My Apple Watch 9 is acting weird - Is this a bug?

My watch did this days ago, during a meeting - said I was doing a workout when I glanced at it ( which I hadn’t opened). Tried to close that app and it went haywire, repeatedly showing lock screen and entering random numbers over and over, flashing all kinds of things, until I did a hard reset. My mother has the same watch and just called me panicking due to her watch doing the same thing, thought someone was trying to hack into it. At least it didn’t call 911.

skeeterAA wrote:

Yes I did read the thread. Don’t be rude. I am an Apple advocate for a long time. If Apple had done better by notifying us of the issue sooner I would have updated as soon as possible. Now every time I turn on my watch hoping to update it sends a SOS.

You chose to wait a month.

If the forced restart and reset procedures quoted many times don't free it off for updating then contact Apple Support.

This morning it was my turn to have my watch go crazy. Exactly as everyone has already described. Including the siren and the 911 call. Person was nice enough and thanked me for confirming this was an error.

A hard reboot did not work for me and I also could not get my watch to update. I have to delete all data and start from scratch as if I had a new watch. Frustrating having to reset it up again. Luckily when mine went haywire it locked itself out for hours and did not call 911, thank god. What a mess and scary because when it happens you think someone is trying to hack your watch and take it over….

Mrkperry wrote:

So, our conclusion is that if the Apple Watch doesn’t take its medication (in the form of a software update), then it will go off its rocker?? I hate to say this after I’ve gone whole hog on Apple tech for many years, but this is a “must fix” for me. Having technology that acts this way is unacceptable, especially when it scares my family with bogus emergency messages.

The medication was to update to OS10.4

Did you?

My Apple Watch 9 is jumping as well - enlarging screen - and then trying to log in - clicking like keying in a password. I spoke to help and sent my watch in for repair - they received it and returned it in less than an hours advising that there's nothing wrong with it -

Don't think they fixed it yet. Mine started this afternoon. I saw it go from one app to another and then to the passcode screen and random numbers were being entered. I took it off but it kept going and I was able to shut it down and restart. Seems to be fine right now but it was like someone was trying to hack it. Crazy

Birgit Rhoads wrote:

I can't believe it is now May 17 and people are still reporting their watch is going bonkers. And not a word from Apple!!! Shame. What are people doing who don't know about Apple Discussions page?

There was a word from Apple!

watchOS 10.4 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

• Tap to Show Full Notification setting now allows you to double tap to expand the notification
• Using Apple Pay with Confirm with AssistiveTouch will require a passcode for additional security and will not support double clicking the side button
• Resolves an issue that causes some users to experience false touches on the display
• Fixes an issue that prevents contacts from syncing to Apple Watch for some users

If you have not already, update to iOS17.5 and OS10.5.

If it still does it on OS10.5 contact Apple Support.

Click here > Contact - Official Apple Support  or phone numbers Click here > Contact Apple for support and service - Apple 

Same thing happened to my wife's series 9 watch a month ago - we fixed by using iPhone to erase and restore from back up . And, today the same thing happened to my own series 9 watch - again fixed the same way. If it happens again, may try the 'placing on charger' fix to see if it resolves issue, if not - will reset again as above.

Anyone who thinks they still have the bug in 10.4 tell Apple

Click here > Contact - Official Apple Support  or phone numbers Click here > Contact Apple for support and service - Apple 

Never let the battery die.

This was a bug in OS10.3

Wipe Watch and set up again 

Put Apple Watch on its charger.

Press and hold the side button until you see the screen with the power button in the upper-right corner, then let go of the side button. If your Apple Watch has an earlier version of watchOS, you see the Power Off slider instead of the power button.

Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see the red Reset button.

Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm. 

After Apple Watch unpairs completely, you can pair again. Remember that you'll need the Apple ID and password that were used to set up the watch. Set up as New Watch.

Update phone to iOS17.4.1 and watch to watch OS 10.4

Put Apple Watch on its charger.

Press and hold the side button until you see the screen with the power button in the upper-right corner, then let go of the side button. If your Apple Watch has an earlier version of watchOS, you see the Power Off slider instead of the power button.

Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see the red Reset button.

Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm. 

After Apple Watch unpairs completely, you can pair again. Remember that you'll need the Apple ID and password that were used to set up the watch. Set up as New Watch.

Update phone to iOS17.4.1 and watch to watch OS 10.4

Wipe Watch and set up again 

Put Apple Watch on its charger.

Press and hold the side button until you see the screen with the power button in the upper-right corner, then let go of the side button. If your Apple Watch has an earlier version of watchOS, you see the Power Off slider instead of the power button.

Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see the red Reset button.

Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm. 

After Apple Watch unpairs completely, you can pair again. Remember that you'll need the Apple ID and password that were used to set up the watch. Set up as New Watch.

Update phone to iOS17.4.1 and watch to watch OS 10.4

It's a bug in 10.3 on s9 and U2 watches.

Wipe Watch and set up again then update

Put Apple Watch on its charger.

Press and hold the side button until you see the screen with the power button in the upper-right corner, then let go of the side button. If your Apple Watch has an earlier version of watchOS, you see the Power Off slider instead of the power button.

Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see the red Reset button.

Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm. 

After Apple Watch unpairs completely, you can pair again. Remember that you'll need the Apple ID and password that were used to set up the watch. Set up as New Watch.

Update phone to iOS17.4.1 and watch to watch OS 10.4

Put Apple Watch on its charger.

Press and hold the side button until you see the screen with the power button in the upper-right corner, then let go of the side button. If your Apple Watch has an earlier version of watchOS, you see the Power Off slider instead of the power button.

Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see the red Reset button.

Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm. 

After Apple Watch unpairs completely, you can pair again. Remember that you'll need the Apple ID and password that were used to set up the watch. Set up as New Watch.

Update phone to iOS17.4.1 and watch to watch OS 10.4