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

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.

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 My perfect iPhone 6 will not pair with my new Apple Watch series 3, but of course I just get a note “your software is out of date” instead of “these two devices will never be compatible because we like to shame people into updating perfectly good hardware.”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.

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)

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

https://www.apple.com/watch/

Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch Series 3 require an iPhone 6s or later with iOS 13 or later.

This is what is clearly written on the back of my Apple Watch Series 3 box. NOT OK Apple!!!!

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Beginning to feel more and more Orwellian and like I want to disconnect everything electronic. I feel you Chris_d52. Just terrible.

Hi, I was just wondering how would you do the factory reset on a completely new Series 3 Apple Watch

If the apple watch series 3 is not updated and is brand new will it pair to my iphone 6?

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

thanks for the info. I stayed up late for this.. Goodness.. I should have slept earlier...