18 Fixes for Apple Watch Unable to Check for Update and Other Update Problems

Are you unable to update your Apple Watch due to error messages like Unable to verify update? Or is your Apple Watch stuck in a “Unable to check for update” loop? Whatever the Apple Watch update problems you are facing, this post will help. Let’s check different ways to fix Apple Watch update problems.

1. Restart Devices

If yourApple Watch is not updating, start by restarting all the concerned devices i.e.,your iPhone,Apple Watch, and your Wi-Fi modem. Once all the devices are restarted, re-attempt updating your watch.

If a simple restart doesn’t help, you should also try hard resetting your iPhone. Doing so will not delete any data on your iPhone or Apple Watch. To hard reset your iPhone, follow these steps:

1.Press theVolume Upbutton once.

2.Press theVolume Downbutton once.

3.Press and hold theSide (Power button)to restart your iPhone.

Tip: Learn how tochange watch faces on the Apple Watch.

2. Charge Your Watch

The best practice while updating your Apple Watch or even before you check for an update is to put it on the charger. Apple also recommends that your watch should have at least 50% battery to start the update process. So charge your Apple Watch to at least 50% and then re-attempt the download while keeping it on the charger.

Tip:Try to keep your Apple Watch close to your iPhone while updating it.

Apple-Watch-Software-Update

3. Update Phone Software

Your iPhone must have the latest version of iOS in order to be able to update the Apple Watch software. So if you are facing any issue while updating your Apple Watch,update your iPhone’s softwarefirst.

For that, go toSettingson your iPhone. Tap onGeneralfollowed bySoftware Update.Install the update if available. Then, try installing the update on your Apple Watch.

4. Try Updating from Watch

If you are getting an “Unable to check for update” error or “Unable to verify update” error on Apple Watch, you should try starting the update process directly from the watch and not from your iPhone.

For that, go toSettingson your Apple Watch followed byGeneral > Software update.

5. Change Wi-Fi

If the Apple Watch isn’t updating, firstly, ensure your iPhone is connected to a working Wi-Fi network. Next, connect to2.4 GHz Wi-Fi modeinstead of 5 GHz. You can even try vice versa. Go toSettings > W-Fiand connect to another Wi-Fi. If your modem doesn’t support dual modes, try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network to update your Apple Watch.

Tip:If the problem is with your Wi-Fi network, connect your iPhone to someone’s hotspot. Or, you can evencreate a hotspot from your Windows PCand connect to the same on your iPhone.

6. Turn off Bluetooth, Data, VPN, or Hotspot on iPhone

One of the fixes that has helped many users in fixing the update issues on Apple Watch is to disable Bluetooth on their phone. That will force the update via Wi-Fi. Go toSettings > Bluetoothand turn off the toggle next toBluetooth.

Many times, other communication services like mobile data aka cellular data, VPN, or hotspot can show errors like “Unable to check for update” on Apple Watch. To fix this, you simply need to turn off these services on your iPhone. This will force your iPhone to stay on Wi-Fi.

To turn off mobile data, go toiPhone Settings > Mobile Service (Cellular data)and turn off the toggle next toMobile Data.

For VPN, go toSettings > General > VPN & Device Management.You should also disable VPN in any third-party app. Similarly, go toSettings > Personal Hotspotand turn off the toggle next toAllow others to jointo disable Hotspot.

Tip:Learn how to stop the Apple Watch fromswitching from Wi-Fi to cellular.

7. Pair Manually

If your Apple Watch is not updating on the pairing screen, you should try pairing it manually and not use the phone camera to scan the watch face. You will get the option to pair manually on the pairing screen itself. Select it and enter the code from the watch on your iPhone.

Tip:Know how tomake Apple Watch vibrate.

8. Check Low Mode

Typically, Low Power mode shouldn’t be enabled either on your Apple Watch or iPhone while updating the watch. However, many users have suggested that turning it on mysteriously fixed the update problem on their Apple Watch.

Go toiPhone Settings > Battery.Turn on the toggle next toLow Power Mode.

Tip: IfLow Power modeis already enabled on your watch or phone, you will see a yellow icon on your watch. Turn it off and try updating the watch. Also, know themeaning of other icons on Apple Watch.

9. Unlock Your Watch and Remove Passcode

Next, make sure your watch is unlocked while you are attempting to check for an update. Sometimes, having a passcode can also cause update issues on the Apple Watch. You mustremove the passcode from your Apple Watchbefore you begin the update process.

For that, go toSettingson your Apple Watch and tap onPasscode. Tap onTurn Passcode off.

10. Check Apple Watch Storage

If Apple Watch is unable to install the update, ensure your watch has sufficient free space. If the storage is full, you must free up storage on your Appl Watch. You canremove apps, music, or photos, from your Apple Watch.

Tip: Learn how toput multiple pictures on the Apple Watch face.

11. Reinstall Watch App

Another solution that does wonders for Apple Watch update problems is to uninstall the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Long press on the Apple Watch icon and selectRemove Appfollowed byDelete App.Then, re-install the app from the App Store.

12. Change Country

If your Apple Watch is stuck on the “Unable to check for update” during the pairing process, you should change the country of your watch for the setup process. For that, tap on the(i) iconon the watch pairing screen. Then, set the Country to Afghanistan. Again, this solution has also worked mysteriously for many users. Once the watch has been updated, change the country back to the original country.

13. Try Updating Using Another iPhone

If you have another iPhone (even of a family member), you should pair the watch to that iPhone and try updating it. Hopefully, it will be updated. Once updated, pair it back to your own iPhone.

14. Remove Apple Watch Backups from Your Phone

To fix Apple Watch update problems, you should try removing its backup from your iPhone. Go toiPhone Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Watch.Tap onRemove all backups.

15. Unpair Apple Watch

If nothing seems to help, you should unpair the Apple Watch from your iPhone. For that, follow these steps:

1.Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

2.Tap onAll Watchesat the top and press the(i)icon next to your watch.

3.Tap onUnpair Apple Watch.

4.Once unpaired, you should pair it again. You might be asked if you want to set it up as new or from backup. Select Set up as new.

Tip:Know whether youcan use Galaxy Watch with an iPhoneor not.

16. Format Watch

When stuck on the pairing and update screen, you must format your Apple Watch from the watch itself to get rid of the “Unable to check for update” error as shown below:

Turn off your Apple Watch by pressing theSidebutton (no not the Digital Crown). Then, use the Power icon to turn off your watch.

2.Turn it on using the sameSidebutton. But when you see the Apple logo, press and hold the Side button again for at least 30 seconds until you see the Erase content message. Go ahead and format your Apple Watch.

Note:Formatting your Apple Watch will delete all the content on your watch.

3.Then, pair the watch again to your iPhone. verify to pair it manually.

17. Remove Apple Watch from Apple Account

If the Apple Watch is stuck on the pairing and update loop, you should try removing it from your Apple ID. Doing so will force it to start the pairing process again.

2.Click onDevicesfrom the left side and select your Apple Watch.

3.Click on theRemove from Accountbutton.

18. Reset Network Settings on iPhone

If Apple Watch is still showing “Unable to check for update” or a similar error, you must tryresetting network settingson your iPhone. That will restore all the network settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth., etc., to their default values. You will have to set these things again.

Go to iPhoneSettings > General > Transfer or reset > Reset > Reset network settings.

Bonus: Try Three Times

If you are still unable to use your Apple Watch because it’s stuck on the pairing and update loop, you should try all the methods three times. Not because 3 is a lucky number but surprisingly, somefixes seem to workafter 3 attempts.

Customize Apple Watch

Once all your Apple Watch update problems have been fixed, learn how tomanage complicationson your watch. Also know how tochange analog to digital timeon Apple Watch.

Mehvish Mushtaqis a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she’s always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She’s been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps. You can also find her work onMake Tech Easier,Guiding Tech, andNerds Chalk