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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
Same problem with me. Stuck at 6 days, no progress on the bar.
Congratulations , you got yours updated. I did NOT.
What Series iPhone were you using to download the update to the Watch?
I was using an iPhone Series XR.
If you were using an iPhone XR, I will try again.
Thanks in advance for replying.
Tom
To Everyone who is having trouble with the download of Watch OS 10.4:
Apple Support states:
"Updating to watchOS 10 requires iPhone XS or later with iOS 17."
This is WRONG.
You can use several iPhone series to download Watch OS 10.4, not just iPhone Series XS.
I did it with iPhone Series XR. Others did it with Series 8 and other series.
Just RESTART (Turn OFF and then ON) your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Then use your iPhone to start the download, then put your watch on its charger.
It takes a LONG time and will APPEAR to get stuck on "Preparing the download"
Just leave it alone and let it finish the "Preparing".
Leave the room where the watch is being updated. Do NOT watch it.
It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
During this time the sliding horizontal bar on the iPhone does NOT MOVE.
Come back after 2 hours and it will be updated. If the watch face is dark, just touch it.
Hope this helps everyone with this problem.
Tom
Thanks. this works. I had same issue on 11 Pro, after deleting update file on Apple Wach, I restarted both iPhone and Watch, then tried again, download was much quicker, but still it took time at "50% preparing". Left it like you said, probably one about 30mins, and when I checked all was done.
Apple Support states:
"Updating to watchOS 10 requires iPhone XS or later with iOS 17."
This is WRONG.
You can use several iPhone series to download Watch OS 10.4, not just iPhone Series XS.
I did it with iPhone Series XR. Others did it with Series 8 and other series.
Just RESTART (Turn OFF and then ON) your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Then use your iPhone to start the download, then put your watch on its charger.
It takes a LONG time and will APPEAR to get stuck on "Preparing the download"
Just leave it alone and let it finish the "Preparing".
Leave the room where the watch is being updated. Do NOT watch it.
It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
During this time the sliding horizontal bar on the iPhone does NOT MOVE.
Come back after 2 hours and it will be updated. If the watch face is dark, just touch it.
Hope this helps everyone with this problem.
I'm having the same issue, I even wiped off everything from the watch. It will download, and then prepare and then it goes back where I click on Install and then it comes back and tells me the phone is not connected to internet, when both phone and watch are on the same wifi. Please need some support and help here.
hi. i had the same issue. iphone 11 pro max and apple watch 8. like many others, i had the “preparing” issue for two hours. eventually, rebooted both phone and watch. tried again an hour later and got “verifying”. took about another two hours and finally got a message that update to 10.4 completed. seems like this is a 17.4 issue imho.
Sorry to hear that. it worked for me and several others on this Support form.
Be sure that you delete any previous downloads of Watch OS 10.4.
Be sure you Restart (Turn OFF and then ON) both your iPhone and your watch.
Other than that I don't know what to say.
Apple is rumored to come out with a new download for the iPhone shortly.
Maybe they will fix this download problem in that download.
Not sure about your case.
I can only say what worked for me and several other people on this forum.
First delete any previous downloads of watch 10.4
Then restart both watch and iPhone.
Then start the download.
Do this just before going to bed so it has all night to finish.
Get up the next day and see if the watch is updated.
if the watch screen is blank, just touch it.
Please let me know if this works.
Apple is close to releasing a new update (17.4.1) for the iPhone.
So if this doesn't work, wait to see if Apple has corrected this in the new update.
This is an Apple problem.
If you have dowloaded the software update OS 10.4, but did not install it, below is how to delete it.
Open the watch App on your iPhone.
Then tap on General.
Then scroll down to the word STORAGE and tap on it.
If you find the download Watch OS 10.4, Delete it. Do NOT delete the current OS.
This forum has a number of good suggestions for how to download Watch OS 10.4.
However, if none of these work for you, please let Apple know because this is an Apple problem.
Go to >> apple.com/feedback and leave a description of your problem.
Apple needs to know they have a problem for them to fix it.
I suggest you list it as an iPhone problem, not as a Watch problem.
Apple really needs to know about this problem.
And you can help by reporting this problem to Apple.
The more problem reports Apple gets, the more likely they are to fix it.
This forum has a number of good suggestions for how to download Watch OS 10.4.
However, if none of these work for you, please let Apple know because this is an Apple problem.
Go to >> apple.com/feedback and leave a description of your problem.
Apple needs to know they have a problem for them to fix it.
I suggest you list it as an iPhone problem, not as a Watch problem.
Apple really needs to know about this problem.
And you can help by reporting this problem to Apple.
The more problem reports Apple gets, the more likely they are to fix it.
To robtanner1:
Glad to hear you got the watch to update.
This is an Apple problem, in the iPhone software.
Go to >> apple.com/feedback and tell them about this problem.
They have done NOTHING to admit to the problem or to fix it.
I finally got it done. I turned off my phone and my watch. Turned them back on. Went to General and Storage and deleted the stalled update. Downloaded update. Took about 45 mins to download. 30 mins to install. Way too long.
I have finally installed 10.4.. having failed several times following all advice regarding removal and reinstalling.
removing all trace of 10.4, switching off, then on both my phone and watch I reinstalled, this time successfully..
good luck all
My download of Apple watchOS 10.4 STOPPED during "preparing" and won't advance.
