Have you ever experienced your Apple Watch update stuck on preparing issue? If yes, then knowing the right possible solutions will help you to update the Apple Watch OS without any hassle.
Many new features, security upgrades, and bug fixes are included in the most recent system software updates for Apple Watch. You should upgrade your watchOS device if you want to get the most out of it.
During the “download,” “prepare,” or “verify” phases, however, Apple Watch updates have been known to cease entirely. Try the techniques below to get things moving again when your Apple Watch becomes stuck due to software updates.
Read Also: What Does the Red Dot Mean on My Apple Watch and How to Hide it?
How to Fix Apple Watch Update Stuck on Preparing: 11 Ways You Can Try
1. Be Patient
Although Apple Watch upgrades are little compared to iPhone and Mac updates, they nevertheless take an excessive amount of time to finish.
Before assuming the worst, it’s advisable to wait at least one hour. Make it a point to install future watchOS upgrades overnight to prevent dealing with long update waits.
Due to server saturation, if you attempt to update your Apple Watch shortly after a big watchOS release, it will result in inferior download speeds.
So, once again, patience is beneficial.
2. Verify Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity
Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be available on your iPhone and Apple Watch. WatchOS upgrades may delay or fail if this is not done.
On the iPhone, check the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth status –
Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to access the iPhone’s Control Center (or from the bottom up if you use an iPhone with Touch ID). Both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth symbols must be illuminated and operational. If not, turn them on.
Check your Apple Watch’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings –
Select Settings from the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown. Then scroll down to the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth sections to learn more.
Make that the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth switches are turned on.
3. Plug Up your Apple Watch to the Charge
You must attach your Apple Watch to its magnetic charger during the update process. It should also have at least 50% or higher charge level. If you don’t, the Watch app on your iPhone will not start the update.
4. Keep iPhone and Watch in Range
Ideally, the iPhone and Apple Watch should be near throughout the update process. If not, communication difficulties between the devices may result in unnecessarily long waits when the iPhone’s Watch software downloads, prepares or validates the update.
5. Force-Quit and Reopen Watch App
Another option to repair an apple watch stuck on update is to force-quit and relaunch the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the iPhone’s screen (or double-click the Home button on an iPhone with Touch ID).
- Then, to force-quit the app, press and hold the Watch card and drag it to the top of the screen.
- Then, press the Watch symbol on your iPhone’s Home screen to reload the Apple Watch app.
This should cause the update to resume from where it stopped.
6. Retry After Deleting the WatchOS Update File
Slowdowns and other difficulties can also be caused by a partly downloaded and faulty watchOS system software update file. The iPhone’s Watch software should be forced to re-download a new copy from Apple’s servers by deleting it.
To fix the apple watch software update stuck, follow these steps –
Using the iPhone’s Watch App, delete or update a file –
- Go to General > Usage > Software Update in the iPhone Watch app.
- Then, to uninstall the watchOS update file, hit Delete.
- Go back to the General menu and tap Software Update > Download & Install to re-download the update.
Using Apple Watch to Delete and Update a File –
- Tap Settings > Usage > Software Update on the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown. Then, to delete the watchOS update, hit Delete.
7. Turn on your iPhone and Apple Watch
Try rebooting your iPhone and Apple Watch if the apple watch update gets stuck during the “Downloading,” “Preparing,” or “Verifying” phases. Any minor software issues on both devices should be resolved due to this.
Reboot your iPhone –
- Select Shut Down from the Settings > General menu.
- Then, to turn off the iPhone, drag the Power icon to the right.
- To reset the iOS device, wait 30 seconds and then press and hold the Side button.
Apple Watch should be reset. If the Apple Watch has already started installing the update, do not restart it.
Hold down the Side button and drag the Power symbol to the right to switch off the Apple Watch.
To reset the watchOS device, wait 30 seconds and then press and hold the Side button.
8. Free Up your Apple Watch’s Storage
If your Apple Watch is on the verge of running out of storage, consider removing certain media and applications and restarting the upgrade process.
9. Update your iPhone
Newer versions of the iPhone’s system software generally fix known flaws and resolve system-related conflicts that prevent your Apple Watch from being updated.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update to get started.
- Then, to install any outstanding iOS updates, hit Download and Install.
After you’ve completed upgrading your iPhone, go ahead and update your Apple Watch.
10. Using Apple Watch to Update Directly
You can update your Apple Watch directly without using the iPhone’s watch app if it runs watchOS 6.0 or later.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the Apple Watch screen to access control center.
- Then, to connect to an available Wi-Fi network, press and hold the Wi-Fi symbol.
- After that, go to Settings > General > Software Update and wait for your Apple Watch to search for new updates.
- Then, at the bottom of the page, hit Download and Install.
Make sure your Apple Watch is connected to its charger during the whole update process.
11. Reset your Apple Watch 11
The last cure for any faulty settings or other underlying issues behind stuck apple watch updates is to reset your Apple Watch to factory defaults. The method wipes all personal data from the device, but it also generates a backup on the attached iPhone.
- Select All Watches in the iPhone’s Watch app
- Then press the Info icon next to your Apple Watch.
- Then, to back up, unpair, and reset the Apple Watch, hit Unpair Apple Watch.
After you’ve reconnected the watchOS device to your iPhone, try a new update.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the preceding changes enabled you to upgrade your Apple Watch to the most recent watchOS version.
If your Apple Watch continues to be stuck on updates or stalls throughout the installation phase (for example, your Apple Watch is continually showing an Apple logo), you should contact Apple for assistance. The best option is to schedule an appointment at a nearby Apple Phone Care center.
