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New Apple Watch Series 3 first setup stuck on software update.

Just bought an Apple Watch 3 and it is stuck on software update. It tells me my software is up to date (watchOS 5.3.7) which isn’t the latest watchOS. And the setup doesn’t continue.


If I cancel it unpairs.

I restarted both devices, deleted the watch up, my iPhone 11 iOS is up to date. Tried several times. It is frustrating to buy a new device and have this experience...


Apple Watch

Posted on May 27, 2020 10:20 PM

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Posted on May 28, 2020 7:58 AM

Ok. I found a workaround.

  • Switch your WiFi signal to a 2.4 GHz WiFi network if using 5 GHz from your router
    • Disable the WiFi Assist feature and then try the update againOn your iPhone, tao on Settings > Cellular > Scroll down to the bottom and switch off Wi-Fi Assist feature
  • Switch both your iPhone and Apple Watch to AirPlane mode. Wait for 30 seconds and switch off Airplane mode on your iPhone followed by Apple Watch. Check for the Update


Really bad user experience Apple.


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7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 28, 2020 7:58 AM in response to drcobe

Ok. I found a workaround.

  • Switch your WiFi signal to a 2.4 GHz WiFi network if using 5 GHz from your router
    • Disable the WiFi Assist feature and then try the update againOn your iPhone, tao on Settings > Cellular > Scroll down to the bottom and switch off Wi-Fi Assist feature
  • Switch both your iPhone and Apple Watch to AirPlane mode. Wait for 30 seconds and switch off Airplane mode on your iPhone followed by Apple Watch. Check for the Update


Really bad user experience Apple.


May 28, 2020 1:01 AM in response to drcobe

This is a known problem, ios13 doesn't seem to like watches with watchos5 or below,here are the solutions from other forum members.


Quote;

Apple watch 2;

I found a friend, who was on iOS 12 and used his iPhone to pair. Before pairing it asked to upgrade the watch OS (iOS 13 didn't offer this option). After I upgraded the watchos I unpaired the watch from the ios12 phone and then was able to pair it with any iPhone running iOS 13.


Quote;

1st gen apple watch;

pairing was successful on the following device (with associated OS)

to pair via bluetooth I used an iphone 7 with iOS 12, after pairing immediately accepted the watchOS update to version 4.3.2 after everything was successfully equipped with the last update, unpaired the iPhone and the Apple Watch a reset (factory settings) all this took some time but afterwards pairing on an iPhone XR with iOS13 g was a piece of cake.


Quote;

May 9, 2020 4:58 AM in response to Hashimsabbah

Just did this with a series1. I had to pair with the original phone and update the firmware for me to pair correctly. All I did was ask to pair and the update happened on an iPhone 6.


Quote;

Jan 28, 2020 7:48 PM in response to Jimmycon

I ended up having to reboot my entire watch. Clear it and then connect to an older phone that was running OS 12- resyncing my watch with that phone. Updating the apple watch through that phone and THEN removing the sync with the old phone- resyncing to my current iphone 11.....that worked. I hate apple


Find a phone with ios12 on it if you can and pair your watch to it,it will ask you to update the watch select yes,after it has updated unpair the watch from the ios12 phone and then pair it with your ios13 phone.

Now you can update to watchos6 and higher.

New Apple Watch Series 3 first setup stuck on software update.

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