To fix an Apple Watch update stuck on Preparing, check charging and Wi-Fi, restart both devices outside an active installation, then delete and download the update again if it still will not start. Keep the watch charging and the iPhone nearby while updating. During installation, leave both devices running and keep the Watch app open.
The short version
- Power and patience: Keep the watch on its charger with at least 50% battery, and allow several minutes to an hour for the whole update.
- Connection: Connect the iPhone to Wi-Fi and keep it near the watch.
- Retry safely: Restart outside an active installation, then remove the downloaded update if it will not start.
- Last resort: Unpairing erases the watch, so reserve it for failures that persist after connection, restart, and storage troubleshooting.
| Fix or check | When to use it | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Check compatibility | Before upgrading | The watch and iPhone must support the update |
| Check charging and allow time | At the start | Keep the watch charging with at least 50% battery |
| Update the iPhone | Its software needs updating | Back up the iPhone first |
| Retry through the Watch app | The paired devices are ready | Keep both devices nearby |
| Respond to passcode requests | An update awaits input | Check both devices |
| Update directly on the watch | You can access its settings | Requires Wi-Fi and charging |
| Delete the update file | A downloaded update will not start | Download it again afterward |
| Restart the watch normally | Installation is not running | Remove it from its charger first |
| Restart the iPhone | Installation is not running | Retry once both devices are running |
| Force restart the watch | A normal restart is impossible | Never interrupt installation |
| Restore the paired connection | The devices are disconnected | Check the green iPhone connection icon |
| Connect the watch to Wi-Fi | It needs a compatible network | Avoid networks requiring browser login |
| Adjust the private Wi-Fi address | The network cannot authorize a private address | Keep privacy options enabled on networks supporting them |
| Check watch storage | The update needs more space | Remove selected media or apps |
| Remove music through the iPhone | Music occupies needed space | The music remains on the iPhone |
| Remove music on the watch | You have an Apple Music subscription | Use More Options > Remove |
| Reduce photo syncing | Photos occupy needed space | Wait for storage to update |
| Delete apps on the watch | You have unwanted removable apps | Some built-in apps cannot be removed |
| Remove apps through the iPhone | You prefer the companion app | Watch-only apps use a different removal control |
| Unpair and set up as new | Earlier troubleshooting fails | Erases the watch after the iPhone creates a backup |
| Stop beta updates | The devices receive betas | Changes future update eligibility |
| Repair iPhone Wi-Fi | The iPhone has internet problems | Try a working network |
| Troubleshoot the router | Other devices also have connection problems | Controls vary by manufacturer |
| Remove interfering VPN or security software | iPhone Wi-Fi connectivity is failing | Consult the administrator for managed software |
| Reset iPhone network settings | Simpler connection fixes fail | Removes saved network passwords and configurations |
| Ask an administrator about app removal | Management blocks storage cleanup | The administrator reviews the restriction |
| Recover the watch | A recovery animation or red exclamation point appears | Use a nearby iPhone or iPad |
| Contact Apple Support | Updating or recovery still fails | Service may be the next step |
Check charging and give the update time
Charge your Apple Watch to at least 50%, leave it on its charger, and connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi. Keep the two devices nearby throughout the update. If charging is the obstacle, follow the steps to charge your Apple Watch before retrying.
Apple says updating can take several minutes to an hour, so allow time for the whole process to finish. Check compatibility before attempting an upgrade, since older watches receive the newest version compatible with their hardware. For an update started from the iPhone, check both devices for a passcode request and enter the requested passcode.
Once installation is running, leave both devices on and keep the Watch app open. Do not restart either device to interrupt installation. Use the restart and update-file deletion steps only when installation is not running.
Restore the connection and update your iPhone
For disconnected devices, bring the watch and iPhone close together. On the iPhone, open Control Center, turn off Airplane Mode, and make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on. On the watch, press the side button to open Control Center, turn off Airplane Mode, and check for the green iPhone connection icon.
Complete any needed iPhone software update before retrying watchOS. Back up the iPhone, connect it to power and Wi-Fi, then open Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install and let the update finish.
To retry from your iPhone, open the Watch app and tap My Watch, then open General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install. Keep the watch charging and respond to any passcode request on either device.
Restart both devices before retrying
When installation is not running, restart your Apple Watch normally. Remove it from the charger first, since Apple says the watch cannot restart while charging. Hold the side button until the sliders appear, tap the power button, then drag Power Off to the right to turn off your Apple Watch.
Hold the side button until the Apple logo appears to turn the watch back on. Return it to its charger before retrying the update. Keep the iPhone nearby as you restart it too.
On the iPhone, open Settings > General > Shut Down and drag the power slider. Hold the side button to turn the phone back on. Once both devices are running, retry through the Watch app.
If you prefer the iPhone's buttons, hold the side button and either volume button on a Face ID model, then drag the power slider. On an iPhone SE without Face ID, hold the side button, then drag the slider. Hold the side button to turn either model back on.
Delete the downloaded update and try again
If the update still will not start and its downloaded file is present, deleting it removes that downloaded watchOS update file. On the iPhone, open the Watch app, go to General > Storage, and delete the update file. You will download it again on the next attempt.
Return to the Watch app, tap My Watch, and open General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install to retry. If the file is absent or another attempt fails, continue with the storage check.
Free storage when the watch needs more space
On the watch, open Settings > General > Storage to check available space. If storage is insufficient, remove downloaded media or apps and retry. Choose content you are willing to remove.
Removing music through the paired iPhone deletes it from the watch while keeping it on the iPhone. Open the Watch app, tap My Watch, then open Apps > Music. Tap Edit, tap the removal button beside unwanted items, and tap Done. Turn off Recent Music to stop automatically adding recently played music.
If you subscribe to Apple Music, you can also remove music directly on the watch. Open Music and, from Home, tap the back button, then open Library > Playlists or Albums. Open an item, tap More Options, then tap Remove. Tap Remove Download or Delete from Library.
Reducing photo syncing reduces the photos stored on the watch. In the iPhone Watch app, tap My Watch, open Photos, and turn off Photo Syncing. Alternatively, open Photos > Photos Limit and choose a smaller limit, or open Photos > Sync Album and choose a smaller album. Retry after the watch's storage has updated.
Deleting an app removes that app from your watch. Press the Digital Crown, swipe up to see all apps, and hold the display until the apps jiggle. Tap the Delete button for an unwanted app, then tap Delete App. Some built-in apps cannot be removed, so choose another app or remove downloaded media instead.
Removing an app through the iPhone also removes it from the watch. Open the Watch app, tap My Watch, open Apps, and select an app. Turn off Show App on Apple Watch; for a watch-only app, tap Delete app on Apple Watch, then tap Delete.
Try updating directly on the watch
If you can access the watch's settings, connect it to a compatible Wi-Fi network. Press the side button to open Control Center, touch and hold Wi-Fi, and select the network. Enter its password and tap Join. Networks requiring a browser login, subscription, or profile are unsupported, so choose a compatible network.
On the watch, open Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Install and keep the watch charging until completion. Leave both devices running during installation.
Fix persistent connection problems
If the paired iPhone also has internet problems, open Settings > Wi-Fi, turn on Wi-Fi, and select a working network. Make sure Airplane Mode is off. Apple also recommends turning off Connectivity Assist under Wi-Fi if your version shows that setting. If it is absent or the connection still fails, try another network.
Test other devices on the same network to check whether the problem extends beyond the iPhone. For a network problem, unplug and reconnect the router and modem, then test again. Try another supported Wi-Fi band or network if needed, and consult the router manufacturer for firmware updates.
If a network cannot authorize your watch's private address, press the side button to open Control Center, touch and hold Wi-Fi, and select the connected network. Tap Private Wi-Fi Address > Off. Use this only for that network-access problem; Apple recommends Fixed or Rotating on networks that support them.
If iPhone Wi-Fi connectivity is failing and VPN or security software may be interfering, uninstalling removes that software from the iPhone. For managed software, consult the administrator before removing it. Uninstall the interfering software, restart the iPhone outside an active watchOS installation, and test the connection again.
Reserve a network reset for persistent iPhone connection failures after simpler remedies, and consult IT first for school or business configurations. Resetting network settings removes saved network passwords and network configurations. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Rejoin Wi-Fi afterward, then retry the watch update.
Unpair and set up as new after other fixes fail
For persistent failures after connection, restart, and storage troubleshooting, Apple recommends unpairing, setting up as a new watch, and updating. Unpairing erases the watch; the paired iPhone creates a backup first that you can restore during setup later. Keep the devices together, open the Watch app, tap My Watch, then open All Watches.
Tap the info button beside your watch, then tap Unpair Apple Watch. Retain the cellular plan if your watch has one, complete the unpair confirmation, and enter your Apple Account password if requested. Pair the watch again, choose to set it up as a new watch, and try the update.
After a successful update, you can optionally restore the earlier backup. Unpairing again erases the watch, so restore the saved backup during the next setup to recover its saved contents. Complete that second unpairing only if you want to restore, then select the backup during setup.
Use recovery when the watch shows a recovery screen
A watch showing an iPhone-and-watch animation or a red exclamation point needs Apple's recovery procedure. Use a nearby iPhone or iPad running current software with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Charge the watch to at least 50% and leave it charging.
For the watch-and-iPhone animation, double-click the watch's side button and follow the nearby device's recovery instructions. For a red exclamation point, double-click the side button, bring the nearby device close, then double-click the side button again. If recovery fails, try 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi without a captive login or 802.1X authentication.
If the update still fails without a recovery screen, contact Apple Support through Get suggestions in Apple's update support options. If recovery leaves a red exclamation point, use Apple's service option. Use recovery only for the recovery screen, rather than for a watch merely showing Preparing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Apple Watch models support watchOS 27?
watchOS 27 supports Apple Watch SE 3, Series 9 and later, and Ultra 2 and later. You need an iPhone 11 or later or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27.
Should you force restart a watch stuck on Preparing?
Use a force restart only when the watch is unresponsive and a normal restart is impossible. Never use it to interrupt an active watchOS installation. Hold the side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
How do you stop receiving watchOS beta updates?
On the iPhone, open the Watch app, tap My Watch, then open General > Software Update > Beta updates and tap Off. If the iPhone also receives betas and runs iOS 16.4 or later, open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and tap Off. These settings change future update eligibility rather than immediately downgrading installed software. Check Software Update for the next public release.
What if a managed Apple Watch blocks app removal?
Contact your device administrator if management restrictions prevent you from removing apps to free storage. Ask the administrator to review Remove apps in their device-management service. The administrative menu depends on the service, and allowing removal enables storage cleanup rather than directly repairing the update.