Apple watch sr 3 8.7.1 stuck preparing

Hey muadz161,

Sounds like you're having an issue installing your Apple Watch update and it's stuck on preparing. It won't be able to move forward until you have at least 50% battery on your Apple Watch, so if it's not already, place your Apple Watch on it's charger with your iPhone nearby and give it time to charge and eventually complete the installation.

For more info, please review these steps:

Get ready to update

Next, check these things:

1. Make sure that your iPhone is updated to the latest version of iOS.

2. Make sure that your Apple Watch is at least 50 percent charged.

3. Make sure that your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.

Keep your iPhone near your Apple Watch throughout the update. It could take from several minutes to an hour for the update to complete, so you might want to update overnight or wait until you have time.

Update your Apple Watch using your iPhone

You can wait until Apple Watch notifies you when a new update is available. Tap Update Tonight in the notification, then go to your iPhone to confirm that you want to update overnight. At the end of the day, leave your Apple Watch and iPhone charging overnight so the update can complete.

Or you can update your Apple Watch with your iPhone manually:

1. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, then tap the My Watch tab. 

2. Tap General > Software Update.

3. Download the update. If asked for your iPhone passcode or Apple Watch passcode, enter it. 

4. Wait for the progress wheel to appear on your Apple Watch. It could take from several minutes to an hour for the update to complete. 

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

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.

This is all outlined in more detail here: Update your Apple Watch

We hope this helps out.

Talke care!

Hello muadz161,

That picture provided shows it will start once the watch is charged to 50%. It also mentions not to restart it or remove it from the charger until it completed.

If the watch is over 50% now, was the process interrupted? If it was interrupted, you may need to just wait it out until it regains the connection and finishes. If you have waited hours, erasing the Apple Watch and starting over from the latest backup might be necessary. Please be aware, this is a last ditch effort, because interrupting an update can cause damage with the operating system to the Apple Watch that we can't recover.

It really depends on what you see on the Apple Watch for battery level, and if you interrupted the process trying to update it on those other devices you mentioned: "...different iPhone 8,11,11 pro max, 14, 14 pro max..."

If it's been hours, try unpairing it, that way you can try the update directly on the Watch first. Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support

If that doesn't work, and you are sure there is no other option, erasing the Watch and setting it back up from the last iOS backup might help. Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support

If it won't restore after erasing it, then you need to have the Watch checked at an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Store: Locate Apple

Thanks.