WachOS 5.1 Bricked my Watch 4

Noticed the same when my wife’s replacement watch came in. Appears that the watch only does a backup when you unpair it. So when you unpaired your Watch 3 a backup was created which only includes your apps, layout, and other settings. Your Health data is backed up each time your phone backs up so this data is safe. Once the restore was complete here Watch 4 was back to normal other than losing a couple days of health data.

Found the following support posting on Apple which has the details: Back up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

My Series 4 GSM is also stucked at Apple logo:/ I’m using it with an iPhone 7 Plus.

Already call them and they said to get it to service, but here in Portugal we don’t have AppleStores so it will take forever. Oh my dear God how can this be happening, I’m losing my hope in Apple.

I only saw this post after updating my wife iPhone to iOS 12.1, I just hope it doesn’t update the watch over night, because I don’t want to end up with two bricked watches.

How the **** after so many calls, the update still being online? I made my call reporting the problem at 18:00 GTM.

My Watch 4 (44mm) updated just fine to WatchOS 5.1. My wife’s Watch 4 (40mm) on the other hand froze at the Apple Logo as reported by others. Call to Apple Support did not produce a solution. Have an appointment at the Genius Bar tomorrow. Not sure if they can reset through the diagnostic port or if a new watch is the solution.

Same problem here and I'm steaming about it. Earliest appointment at the Genius bar is 3 days away, or 5-7+ days for "express repair"

I was told to "leave it at the logo startup screen to load" which maybe could take overnight (which I highly doubt).

This is beyond unacceptable, for the price paid for the Series 4 watch +PLUS+ the added cost for Apple(doesn't seem to)Care. Sounds like this is not an isolated problem unfortunately.

Watches are a daily wear item, and to have to go through this because of a failed software upgrade has really taken the shine off my otherwise stellar Apple experience (which has included 7 iphones, 4 ipads, 3 watches for me, double that for my family, so lots of thousands of $$s).

Yep. Sr. advisor I just chatted with said they know about it and are replacing watches. Don't bother going to store, they don't have replacements, has to be done by mail. I'm leaving on a trip Monday and if this doesn't get resolved by then, I'll get something else, and move away from the Apple ecosystem. This is unacceptable. I have another call in the AM to try to expedite a solution.

I'm non-cellular. From reading the reddit and twitter posts... sounds like people are getting bricked either way (and Nike too). They are express replacing mine, but will see if it comes before I leave on my trip.

Hi guys,

I have the same problem, unfortunately in my country there is no apple store therefore I've send it to an authorized reseller and they will send to an apple shop.

Did anyone resolved something by going to apple shop, they will be replaced or repaired?

Thank you

I am bricked, too. Apple says they are looking into it. I booked an appointment tomorrow at the local Apple store, but I know all they will do is send it out for repair. No exchanges in store, apparently ... at least not today.

Specialist that called me back did do an express replacement ... but it took me pressuring it. He said it should arrive by Friday in time for my trip, but I'm skeptical as I haven't seen a shipment confirmation show up yet. I have a new one ready for pickup at a local Apple store and may just head over there. I'll give them two options - swap my dead one that they killed, or I'll buy the new one, use it until the replacement comes, then return it. VERY expensive way to handle it IMHO (for Apple) but they aren't really giving us any viable options.

Took my wife's Apple Watch 4 to the local Apple Store this afternoon. They had only seen 2 returns for the problem but were well aware of it. Similar to other reports the Apple Store did not have the facilities to reset the watch. Sent to repair center in Memphis with expected return in 5 to 7 days. Was told that if unable to reset then the watch would be replaced.

I got more lucky. Apple is sending me a replacement watch within 2 days, and I mail back my broken watch to them. Don't how I managed to avoid the 5-7 day "repair" cycle, but for what it's worth, this apparently is an option now.

Just got the confirmation that the express replacement shipped (and double confirmed that FedEx has it in transit) so will have tomorrow. If everything goes according to plan, this will have been about a 40-hour inconvenience. Not a completely bad recovery, but still... software QA needs to get beefed up.

I went to Apple store this morning when they just opened and had to wait about one and half hours to get the appointment after I checked in. They had to send the watch to be repaired. The tech didn't know the issue about watchos 5.1. I told her its on news now and she said she didn't see the news. I am very disappointed that I just bought this watch few weeks ago, and needed to send it back to fix because Apple caused this problem, and I didn't get any apology for these troubles.