Apple Watch Stuck in "Preparing" during watchOS 9.6 update

I unpaired and re-paired my Watch and the update worked after that.

After repeating the delete/restart steps above four or five times with no luck 😤

Starting the update process from the watch was the answer [for me].

I had the same problem with IOS 10.4 resiolved by going to apple watch app,general,storage, deleted IOS10.4 file, por both devices. Bingo it worked!

Do you see a file called “watchOS 10.3.1” under Storage? How much free space do you have?

Not sure if this is too late but, I found the update is under "watch-general-storage", not under your iPhone's storage.

Same here, stuck on preparing. Deleted the update file which was 1.1g, downloading again.

Been there, done that, all as with your experience. Details for possible benefit of others here.

Deleting update data did nothing, attempt to update WatchUltra to 10.4 just cycled back to 'prepare.'

Shutting down & restarting watch and phone seemed hopeful. Time bar said 20 minutes... got to ten, though in 45 minutes as the time backtracked several times... finally 3, 2,1 minutes, then seconds... 3,2,1, 0.

Oh boy! at last.

Nope. Bounced back to "preparing" again, about 3/5 of bar filled as before -- many times before-- and stuck there.

Should anyone try to follow the suggestion to contact Apple Support, after several tries "Apple Watch update stuck on 'preparing' got me "Apple Watch shuts down and won't restart."

Chat got me... (my responses slightly truncated.)

Thanks for contacting Apple Support. My name is (xxxx). Please give me a

moment to look over your information. (...typing, 20-30 second wait)

Hello. (...typing)

I hope your day is going great so far! (...typing)

How can I help you today? (... typing) (Me: how about you look over my information?")

I see, thank you for bringing our attention to this one. (...typing)

We want to make sure that your concern is being taken care of. I'd be more

than happy to help you out and check further!

(Long wait. ... typing.... ) I totally understand. We could now jump on to

performing steps that could help us sort this out. (...typing)

Depending on the outcome, we may consider escalating your case further.

Sounds like a plan?

(me...  No, sounds like no plan... ...signing off) (Chatbot? could any human devise such inane input?)

I figure that, at our modest hourly rates, I could buy a new watch or phone with the time I've spent over Apple's inability to properly configure an update (this is obvious from the number and dates of entries here--).

PS: I'm assuming that my watch draining to zero several times a day with no haptic to tell me to charge it has to do with it being in an unending 'preparing' mode. Turning off automatic updating for IOS might have helped a little.

First, for those whose watches are drained of power after a couple of hours (with no haptic warning), try this: TURN OFF AUTOMATIC UPDATE FOR OS! Then delete update data as above. "Download and Install" will still appear. IGNORE IT!

(iPhone watch app: General\Software update\Automatic updates -on/off slider)

I charged my watch about 6pm yesterday, still at 25% noon today despite haptics for Stand Reminder.

Otherwise, I tried all suggestions above. Nothing worked. Details for possible benefit of others here.

1. Deleting update data -nothing; attempt to update WatchUltra to 10.4 cycled back to 'prepare.'

2. Shutting down & restarting watch and phone seemed hopeful. Time bar said 20 minutes... then in 45 minutes ten, (backtracked several times) ... finally 3, 2,1 minutes, then seconds... 3,2,1, 0. Oh boy! at last.

Nope. Bounced back to "preparing" again, about 3/5 of bar filled as many times before-- stuck there.

3. Apple support -- tried all phrasing, nothing relevant appeared ("Apple Watch update stuck

on 'preparing' got "Apple Watch shuts down and won't restart"

4. transcript of my 'chat' with Apple Support as per Apple's instruction here. Enjoy.(my responses slightly truncated.)

Thanks for contacting Apple Support. My name is (xxxx). Please give me a

moment to look over your information. (...typing, usual 20-30 second wait)

"Hello. (...typing)

"I hope your day is going great so far! (...typing)

"How can I help you today? (... typing) (Me: "How about you look over my information?")

"I see, thank you for bringing our attention to this one. (...typing)

"We want to make sure that your concern is being taken care of. I'd be more

than happy to help you out and check further! (typing.... Long wait.)

(me: "Apple says you have my information. Please look at it")

"I totally understand. We could now jump on to performing steps that could help us sort this out. (...typing)

"Depending on the outcome, we may consider escalating your case further. Sounds like a plan?

(me...  "No, sounds like no plan. I'm signing off. Goodbye.)

(much later)

"It seems that we were disconnected."

"I have notice that this issue also occur to my parents. it seems that it is an on going issue. However, we are able to solve the issue.

"We could also try some troubleshooting steps that most of my family tried."

(The End.)

I figure that, at our modest hourly rates, I could buy a new watch or phone with the time I've spent over Apple's inability to properly configure an update (which is obvious from the number and dates of entries here--).

Deleting the 500+gb file and then turning off and restarting both my watch and my phone worked. The update just finished.

On your Apple Watch,

1. Settings.

2. Storage.

3. Delete watch 10.4

4. Repeat process.

Hello JWSFloridaGator,

We understand that you're unable to update your Apple Watch. To clarify, do you complete the additional steps from the resource you were reviewing:

Update your Apple Watch:

"Need more help with updating?

Try these steps:

1. Make sure that your Apple Watch is connecting properly to its charger. 
2. Restart your Apple Watch.
3. Restart your paired iPhone.
4. Try again to update your Apple Watch.

If the update won't start:

1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap General > Software Update.
3. Delete the update file.
4. Try again to update your Apple Watch."

If you have completed all of the steps that have been provided in the resource, and the issue persists, we suggest that you reach out to Apple directly. They will be able to assist you further. You can follow this link to connect with them: Get Support

Thanks for connecting with Apple Support Communities.

Take care

tried this process of delete storage 2-3 times, reboot today and still hangs - so far I have wasted pretty much the whole day

storage indicates the download is 532.6 MB - seems like applesauce.

maybe 13.1 will be the solution!

None of the suggestions works at all, because there is no file "Watch update" to delete. I am really starting to hate Apple in the same way I hate Windows--nothing but update freezes and added complexity.

I have tried all the above suggestions with no luck. The only thing that did work was that I was able to get rid of the old screen that was stuck showing still in progress. I was able to start fresh only to get right back to same problem as before? Software glitch. I notice that the watch is not even communicating with the phone which in previous updates you could see this happening.

This update that keeps getting stuck in preparing I don’t know how many times turning watch off, phone off, deleting the update turning everything back on again and it’s still stuck in bloody preparing. What do I do now.