed after all this time that they don’t have a basic in store firmware restore process
As an Apple fan who’s been helping people with their iPhones and Macs for eleven years, I think it would be great if Apple made this tool accessible to Apple Stores, Apple Authorized Service Providers, and even self-service repair centers. This way, people wouldn’t have to send their watches back and forth, wasting time and money.
 
I feel like Im getting slightly less calorie burn on watchOS 26 with my workouts? Anyone esle?
 
I feel like Im getting slightly less calorie burn on watchOS 26 with my workouts? Anyone esle?
My rings close the same rate as always, Watch 10 Jet black. I've noticed it actually detects workouts when it hasn't before. Once it triggered an auto workout for a 'outdoor walk' which it has NEVER done before since purchase. Until recently I figured it was doing it all in the background given my exercise ring closed.
 
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How is battery life
I can’t say for workouts but in general I’m getting maybe half battery life on my watch on this beta. I could usually last about 2 days without a charge but now by the end of the day it’s at 10%. I keep getting pop-ups saying I’m using more battery than usual, but I’ve changed nothing. Beta 1 was fine, started with Beta 2.
 
Anyone is having issues on Workout Buddy feature not working on Outdoor walk? I've tried out this feature today whenI I went for a walk with my IP16, Ultra 1 and Airpods Pro 2, but there was no prompts from the Airpods.
 
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Anyone is having issues on Workout Buddy feature not working on Outdoor walk? I've tried out this feature today whenI I went for a walk with my IP16, Ultra 1 and Airpods Pro 2, but there was no prompts from the Airpods.
Which device was the AirPods Pro 2 connected to? iPhone or Apple Watch?
 
I decided to install the WatchOS 26 Beta 2 and wanted to try workout buddy. I think I set it all up correctly, I used the Apple Watch 10, turned on workout buddy, configured what I want to hear about, made sure my earbuds (non-apple in this case) are connected to my watch (not phone), and make sure the watch is connected to your phone with Apple Intelligence (16 Pro).

I went on a bike ride instead of a run because I was tired. I had music auto play and through the entire workout never heard the workout buddy. I expected to hear something at the beginning like ‘this is your _ outdoor cycling workout this week’ or maybe something when I completed my first split (2.5 miles) but I only heard my music for the entire workout.

Any ideas on why Workout Buddy wasn’t working?
 
Connected to both.
I decided to install the WatchOS 26 Beta 2 and wanted to try workout buddy. I think I set it all up correctly, I used the Apple Watch 10, turned on workout buddy, configured what I want to hear about, made sure my earbuds (non-apple in this case) are connected to my watch (not phone), and make sure the watch is connected to your phone with Apple Intelligence (16 Pro).

I went on a bike ride instead of a run because I was tired. I had music auto play and through the entire workout never heard the workout buddy. I expected to hear something at the beginning like ‘this is your _ outdoor cycling workout this week’ or maybe something when I completed my first split (2.5 miles) but I only heard my music for the entire workout.

Any ideas on why Workout Buddy wasn’t working?
So was your workout buddy voices downloaded before y'all's workouts?
 
I realize this is more Watch OS 26 centric but it’s all one package as far as I’m concerned.

Seems I’m restricted to having my compass as my Ultra 1 watch face. No matter how many times I close it every time I look at it the app is back open. It’s even there in standby mode.

I’ve restarted the watch and killed the app several times and no change. What’s really interesting is that it started today, one full week into using this build.

IMG_3128.jpeg
IMG_3129.jpeg


Edit: a backtrack session was started somehow. Ending that gave me my watch face back. Delete please.
 
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Still no luck getting workout buddy to work. Are there any other settings e.g. on the phone that must be turned on (apart from Apple AI setting)?
 
Can this be done in store while you wait? Or does it need to be sent out
Just be careful, I was advised that I can downgrade my hermes watch that wont pair with IOS 26 beta 2, and was advised per apple instruction to send it in via UPS. I chose that over going to the apple store and having them send it out since UPS is very nearby. Even if you go to store, they cant downgrade in the store is my understanding.

Needless to say UPS seems to have lost the package with my watch somewhere on the way to Apple support and now Apple had to open an investigation with UPS about it. They say they'll get back to me by next week and I'm assuming send out a replacement if they're unable to get UPS to locate it.

IOS 26 beta 2 has caused too many headaches for me and now UPS has my hermes watch lost in transit. Hopefully Apple with replace it without major issue if mine is not found.

It may best for you to just wait till ios 26 beta 3 which should hopefully allow the hermes watch to pair and then have it upgrade to watch Os beta 3 as well.

1751566567233.png
 
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Wow this is terrible - really hope you get your watch back.

Stuff like this has put me a bit on hold this time, until maybe public beta 2. In the past I took the chance because of major new running features or the big redesign etc. but the news is not worth the risk this year
 
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Wow this is terrible - really hope you get your watch back.

Stuff like this has put me a bit on hold this time, until maybe public beta 2. In the past I took the chance because of major new running features or the big redesign etc. but the news is not worth the risk this year.

Thanks for your hopeful wishes! I am supposed to speak with the Apple customer care person (was escalated when I called earlier this week) on Monday where he said he'll let me know as he should have an update from UPS by then. FIngers crossed.

Yea for sure, in the past I've never been big on doing beta on the Watches, but I was so impressed with iPad OS, since I use it for work and the multitasking updates are really nice, and was intrigued with iphone beta, but should have just left the watch alone. Sigh.
 
Thanks for your hopeful wishes! I am supposed to speak with the Apple customer care person (was escalated when I called earlier this week) on Monday where he said he'll let me know as he should have an update from UPS by then. FIngers crossed.

Yea for sure, in the past I've never been big on doing beta on the Watches, but I was so impressed with iPad OS, since I use it for work and the multitasking updates are really nice, and was intrigued with iphone beta, but should have just left the watch alone. Sigh.
LMK if they have the watch back so they can send the replacement Hermes watch. As of now no beta 3 yet...
 
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