Apple Watch 7, OS9.6.3, iPhone 8 iOS 16.7.2: I CAN NO LONGER UPDATE MY APPLE WATCH!!! Please help. Thank you.

Shame on Apple for iPhone 8 not being able to update!!!! with Apple watch!!!!! Very Upset at the rate of Obsolescence of Phones and watches... Shame on Apple for building in an Obsolescence to generate Income.

The iPhone 8 came out 7 years coming September. That’s a pretty good run for a smart device to continue getting new major updates. The watch is still capable of updating (it was released 4 years after the iPhone 8) but the new WatchOS version requires an iPhone that can run iOS 17. Being upset that a 6+ year old iPhone model doesn’t have the ability to continue to get updates is a bit of an unrealistic expectation. There are many brands that don’t support their smart devices for that long with new OS updates.

Ultimately you have a few options. Keep things as they are so your watch and phone continue to work together, upgrade to a newer iPhone (doesn’t have to be the new 15 series but needs to be one that can support iOS 17. I would avoid the iPhone XR as it is possible that iOS 17 could be its last major update and will be in the same position after iOS 18 releases) so you can then update your watch to watchOS 10, or the extreme but completely your right to do option of going to another brand altogether because you ade upset by this situation. i would just advise if you choose that route to research the OS lifespan cycle that whatever you are interested in is estimated to receive so you are less likely to be blindsided by a similar situation unexpectedly. Also consider if you get 2 devices that rely on each other released at different times than each other the older of those 2 devices may stop being compatible with updates before the newer one.

DO NOT attempt to play games to get the Apple Watch updated. If you manage to update the Apple Watch to watchOS 10, it will NEVER pair to your iPhone 8 again.

An iPhone 8 can only be updated to iOS 16.7. as you found out. To update a watch beyond watchOS 9.6.3 requires an iPhone with at least iOS 17. So the bottom line is that with an iPhone 8 you cannot update the watch anymore and you should stay where you are.

Depends on how much Money you are flushed with. I'm OLD school...I am not flushed with money... everyone has an opinion and everyone has validation for that Opinion... I'm just frustrated with the continuous paying for new phones this makes number four for me... Thanks for you comments I do appreciate it... I will stick with 8 as long as I can

Gordo-UT wrote:

Shame on Apple for iPhone 8 not being able to update!!!! with Apple watch!!!!! Very Upset at the rate of Obsolescence of Phones and watches... Shame on Apple for building in an Obsolescence to generate Income.

There's nothing obsolete about either your phone or your watch. They still do exactly what they were able to do when you thought they were worth purchasing in the first place. You can either value holding on to hardware as long as possible. Or, you can value having the latest and "greatest" software. But not both. Certainly, the thrifty, environmentally responsible choice is to buy what you need and then use it for as long as you can make it meet your needs. You do not have to fall prey to the hype of updating every year.

Okay. good information... I have been trying to update it... but will stop. :)

I NEVER Thought that i'd get so many nice guiding responses. THANK YOU all so much

Have a great weekend!