My download of Apple watchOS 10.4 STOPPED during "preparing" and won't advance.

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 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...

I have 13 Pro Max

1. Open Watch App on your phone.
2. General > Storage then delete the 10.4 you are attempting to install.
3. Close App.
4. Power off Watch. Power off phone.
5. Power up phone. Power up watch.
6. Open Watch App on your phone.
7. General > Software Update.
8. Start Update.
9. Wait about 30 mins or less. Don’t touch your phone or watch. Just let it download and then install. You’ll be good to go.

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

WORKED! Finally, after several unsuccessful attempts…

Thank you!

Step I did:

• on iPhone start app Watch
• go in Face gallery (central button at the bottom)
• download a new face and set it as current one

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!