Apple Watch update 10.4 stuck at Preparing

Here's how I fixed mine. Not sure if every step is necessary but ultimately everything worked.

1) On iPhone "forget" the Bluetooth connection to watch, and delete the watch app as well.

2) On watch make sure it's connected to Wi-Fi

3) Put watch on charger and check for Updates. The latest update 10.5 will display and now the update can be installed from the watch.

4) Using the Settings on the watch select Reset and reset the watch

5) Install the watch app on the iPhone

6) Establish the Bluetooth connection between the watch and the phone

Lot's of steps but for the first time in what seems like months everything is working perfectly

This worked for me. I was able to find "watchOS 10.4" in the storage list and delete it. Then after going back to Software Update it showed 10.5 with a "download and install" button. Downloading now. appears to be working. It's a shame we have to figure these things out on our own.

I have an Apple Watch 6, and it's losing battery very quickly (prior to updating the software to 10.4). I spent over an hour with Apple support and at the end, they indicated that I need to update to 10.4 to try and fix my battery issue, and if it's still a problem then, they can look into it further. Problem is, I can't even download the 10.4 update as it gets stuck on Preparing. what a show....

Anyone have any luck figuring this out?

I also have the same issue since yesterday. Still stuck on preparing, I turned off and on my IPhone and it didn’t help. Any ideas what to do?

Thanks! This worked for me.

i've tried deleting the update 3 times from storage and restarted only to have it get stuck again. any other options? my phone is a 12 and the watch SE 2nd gen

please help!

Sorry. I spoke too soon. I thought it updated when it said “downloading and installing”. But it just reverted back to “preparing” and it’s stuck there, yet again!

Tried all of these suggestions and still no joy - now deleted the update again and hoping that that resolves the draining of the battery issue that started after the hanging update

Delete the file from the watches, disable autoupdate and try your luck in a couple weeks.

What worked??

Didn't work

Thanks!! Yes after deleting several videos from iphone and emptied space for this 10.4 update.. almost 7 times deleted 10.4 file from the storage as you have detailed and re-installed the same…