User profile for user: brenno182
brenno182 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Apple Watch: Restarts and overheating after watchOS update

Hi there,


I’ve been having ongoing issues with my Apple Watch. Last week I updated it to watchOS 26.3. The next day it accidentally ran out of battery, and since then it has been randomly restarting, showing an overheating message.


I suspected it might be related to the update, so I researched online and on the official Apple forums. People recommended resetting the Apple Watch and unpairing it from my iPhone. I did both procedures, but the problem persists, even when the watch is in a cool environment.


I’ve been using it normally, but it still restarts multiple times a day. Today I also unpaired and paired it again with my iPhone, and the problem is still happening.


This has been very disruptive and frustrating.


Thank you,


[Edited by Moderator]

Apple Watch Series 8, watchOS 26

Posted on Feb 19, 2026 12:11 PM

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User profile for user: brenno182
brenno182 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Posted on Feb 20, 2026 4:59 AM

Hi there,


I’m following up on my previous message because I’ve found additional diagnostic information that may help identify the cause of the issue.


I accessed the Apple Watch analytics logs and noticed that the restarts appear to be associated with a system process crash, specifically the ActivityMonitorApp (com.apple.ActivityMonitorApp). The log shows an EXC_RESOURCE exception with subtype MEMORY and the message “(Limit 35 MB) Crossed High Water Mark.”

Based on this, it seems the system process exceeded its memory limit and was terminated by the system. This happens shortly before the watch displays the overheating icon and restarts.


This makes me suspect the overheating warning may not be caused by actual temperature, but instead may be related to a software or system issue introduced after the watchOS update.


Based on the crash logs referencing the ActivityMonitorApp, I removed the Activity rings complication from my main watch face and disabled Activity app notifications as well.


I’ll be monitoring the watch closely today to see if this resolves the issue. If the restarts happen again, I will also try to capture additional logs to provide you with more information.

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User profile for user: brenno182
brenno182 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Feb 20, 2026 4:59 AM in response to brenno182

Hi there,


I’m following up on my previous message because I’ve found additional diagnostic information that may help identify the cause of the issue.


I accessed the Apple Watch analytics logs and noticed that the restarts appear to be associated with a system process crash, specifically the ActivityMonitorApp (com.apple.ActivityMonitorApp). The log shows an EXC_RESOURCE exception with subtype MEMORY and the message “(Limit 35 MB) Crossed High Water Mark.”

Based on this, it seems the system process exceeded its memory limit and was terminated by the system. This happens shortly before the watch displays the overheating icon and restarts.


This makes me suspect the overheating warning may not be caused by actual temperature, but instead may be related to a software or system issue introduced after the watchOS update.


Based on the crash logs referencing the ActivityMonitorApp, I removed the Activity rings complication from my main watch face and disabled Activity app notifications as well.


I’ll be monitoring the watch closely today to see if this resolves the issue. If the restarts happen again, I will also try to capture additional logs to provide you with more information.

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User profile for user: hkfromsingapore
hkfromsingapore
User level: Level 1
12 points

May 18, 2026 4:20 PM in response to brenno182

My one cent worth thought:


After upgrading to 26.4, my SE went crazy. Battery drained, screen not responding, autoscrolling, a no notification prompt kept flashing…


Done everything, but nothing works.


Bought a new watch and switched off the old watch.


A few days later, saw an available OS update in my new watch. Charged the old one and upgraded its OS to 26.5.


Guess what?


My SE is back to normal.


Another 2 days later, noticed the same issue on my SE. I switched it off.


Waited for another day. Then turned it on again. OK, back to normal again.




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User profile for user: LD150
LD150
User level: Level 10
105,266 points

May 18, 2026 11:20 PM in response to hkfromsingapore

hkfromsingapore wrote:
My one cent worth thought:
After upgrading to 26.4, my SE went crazy. Battery drained, screen not responding, autoscrolling, a no notification prompt kept flashing…
Done everything, but nothing works.
Bought a new watch and switched off the old watch.
A few days later, saw an available OS update in my new watch. Charged the old one and upgraded its OS to 26.5.
Guess what?
My SE is back to normal.
Another 2 days later, noticed the same issue on my SE. I switched it off.
Waited for another day. Then turned it on again. OK, back to normal again.

Failing batteries are strange creatures, that is consistent with heat sensitive failure.

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Apple Watch: Restarts and overheating after watchOS update

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