Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

watchOS 5.1 - I think my watch is bricked

Jeff Barlow said:
Just got off the phone with the advisor. I went through the same process when my Series 0 had battery issues.

They ship a box. I send it back. They send another one. A week to ten days total.

What a total mess for a brand new watch. I'd get faster service if I bought a new one.
Click to expand...
Dd you go through AppleCare. If so then they only want the watch face and will send you a new watch face.
If you went through after sales then you send everything back and you get a brand-new watch in the retail box with the extras. My delivery date on that is 15th to 22nd November so three weeks and they wont ship until ups get my watch back to them.
 
Jeff Barlow said:
Just got off the phone with the advisor. I went through the same process when my Series 0 had battery issues.

They ship a box. I send it back. They send another one. A week to ten days total.

What a total mess for a brand new watch. I'd get faster service if I bought a new one.
Click to expand...

It’d have probably been faster to go into a store and have them swap it out, assuming you are close to one. I’d feel like I lost my left arm if I had to go 7-10 days without my watch.

FWIW, Series 2 SS updated just fine. Though it took forever, I feel like it took longer than the more major 5.0 update.
 
Bazooka-joe said:
Dd you go through AppleCare. If so then they only want the watch face and will send you a new watch face.
If you went through after sales then you send everything back and you get a brand-new watch in the retail box with the extras. My delivery date on that is 15th to 22nd November so three weeks and they wont ship until ups get my watch back to them.
Click to expand...

I went through AppleCare. The last time I went through this process with my old watch they had the box to me the next day and the replacement to me by the end of the week. I'm not sure how long it's going to take this time.
[doublepost=1540937573][/doublepost]
archvile said:
It’d have probably been faster to go into a store and have them swap it out, assuming you are close to one. I’d feel like I lost my left arm if I had to go 7-10 days without my watch.

FWIW, Series 2 SS updated just fine. Though it took forever, I feel like it took longer than the more major 5.0 update.
Click to expand...

Dealing with traffic and driving to a store for an uncertain replacement isn't something I want to do today. I still have my Series 1 and it's working. I didn't get to enjoy the new one, so I don't know what I'm missing out on yet.
 
archvile said:
It’d have probably been faster to go into a store and have them swap it out, assuming you are close to one. I’d feel like I lost my left arm if I had to go 7-10 days without my watch.

FWIW, Series 2 SS updated just fine. Though it took forever, I feel like it took longer than the more major 5.0 update.
Click to expand...
Its still early days and many apple stores don't have stock. If they do, those watches are probably running WatchOS5 and if Apple don't pull 5.1 then its a lottery as to whether any new stock on os5 would update without bricking. A new factory fresh replacement should ship with 5.1
 
Yeah, mine's cold as well. It sat on the charger for hours. Now that I've started the replacement process I've fiddled with it a bit and it's totally bricked. Won't go past the logo at all, no matter how many times I restart it.
 
tromboneaholic said:
It was supposed to be enabling the ECG functionality (the actual user-facing app is separate and not out). Since some are saying this is limited to Series 4, I wonder if there is a connection...
Click to expand...
Not sure where you got that info. According to the Apple Watch page that lists what items are available in what countries, it clearly shows ECG is a built in app, not a separate download.
 
KrispyKrink said:
Same here. S4 Aluminum, 10 minutes new straight out of the box.

I’ll walk into the local Apple store. If it’s not a straight swap for a brand new unit, I’m done with Apple. I’ve already had to replace my iPhone XS twice.
Click to expand...
Update:
Local Apple Store was able to do a swap for same model. Only because they had one in stock. No idea how it would’ve went down if not.

I’ll hold off on the update until Apple addresses the issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ntombi, tromboneaholic and Apple_Robert
KrispyKrink said:
Update:
Local Apple Store was able to do a swap for same model. Only because they had one in stock. No idea how it would’ve went down if not.

I’ll hold off on the update until Apple addresses the issue.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'll go into the store first thing tomorrow if they don't ship out the box overnight tonight. The e-mail says my repair is cancelled if I don't send it back in 10 days.
 
Last edited:
kycophpd said:
Not sure where you got that info. According to the Apple Watch page that lists what items are available in what countries, it clearly shows ECG is a built in app, not a separate download.
Click to expand...
A built-in or optionally-downloadable app doesn't work unless the underlying operating system supports the functionality.

WatchOS 5.1 was reported to be enabling the functionality that an ECG app would need.

Since the bricking issue seems to only affect Series 4, I'm just wondering if there is a relation and why other models don't seem to be affected.
 
I haven't docked my Series 4 GPS CELLULAR yet for charging. But I downloaded the update to my phone. Any advice on how to stop the update from happening when I charge it tonight?
 
tromboneaholic said:
A built-in or optionally-downloadable app doesn't work unless the underlying operating system supports the functionality.

WatchOS 5.1 was reported to be enabling the functionality that an ECG app would need.

Since the bricking issue seems to only affect Series 4, I'm just wondering if there is a relation and why other models don't seem to be affected.
Click to expand...

But it doesn't enable ECG yet.
 
Add me to the list…Series 4 GPS (40mm), bricked, got to play around with troubleshooting with phone support after reports started popping up (apparently I might have been the first one my advisor saw with it). Now I get to wait 7-10 days for the whole process on my month-and-a-half old device.

I can live without it for the time, but it's more inconvenient to deal with shipping and such, especially when I'm about a half hour away from an Apple Store that somehow should have some resources to fix/swap it (more the device recovery/diagnostic aspect, not the "hey, they're out of stock of everything and I want one NOW!")

It also reinforces the bad update-phobic behavior that seems to happen with people in the general public. A bricked iPhone or iPad isn't a big deal—DFU and restore, but I guess the Watch getting bricked was such a rare occurrence that everyone forgets the fragility.
 
Mac2Crack said:
I haven't docked my Series 4 GPS CELLULAR yet for charging. But I downloaded the update to my phone. Any advice on how to stop the update from happening when I charge it tonight?
Click to expand...
Looks like this may be a solution. >>>
If the update file has already been downloaded (but not yet installed), follow the steps here to remove it:
On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > General > Usage > Software Update - delete the download.
Apple Watch and iPhone must be rebooted. Source >> Reddit.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ghost31 and ecschwarz
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back