Apple Watch won't update? 8 fixes for watchOS and Unable to Verify Update

A new version of watchOS is out. You open the Apple Watch app, tap Software Update, and it never starts. Or the watch says Unable to Verify Update. Or the update begins, sits for an hour and goes nowhere. An Apple Watch is fussier about updates than an iPhone, because it needs the phone nearby, enough battery, a working connection and free space all at once. Apple's two support pages on this give a clear order of steps. This guide follows them, adds the extra checks that users report, and shows what to try before you unpair the watch, which is the step most people want to avoid.

What does the Apple Watch need before it can update?

Apple's update page lists the basics. Check each one first, because a miss on any of them is the most common reason an update will not start.

• A compatible watch and iPhone. Apple lists which watches support the newest watchOS, and says the iPhone must run a recent iOS. Check the list for your model on Apple's page.
• An updated iPhone. Apple says to update the iPhone to the latest iOS first.
• At least 50 percent charge. The watch should also sit on its charger during the update.
• Wi-Fi on the iPhone. The iPhone should be connected to Wi-Fi.
• Both devices close together. Keep the iPhone near the watch for the whole update.
• Time. Apple says to plan for several minutes to an hour.

Fix 1: Update the iPhone first

An Apple Watch cannot take a newer watchOS than its iPhone supports. On the iPhone, open Settings, tap General, tap Software Update and install any iOS update that is waiting. Then go back to the watch. This one step solves many cases where the Software Update button simply does nothing. See how to update an iPhone if you need the steps.

Fix 2: Charge the watch, and keep it on the charger

Put the Apple Watch on its charger and check that the charge is at least 50 percent. Apple's update page also says to keep the watch on its charger, and troubleshooting begins with making sure that the watch is connected properly to the charger. If the watch does not charge at all, or the charger light is odd, see our guide on an Apple Watch that will not charge first. Leave the watch on the charger until the update is finished.

Fix 3: Start the update from the Apple Watch app

If you see an Update Tonight option on the watch, you can tap it and confirm on the iPhone. Then leave both devices charging overnight.

Fix 4: Update on the watch itself

If the iPhone route fails, try the watch. Apple lists this as a separate method. Connect the watch to Wi-Fi, open Settings on the watch, tap General, tap Software Update, then tap Install. Keep the watch on its charger and do not restart it. One user on an Apple forum reported that the update worked from the watch after it failed from the phone. This works only for watches that can use Wi-Fi on their own, so if the option is missing, return to Fix 3.

Fix 5: Restart the watch, then the iPhone

Apple's troubleshooting steps say to restart the Apple Watch, then restart the paired iPhone, and then try the update again. To restart the watch, hold the side button until the power slider appears, tap the power icon, drag the slider, then hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo. Restart the iPhone in the usual way. Wait a minute, make sure the watch is on the charger and the iPhone is on Wi-Fi, and start again.

Fix 6: Delete the update file and try again

If the update will not start, Apple suggests removing the file that was downloaded. On the iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, go to General, then Storage, and delete the update file. The menu names can differ by version, so look for the watchOS update in the storage list. Then restart the iPhone and download the update again. A broken download is a common reason an update seems to start and then stall.

Fix 7: Fix Unable to Verify Update, and free up storage

Apple's page on this message says it appears when the watch is not connected to the internet. Follow its steps in order. First, confirm the watch has access through your iPhone, Wi-Fi or cellular, and try again. Second, restart the watch and retry. Third, free up storage by removing synced music and photos, and if needed apps, then try once more. A user on a developer forum also reported that moving the phone to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network let the watch download the update. That is one person's report, not an Apple step, so try it only if the rest fail. If the Wi-Fi is the problem, see our guide on Wi-Fi that will not connect.

Fix 8: Remove a beta profile, then unpair as a last resort

If you ever installed a beta, Apple says to remove the beta profile before you update to the next major release. On the iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, go to My Watch, General, Profiles, tap the beta profile and tap Delete Profile. On the iPhone itself, open Settings, tap General, then Profiles & Device Management, tap the beta profile and tap Delete profile. Restart both devices and check for the update again.

If every step has failed, Apple's Unable to Verify Update page ends with unpairing. Keep the watch and iPhone close. In the Apple Watch app, go to My Watch, All Watches, tap the info button next to your watch and tap Unpair Apple Watch. For a GPS plus Cellular watch, choose to keep your plan. If you are asked, enter your Apple Account password to turn off Activation Lock. Then set up the watch again as new and update it, or restore from a backup. This erases the watch, so it is the final step. Our guides on unpairing without an iPhone and pairing with a new iPhone cover the details.

How long should you wait before you decide it is stuck?

Apple says to plan for several minutes to an hour. A progress bar that moves, even slowly, is normal. If the bar has not moved at all after about an hour, with the watch on its charger and the iPhone close and on Wi-Fi, treat it as stuck and go back to Fix 5. Do not turn off the watch during a real update, because that can leave it unable to start. If the screen shows the Apple logo for a long time, read our guide on a watch stuck on the Apple logo.

Why does my Apple Watch say there is no update when there is one?

The watch may already have the newest version it can run. Not every watch supports every watchOS release, and Apple's page lists which models do. If your model is on the list and the iPhone is fully updated, the Software Update screen should offer it. Check Settings, General, About on the watch to see the current version. If the update is missing, try Fix 1 and Fix 5 again.

Still not updating?

Check Apple's System Status page to see if the update servers have a problem. Try another Wi-Fi network, restart the router and keep the watch close to the iPhone. If you have a work or school Apple Account, an administrator may control updates. If nothing works, contact Apple Support, who can look at the watch and its pairing. Related fixes that are worth a look are Apple Watch connection trouble and the reset steps for the watch.