Apple Intelligence now features Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools enhancements, seamless support for ChatGPT, and visual intelligence.
Apple Intelligence has also begun language expansion with localized English support for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Learn more >
Apple Intelligence has also begun language expansion with localized English support for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Learn more >
You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
Download of apple watch 10.4 STOPPED during Preparing and won't advance. It is STUCK. What can I do? Can I cancel and start over?
iPhone has latest software. Watch is a Series 10XR
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Apple Watch Series 5
Having the same problem described above except my phone is an Apple 13 ProMax. Stops during "preparing" about 60% Have updated before with NO problem. How do I complete the download to install IOS 10.4 on my Apple watch? Please advise
I opened a ticket for this with Apple support. Tried to resolve via chat but they could not. Was then escalated to phone support where they said this was an "emerging issue..." Since March? Now escalated to a supervisor.
I have tried every way mentioned here and I have the same issue. My iPhone is a 12 and updated. My watch is an SE. The update hangs on Preparing.
Several friends are having the same issue. My guess is there is a problem with the update and Apple will fix it.
Thats an absolutely ridiculous amount of time ton wait for an update , what have we gone backwards ???
I’m having the same problem. Series 9 watch and IPhone 15 Pro Max (on 17.4). Watch update keeps getting stuck in preparing. I’ve tried deleting the download and restarting the download/install but it hasn’t worked. I’ve waited overnight with both devices on a Belkin 3-in-1 charger. Disappointed Apple hasn’t addressed this yet.
I have 13 Pro Max
Note: make sure your watch is on its charger and at least 50% battery. And obviously make sure your using WiFi.
This should complete the install
Thanks for your reply. I have read that Apple Support info so many times I memorized it.
The only thing that may be causing the problem is that they say that the update requires an iPhone XS or newer. I have an iPhone XR and have used it successfully to download Watch OS 10.1, 10.2, 10.3.1.
Why all of a sudden do I need to have an iPhone XS series?
I did exactly as you said in your post above, with one addition.
I did the update in another room where I could not watch it on my iPhone.
So I was not tempted to watch how slow it was.
I restarted both my watch and my iPhone XR.
Then put watch on charger, started the download and
then left the room and worked on my iMac in a different room and forgot about it.
When I first looked at it , it was installing the download on my watch.
Next time I looked at it, it was done.
It seemed fast to me. But it actually took about 90 minutes or more. But I didn't notice it
Apple instructions say you MUST use an iPhone XS or later.
Apple is WRONG.
I used my iPhone XR.
I tried this and it worked on the third attempt!
A restart of the iPhone and Watch BEFORE you start the update seemed to help. Also - letting the watch run below 50% battery and then charging it also seemed to kick-start the update. It did sit at 60% 'preparing' for about an hour before it suddenly jumped to 90% and then installed. As others have said; make sure the iPhone and watch have a strong WiFi signal and don't watch it; it knows !
iPhone XR, Ultra 2
This is 100% ridiculous. I have done everything suggested. I even reseted the watch. Nothing works. Still stuck on preparing. The crazy thing is my wife and daughter got new watches and they updated just fine. I know it's not that big of a deal. But the fact that apple is not even acknowledging this is insane.
I am trying to do this due to this other issue of the watch going crazy and opening random apps. I tried the online chat and that guy gave up. Then I tried the phone support and they gave up and gave me a supervisor. That guy hung up on me. Then I got another guy who was either playing games or texting while talking to me (constant beeping). He asked me to unpair and then try the update again. This didn't work and he bailed. Now I have an appointment with the Apple Store when I will ask for a refund. Product is a complete joke and the support is even worse. How far Apple has fallen...
WORKED! Finally, after several unsuccessful attempts…
Thank you!
Step I did:
Progress update bar increase immediately!
AMAZING! 🤩
It’s most alike to be a bug, try to restart both the iPhone and the Apple Watch
Follow these steps. I've tried many others over the past week and have just seen a "lack-of-progress" bar and no joy. I followed *these* most excellent steps and I have joy, and 10.4 on my watch. Many thanks to the Bionic Golfer!
Trust when people are saying to just LEAVE it alone. I was going crazy restarting my phone and watch. I followed the “leave it alone. It takes awhile”. It does take awhile. And now my watch is updated. Finally. Hope this helps
I tried updating for two days now, in the mean time barely being able to use my watch since the battery was draining. Deleting the download, shutting off both devices, nothing worked. Then I read here it helped for someone to link the watch to the iPhone, so I (randomly) updated my language preference to “match iPhone” and suddenly the preparing was finally moving up! So it seems to help if something re-establishes the connection between the two devices. Worth the try!
My download of Apple watchOS 10.4 STOPPED during "preparing" and won't advance.
