Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support (2024)

You can get the latest version of watchOS directly on your Apple Watch, or use your iPhone to update.

Check your Apple Watch compatibility

First, make sure that your Apple Watch works with the latest software. watchOS 10 is compatible with these Apple Watch models:

Apple Watch Series 4 and later
Apple Watch SE (1st generation) and later
Apple Watch Ultra and later

Not all watchOS 10 features are available on all devices.

Updating to watchOS 10 requires iPhone XS or later with iOS 17.

If your Apple Watch isn't compatible with the latest version of watchOS, Software Update will show you the newest version that your watch can use.

Identify which Apple Watch or iPhone model you have.

Get ready to update

Next, check these things:

Update your Apple Watch using your iPhone

You can wait until Apple Watch notifies you when a new update is available. Tap Update Tonight in the notification, then go to your iPhone to confirm that you want to update overnight. At the end of the day, leave your Apple Watch and iPhone charging overnight so the update can complete.

Or you can update your Apple Watch with your iPhone manually:

On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, then tap the My Watch tab.
Tap General > Software Update.
Download the update. If asked for your iPhone passcode or Apple Watch passcode, enter it.
Wait for the progress wheel to appear on your Apple Watch. It could take from several minutes to an hour for the update to complete.

Leave your Apple Watch on its charger while the update completes. Don't restart your iPhone or Apple Watch, and don't quit the Apple Watch app. When the update completes, your Apple Watch restarts on its own.

Update directly on your Apple Watch

If your Apple Watch has watchOS 6 or later, you can install updates without your iPhone:

Some iPhone updates might require that you update your Apple Watch

It's important to keep your Apple devices up to date so that they have the latest bug fixes and security enhancements.

Some iOS updates on your iPhone require that you also update watchOS on your Apple Watch. So if you see an alert on your iPhone that says "Update Apple Watch" and "Your Apple Watch software is out of date," you should update to the latest version of watchOS so that your data, including Activity data, continues to sync to your iPhone.

Need more help with updating?

Try these steps:

Make sure that your Apple Watch is connecting properly to its charger.
Restart your Apple Watch.
Restart your paired iPhone.
Try again to update your Apple Watch.

If the update won't start:

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap General > Storage.
Delete the update file.
Try again to update your Apple Watch.

Learn what to do if you see 'Cannot Install Update' when updating Apple Watch or if your Apple Watch says you need more available storage to install a watchOS update.

If you installed an iOS or watchOS beta or developer seed

If you installed beta software on your iPhone or Apple Watch, you need to remove the beta profile before you can update to the next major software version:

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap the My Watch tab, then go to General > Profiles. Tap the beta profile that you want to remove, then tap Delete Profile. Enter your iPhone passcode if requested.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then tap General > Profiles & Device Management. Tap the beta profile that you want to remove, then tap Delete profile. Enter your iPhone passcode if requested.

After you remove the profiles, restart both devices and check for the update again.

Published Date:February 13, 2024

Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

Why is it taking so long to update my Apple Watch? ›

If your internet connection is running slowly, the update can take longer to download. Stop any downloads running on other devices on the network to speed things up. Also, switch off Bluetooth on your iPhone to potentially increase the speeds of the update and data transfer. Restart your Apple Watch.

Can I pair my Apple Watch without updating? ›

If your Watch and phone were previously paired, they will connect automatically. However, if they've never been paired before, you need to wait for the "Use your iPhone to set up your Apple Watch" window. Tap Continue to proceed. Use the camera on your iPhone to scan the screen on your Watch to begin set up.

What is the latest watch update? ›

watchOS 10 is the biggest update since the introduction of Apple Watch, and brings a fresh look for virtually every app, new ways to navigate, and a new Smart Stack to display the information you need, right when you need it, from any watch face.

Tell Me More ›

Is Apple getting rid of the Apple Watch? ›

Apple has stopped selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches on its U.S. website, CNBC checks show. “Following December 24, 2023, Apple no longer sells Apple Watch units in the United States with the ability to measure blood oxygen,” according to fine print on Apple's product pages.

Tell Me More ›

How long does an Apple Watch last? ›

So how long does an Apple Watch last and are Apple Watches worth buying? There will always be exceptions, but on balance, based on the experience of our own reviewers and the comments we've seen from users online, I would say that an Apple Watch provide five to six years of good performance.

Tell Me More ›

What happens if you remove a watch from the charger while updating? ›

Leaving the watch off the charger may lead to a failed update. This will happen if there isn't enough battery power to complete the update process, and it will require a full factory reset of your watch. You can use these options if you don't want to take your watch off its charger when updating it.

Tell Me More ›

Why won't my Apple Watch update the time? ›

If your watch still doesn't show the correct date and time, go to the Settings of the watch and scroll down until you see the option "Set date and time". Make sure that you have enabled the option "Automatic settings" - the watch will automatically synchronise with your geolocation and update the date and hour.

Show Me More ›

Why is my Apple Watch taking so long to pair? ›

If it seems like the pairing process has stalled — for example, the pairing animation remains on the screen for several minutes — resetting your Apple Watch might help: Press and hold the Digital Crown while your Apple Watch is in pairing mode. Tap Reset when it appears on your watch.

Learn More Now ›