I can’t update my Apple Watch series 3 to os 8.7.1

Same goes for me. I have watch3 and iphone14. The phone download something and then it stuck in "preparing" for hours. The apple support worker told me to wait or send my phone to the service. This is unacceptable. I was using my watch few days ago. I have to reset it because the changing my phone and then my watch gone. You don't have any justification to broke our watches like that. Apple need to find a quick solution because leave us in a difficult situation like this.

Same issue with me, having series 3 to be paired with iPhone 12 Pro Max but neither updating software watchOS 8.7.1 nor pairing with the iPhone. How to address this issue still waiting for a relevent reply.

they just sending updating steps again and again. they did not do anything to solve the problem. support center, this is for you; please take an aw3 and try all steps to update it and lets see all of your guffs are work or not. this goes against of consumer rights. you can't take our chance to use our watches like this. Please solve the update software problem!

appears to be working now

Cancel the Watch update and update your iPhone to iOS 16.1 first. , then try it again.

On your iPhone look in settings- General - software update - install 16.1

I am trying it now, fingers crossed. I hope it will work.