It’s easy to download and install the latest version of watchOS for whatever model of Apple Watch you own. We’ve detailed the steps below; follow along to keep your Apple Watch up to date!
Initial Steps
To update your Apple Watch, you need the iPhone it’s paired with to have its own operating system up to date. So you’ll need to download and install the latest version of iOS to get started.
You’ll also need to make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and that your Apple Watch is at least 50% charged.
You can update your Apple Watch while it’s connected to its charger. In fact, we’d encourage that to ensure the power level doesn’t dip too low, pausing the update.
The last bit of setup is to make sure your Apple Watch and iPhone are next to each other and that they can stay that way. The update can only take place if the devices are within a particular range of one another and the update can take as long as an hour to finish.
It might therefore be good to start the update before bed, or during a period of the day when you don’t need your phone or Apple Watch with you. The update might only last a few minutes, but in case it takes longer, it’ll be good to have the time cushion.
How to Start the watchOS Update
To start the actual watchOS update, go to the Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap on the My Watch tab (the app may open in it) and scroll down to General. Tap on Software Update and let the app search for the latest watchOS.
Once you see what the latest watchOS available for your Apple Watch is, tap Download and Install. You may need to input your iPhone and Apple Watch passcode.
A progress wheel will appear on your Apple Watch. As the wheel fills in, your Apple Watch is updating. Make sure you don’t restart or power down your iPhone or your Apple Watch or quit the Watch app while the wheel is filling up. Doing so will disrupt the update.
Once the progress wheel fills in, your Apple Watch will restart. At that point, you can put it back on your wrist, if you were charging it, and input your passcode to unlock it. Your Apple Watch will now be updated to the latest version of watchOS!
How to Update watchOS Without an iPhone
You can update watchOS without your iPhone if you already have watchOS 6 or later on your Apple Watch.
To do this, make sure your Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi and tap on Settings in your Apple Watch’s app screen.
Scroll to and tap on General, then tap Software Update. Like with your iPhone, finding the latest watchOS software may take a moment.
Once it appears on the screen, tap Install. Then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update.
Again, don’t turn off your Apple Watch during the update, and be ready for it to restart when the new version of watchOS is installed. Your Apple Watch may require you to put it on its charger during the update process as well, so make sure you’re near a charger before starting this process.
An Updated watchOS Means an Updated Apple Watch
To keep your Apple Watch running smoothly and protect its data, get the latest watchOS with our above guide. Hopefully, by showing you how simple it is, you’ll keep your Apple Watch up to date in the future, enjoying all of watchOS’s coolest features as soon as they’re released!
