Watch series 3 update to 8.7.1 bricked my watch

I was able to successfully update to 8.7.1.

I struggled with this a few months ago....stuck on Preparing, after attempt after attempt. Even went to an Apple Store only to be told the watch has reached end of life. I abandoned the watched update only to retry after stumbling upon a suggestion.

Try this.

1) Do a Force restart on your iPhone.

2) Immediately afterwards, swipe down and turn off Cellular service; keep Wi-fi On only.

3) Start the Pairing process with your Apple Watch.

4) The download (for me) of the update only took 4 minutes, whereas on previous attempts it showed 3-4 hours.

5) BE PATIENT. The "Preparing..." phase may look like it's not moving but eventually did for me (around an hour), eventually moving into the "Installing..." status.

Hopefully that works for you. Good luck.

Update directly on your Apple Watch.

If your Apple Watch has watchOS 6 or later, you can install updates without your iPhone:

1. Make sure that your watch is connected to Wi-Fi.
2. On your watch, open the Settings app.
3. Tap General > Software Update.
4. Tap Install if a software update is available, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Leave your Apple Watch on its charger while the update completes, and don't restart your Apple Watch. When the update completes, your Apple Watch restarts on its own.

Guys I was able to get two Apple Watch series 3’s repaired through the apple repair facility! This is not something that can be done in a store the watch must be sent it. It took two phone calls and a level two tech. After explaining that I had tried everything and was aware that this update would require the watch to be docked and not updated “ota” the first level two tech could not create a repair ticket for the update. Is seams this is because their system thinks this is an issue that should be able to be fixed over the phone or in the store. I refused to accept this so I called back and got with a second level two tech who was able to create a repair ticket. I was overnighted a box for each watch to send them in. Now the best part is this was supposed to cost $159 each but the tech was able to wave this fee! I believe they now this is an issue they created so maybe this is why they were willing to do this. These watches were both at least 3-4yrs old so way out of warranty. Now comes the weird part. The day after I sent them in I received an email stating they had received them. Later that day I got an email stating the repair could not be performed and they would return them with a letter explaining further! I was so disappointed and couldn’t wait to read the explanation. I received them the next day and there was no letter or explanation. I decided to try the pair one more time  and to my surprise both watches successfully completed the process! I couldn’t believe it.. I went into the watch app on the phone and there is was 8.7.1!!! Apple successfully updated both watches. I wish I new what kind of repair ticket was created but whatever is was wasn’t able to be done but the watches were updated !! Be vigilant guys this is possible and free if you stand your ground!!

This is ridiculous they have been selling these watches through this year. It seems more like planned obsolescence, to release an update that bricks them. Surely they have a dev team that tests this stuff before releasing it. My watch has been sitting for months now with no fix and hours of wasted time trying to fix it.

The same problem still continues, we have been with the same thing for a long time, I think it would be enough time for them to fix that "little problem", since many do need to use the watch, since it is not in bad condition and they still have us waiting for us with a patch or something for the update of 8.7.1

If a forced restart does not fix it then it is probably had it's working life.

Less expensive than having Apple repair (replace) this series 3 get an SE2022 which will leave the series 3 for dust.

Updates can finish off an already sick device but will not directly cause it.

Force restart - hold in the crown and side button together until the Apple logo appears then release.

Erasing all content and setting would work better by holding crown and power button for a few seconds until it goes black, when the apple logo appear press and hold the power button (not the crown) until an option to erase all content and settings appears.

This did not fix the issue for me.

In warranty they will repair them. If you have iOS 16.1.1 or later you can pair them, with some luck, as new watch.

Nobody repairs out of warranty failures without strong consumer laws and some court time.

Apple Genius appointment guy told me it has to be sent in Memory is full Apple needs to do the erase and update for $160. Or buy a refurb at Target for $99 it will have the update already installed. Apple will not be doing anymore updates past end of life. Would have worked fine if we all had just left it alone.

Totally Agreed

8.7.1 is a Watch Killer

Went to Apple store in Albuquerque to see if they could pair 12pro and new series 3 nike watch. They didn't have a clue! Customer service has gone to ****!

me too

This doesn’t work the watches are struck on the pairing screen waiting to connect to a phone, which they will not do no matter how many hours you try for. Or number of devices you try to connect to.

Force restart woukd precede an erase.

Eventually like all things, it reaches end of life. Series 3 is a 5 year old design that should never have been sold for as long as they were.