The Apple Watch will automatically install new watchOS updates overnight and whenever it charges. But you may prefer to be in control over these updates and install them manually whenever you want. Apple allows for this, and here’s how to do it.
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Watch App > My Watch > General > and tap on Software Update. You will see the available watchOS update. Toggle off the Automatic Updates switch to stop automatic watch updates. You can now manually update your watch at your convenience.
You may be comfortable with your current watchOS and don’t want to upgrade to a newer version. Or maybe you have a data cap on your internet plan and are trying to save on this. We’ll guide you on how to take charge and stop automatic Apple Watch Updates.
How to Prevent an Apple Watch from Updating
Apple allows you to stop automatic updates on your watch. But you can’t do this directly on your watch. You’ll need an iPhone or iPad for this.
On your iPhone or iPad:
- Go to Watch App > My Watch > General > and tap on Software Update.
- Your phone will display any new update available. There is also an option for automatic updates.
- Toggle off Automatic Updates to disable it.
You have successfully turned off automatic updates on your Apple Watch. You are now in control of the updates and can install them at your convenience.
How to Stop an Apple Watch in the Middle of an Update
Failure to Complete the Download
Your watchOS update may fail to complete and get stuck in the process. For example, you may have insufficient storage in your watch, or there is a connectivity issue. When this happens, you’ll need to force quit and relaunch the Watch App on your iPhone.
- Swipe up from the bottom to the middle of your screen until the App Switcher appears. For iPhones with Touch ID, you can double-click the Home button.
- Next, hold the Watch card and drag it to the screen’s top to force quit.
- Open the Watch app again to launch it. Your update should pick up from where it got stuck.
Software Update is Corrupted
Your partially downloaded software update file is corrupt and can result in various problems later on. So, delete this file, and the watch app will re-download and install a fresh copy. You can delete the update file on your watch or iPhone.
On your iPhone:
- Go to Watch App > General > usage > and tap Software Update.
- Select Delete to remove the update file.
If you are using Apple Watch:
- Press the Digital Crown to open the Apps screen.
- Go to Settings > Usage > and tap Software Update.
- Select Delete to remove the update file.
Next, re-download the watchOS update. Go to General > Software Update and tap Download & Install.
What to Do if Your Apple Watch is Stuck in an Update
It’s weird but not uncommon for your watchOS update to get stuck at verifying, preparing, or downloading stages. Here are a few troubleshooting tips if this happens to you.
Give it a Few Minutes
OS updates, even for Apple Watches, take insane amounts of time to complete. So, be patient and give the update time to complete. It may be that Apple is experiencing server overload hence slow download speeds.
Wait for at least one hour after beginning the update process before taking any actions. You can also connect your watch to a charger. It should have at least 50% of battery charge during the process.
In the future, try updating your watchOS overnight to avoid all the inconveniences.
Keep iPhone and Apple Watch Close
During the update, your watch and iPhone should be close to each other, ideally within Bluetooth range. Failure to do so will result in unnecessary delays. So, place the devices next to each other and try to reinstall the update.
Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Your watch and iPhone must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on; otherwise, the update will stall. So, confirm that these are enabled.
On your iPhone:
- Swipe up/down your screen to open the Control Center.
- Check that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi icons are active.
On your Apple Watch:
- Press the Digital Crown to access the Apps screen.
- Open Settings and go to the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi sections.
- Confirm that they are active.
Restart Devices
Restart both your iPhone and Apple Watch to remove any software glitch that may be causing the problem. Don’t restart your Apple Watch if the installation process has begun.
To restart your Apple Watch:
- First, press the Side button until the Power Off slider appears.
- Then, slide the icon to the right to turn it off.
- Wait for a few seconds, and then press the Side button to turn your watch back on.
Free Up Storage
Your Apple Watch update will get stuck if you are running low on storage. So first, delete a few unessential apps and photos on your watch to free up that extra space.
Then, try reinstalling the update and see whether it works.
Update iPhone
The culprit may be bugs and system conflicts hidden in your phone’s software. This is usually the case if your phone runs on outdated software. Consider updating your phone to fix these issues.
To update iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > and tap Software Update.
- Then, download and install any available update.
Update Directly Via Apple Watch
Maybe the problem is with your phone. Its iOS is outdated, or a software glitch is creating all the issues.
To avoid all these, consider updating watchOS directly from your Apple Watch. You can do so if your watch is running on watchOS 6 or later.
Here’s how to do it:
- On your watch, go to Settings > General > and tap Software Update.
- Then, download and install any available update.
Reset Apple Watch
Reset your Apple Watch as a last resort when nothing works. We highly advise resetting your watch using your iPhone, as this automatically creates a backup, and you can restore all your data.
Here’s how to do it:
- On your iPhone, go to the Watch App.
- Choose All Watches and tap the Info icon next to your watch.
- Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
Your phone will back up your data, unpair your Apple Watch and reset it.
Can You Undo an Apple Watch Update?
Currently, Apple does not allow users to uninstall or revert watchOS to a previous version. You can downgrade your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, but you can’t downgrade your Apple Watch.
However, if you have downloaded the update file but have not yet installed it, you can delete it.
On your iPhone, go to Watch App > My Watch > General > Usage > Software and delete the download.
Your only option is to take your watch to the Apple Service center. Apple will roll back the OS for you at a small fee if you are not covered by the warranty.
Take Control of All Updates
No more need to be worried about hitting your data cap because your watch automatically updated itself. You are now in total control. But, of course, this is also a great alternative if you are perfectly okay with your current watchOS version.
However, new updates aim to improve the performance of your device. So, it’s always good to be updated.