Watch series 3 + iPhone 6 iOS 12.4.3 = not working

I had the same problem I had to call Apple support and tell them what was going on they told me to send mine into get repaired and all they did was just downgrade my operating system on my watch and now They paired and they both work fine so all you have to do is sit in your watch and have them downgrade the iOS on the watch so I can be compatible with your iPhone 6 unfortunately on the website it says the iPhone 6 is compatible with their series 3 watch which is true but unfortunately Apple Watch is already been updated to the new route newest version of the iOS Apple Neil watch then I yeah it won’t be compatible but they they did downgrade it for me and now they work fine

because watch os6 needs phone os13... call customer support and they will have you send your watch in and step back your watch os to 5. Then it will work.

The answer is on the first page of this thread. If you purchased a new Apple Watch Series 3, then it more than likely has watchOS 6 on it, which requires an iPhone 6s or above with iOS 13 or above. It will not pair with an iPhone running iOS 12.4.6.

The only way to pair the apple watch would be to get a new iPhone as apple says that to pair an apple watch you must have an iphone 6s or later running the latest IOS the iPhone 6 and 6+ are outdates and can not run the latest software (IOS 13)

I too just realized all of this BS as I purchased a Series 3 for my daughter as she is starting to leave the nest with out us. I was told by a number of apple personal at the apple store and by multiple AT&T reps that as long as I had an iPhone 6 - it WILL WORK. So do they not know the new watches were shipped with the most up to date WatchOS that puts them incompatible with the Series 3? Look - we all have spare phones as we upgrade and those are the perfect phone to pair the watch with for your children. Can't have them paired to mine or my wife's for obvious reason...not to mention your apple ID. To the "Elitegate" - your handle says it all... don't judge others and their thinking without you knowing anything about them, their thoughts, and the processes for this purchase. I have found, on apple's website, that they still shows the iPhone 6 is compatible with the series 3 watch as it is dated 2018 so don't say Apple has not stated it as they have by their inability to remove aged content on their website.

I just spent 4 hours on AT&T to get this figured out as AT&T assured me that my iPhone 6 can be paired - I have spoken to two high level engineers and they do not believe what I have found on the apple website (updated content) that states it can't be paired unless I have an iPhone 6s or higher. I was just disconnected as the engineer has to save face as they must have just realized I am correct. Wow - 4 hours down the tube.

Lets start with the BS of why does it have to be paired in the first place? If I want to struggle to set it up without a phone - that should be on me. Just need this device to send and receive texts and to phone out - thats it! That is why I paid an extra $100 to have cell service on it. I should not need a phone! But now I need a $1000 plus device to make this happen along with the $300 watch - Apple please....

I have been a loyal Apple supporter since the 80's and have owned over 40 Apple devices and this, the lack of communication regarding this update and what it will do, well before WatchOS 6 came out to its partners, resellers, and customers in not just....its just wrong!

You are not speaking with Apple on this user to user only forum.

Tell Apple how you feel. We users can't change anything or help you.

Use the Contact Support button at the top right corner of this page, or call Apple at 800-MY-APPLE or visit an Apple Store, or provide feedback via this link --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

If it is a brand new one that just shipped, it more than likely has watchOS 6.

ok Karen, calm down its hardly a robbery, apple says before you buy it that it as to be used on an iPhone 6s or later running the latest software.

I too got an Apple Watch series 3 for Christmas after explicitly seeing online that it is compatible with the iPhone 6. Thank you Apple for the continuous lies and money making scam. I will keep the watch in its box until my iPhone 6 dies...which likely won't be for a while...since my phone works perfectly fine. I am not playing your game.

When updating the Apple Watch to the new operating system it should clearly ask:

Are you going to be using this watch with an iPhone 6S or better?

If the answer is yes, GO AHEAD WITH THE UPDATE.

If the answer is no, it should say DO NOT DO THE UPDATE. Your Apple watch will not work with your current iPhone.

Got it...

[Edited by Moderator]

Me too. It’s incredibly ridiculous and very typical of Apple to have created incompatible software with itself. My perfect iPhone 6 will not pair with my new Apple Watch series 3, but of course I just get a note “your software is out of date” instead of “these two devices will never be compatible because we like to shame people into updating perfectly good hardware.”

This is the most sanctimonious response ever. If Apple is all people say it is any device should last five years and they shouldn’t abandon customers all in the name of adding more waste to landfills.

It is ridiculous that a newer Apple Watch series 3 will not work with my iphone 6 with 12.4.3 operating system when my older series 3 works perfectly. I have damaged the screen of my current series 3. It works great with 12.4.3 So why do I have to purchase a new iphone in order to purchase the exact same watch that I have been using? I am being forced to spend $1,000 needlessly. I have been buying apple products since day one. Apple should be ashamed of themselves for this move.

A few weeks ago I was told by Apple support that they could adjust something on their end so that my replaced series 3 will work with 12.4.3 As I was ordering the product today, now they tell me that they can't do it.

Unbelievable.

Forced to buy a new iphone because of this underhanded move my Apple? No way. Sell me the same series 3 watch that is currently on my wrist! It works just fine.

The problem is your Series 3 was running iOS 5.x but when Apple services a watch they actually replace it and those devices are running watchOS 6.x. What product were you ordering? If it was a new iPhone then yes they are going to cancel the adjustment because if you have an iPhone with iOS 13.x you want to be running watchOS 6.x. If you had not ordered a new iPhone they can accommodate you and send you back a Watch that is running iOS 5.x

We have just left the Apple store in Liverpool. We bought a Series 3 Apple Watch to go with my girlfriend’s iPhone 6+. Despite Apple advertising that the 6 and 6+ are compatible with the Series 3 watch, they are not! We’ve just had to get refund five minutes after purchasing.

All new Series 3 Apple Watches must now be paired with an iPhone 6S or higher.

We’re starting to get tired of Apple...