Apple Watch keeps wanting me to update IOS software to pair and IOS is up to date

I reset an Apple Watch (maybe series 2) back to factory settings to pair it with a different iphone. In pairing on the Watch app, it needed to update the Watch software as well as update to the latest version of IOS on my phone. I updated IOS, and then proceeded to try to continue set up and update the watch app. It keeps telling me that I need the latest version of IOS on my phone, and will not let me proceed. I have uninstalled the watch app and reinstalled it. Cut my phone on and off. Shut down the watch and rebooted. I'm at a loss on what to do. Any suggestions?

Apple Watch

Posted on Aug 3, 2020 7:42 PM

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7 replies

Aug 4, 2020 7:38 AM in response to Community User

iPhone X. OS 13.6. Watch series 2 I think. Not sure on watch OS because I reset it and now it won't let me look. When trying to pair with the iphone, it is prompting me to update my phone software before it can update the watch. My phone is on the latest software version. I have reset the watch multiple times. Uninstalled the watch app on my phone. No matter what I do, it keeps coming back to that loop telling me I need to update my phone software over and over and over. I cannot move past the attached screen.

Aug 4, 2020 11:47 AM in response to Community User

OK, Apple Watch is series 1 and has OS 4.2. I have a work iPhone 7 with an older iOS. Upon your advice, I successfully paired my watch to it first. My watch rebooted with all of the appropriate icons, apps, etc. I then was forced to update the iphone 7 to iOS 13.6. Now, it takes me back to the old loop in which I must update my iPhone 7 iOS in order to update the watch. A key difference this time, however, is that the watch is not "reset" and has functionality. So given that my watch is paired and functioning, is there a way to update the watch OS so that I can unpair it from my work phone and pair it with my personal iPhone X that I was initially attempting to pair it to? Whew.

Aug 4, 2020 12:01 PM in response to JoyLMc

There is a couple of things to try but both of them will unpair the watch and you could be back at square one;

Easy one first;

On a computer, go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.

Go to Find Iphone.

Select All Devices, then click your Apple Watch.

Click Erase Apple Watch.

Select Next until the device is erased.

Click the remove button next to your Apple Watch.


Or;

Press and hold both the side button and Digital Crown for about 10 seconds, then release both buttons when you see the Apple logo.Wait a few seconds, then hold down just the side button for about 20 seconds or until the “erase all settings” prompt shows up on the screen, then click it, then click the green check button.

Make sure you're on 2.4ghz wifi.


Aug 4, 2020 7:49 AM in response to JoyLMc

7000 is the number given to the type of aluminium that the watch's body is made of.

If your watch has watchOS5 then;


This is a known problem ios13 doesn't seem to like older watches with

watchos5 or below,here are some proven 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;

nickfit888

Jul 5, 2020 5:23 AM in response to fieryjack

So the “pairing with an old iPhone on iOS 12” trick actually worked for me. I

got a brand new series 3 Apple Watch via a warranty replacement from

Apple. I could not pair the watch to my iPhone X due to the 5.3.7 update

issue. Originally it allowed me to update to 5.3.7 but it was stuck after that.


Based on the advice from “fieryjack” I took an old iPhone 6 (iOS 12.4.7) and

was able to pair my Apple Watch. Once it was paired (watch was fully set

up and synced to the iPhone 6) I tried to update the Watch OS but it said I

needed up update the iOS in order to do so. I unpaired the watch from the

iPhone 6 and paired it with my iPhone X (running iOS 13.5.1). Not sure if

this additional step helped but I chose the manual pair option and this time

the watch gave the option to update to 6.2.6! Once it started updating i

turned off the Bluetooth on my iPhone so that it would update faster using

the wifi network (assuming you are connected to a fast wifi network). I

think it took between 2-3 hours to download the update and after that i was

able to restore my watch using a previous back up.

Thanks again fieryjack for the tip!



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.

Alternatively contact apple store and see if they will update the watch

through the watch's data/diagnostic port.

Aug 4, 2020 2:03 AM in response to JoyLMc

What model of phone is it?.

Which version of ios is on the phone?

Which model of watch is it?.

Which version of watchOS it the watch running?

What error messages are you receiving?


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Apple Watch keeps wanting me to update IOS software to pair and IOS is up to date

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