Sometimes, running out of space can be pesky. You cannot update your Apple Watch right away, and you are stressed out because you don't know how to fix it. Having enough storage space is critical for Apple Watch.
This is a compact smartwatch that heavily relies on the iPhone. If you run out of space on your iPhone, it will be impossible to transfer data to the Watch and update your Watch. Read on to find out.
Why Isn't My Apple Watch Updating?
Here are some reasons why your Apple Watch might not update:
1. You Don't Have Enough Space to Spare
If you don't have enough free space on your iPhone or Apple Watch, it's not going to update. Before updating it again, check how much free space is left on each device and delete anything you no longer need or use.
2. The Connection Has Failed
The connection between your iPhone and Apple Watch may be the issue. Verify that your devices are unlocked and in close proximity to one another. Also, make sure both devices are connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network with Bluetooth turned on before trying again.
3. The Battery is Too Low
Your Apple Watch must have at least 50% battery for a software update to occur. While you can still charge it after the fact, this is probably a user error many of us will make when first setting up our devices. Once you learn how to charge your Apple Watch and understand how long it takes to charge, you'll never miss an update again!
4. Your Apple Watch Doesn't Support the New Update
If you're using an older model of the Apple Watch (Series 1 and Series 2), it won't support the latest updates, which are only for Series 3 and Series 4 models. Check the watchOS Compatibility Chart to see if your Watch supports the latest version of watchOS. Here are ways to update Apple Watch:
1. Remove Media and Apps
You can delete apps directly from your Watch via the Settings app or through the Watch App on your iPhone. The latter gives you more control: You can hide apps instead of deleting them completely (which will remove them from your home screen). To do this,
Step 1: Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap My Watch at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Scroll down to an app you want to Hide or Delete, then tap Show App on Apple Watch/Hide App on Apple Watch or Uninstall App.
Step 3: If you choose to remove music or photos from your Watch, they will be deleted.
2. Unpair and Update Your Apple Watch
Unpairing erases all the data on your Apple Watch, including what's in the Health app. If you back up your Apple Watch with iCloud or onto your Mac or PC before unpairing, you can restore this information when you pair it with a new iPhone.
To Unpair and update your Apple Watch, follow these steps:
Step 1: Ensure your Apple Watch and iPhone are close together as you unpair them.
Step 2: Launch the Watch App on your iPhone.
Step 3: Navigate to the My Watch tab and Select your Watch at the top of the screen.
Step 4: Select the info button (the info icon next to the Watch that you want to unpair).
Step 5: Tap Unpair Apple Watch, then tap again to confirm.
Step 6: Set up and pair your Apple Watch again with your iPhone.
Step 7: If requested by your Apple Watch, enter a passcode, then tap Continue on your iPhone.
Step 8: Confirm your action by tapping again “Unpair Apple Watch” button on the popup window.
Step 9: On your iPhone, select Restore from Backup, then choose a backup from the list of available backups in iCloud and iTunes that includes health and activity data from your Apple Watch—you won't be able to restore this data from an iPad backup or an encrypted iTunes backup on your Mac or PC).
Step 10: Finish setting up your Watch by tapping Start Pairing on both devices and holding them close together until you see the option to use your phone's camera.
3. Remove Any Music or Photos that Are Synced to Your Watch
Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, go to the “Music” section, and then swipe left on any items you want to delete. Go back out of the Music section and into the “Photos” section, and swipe left on those items.
4. Remove Any Podcasts or Audiobooks.
Go back into the Apple Watch app and select “Podcasts,” followed by “My Podcasts.” Swipe left on anything you want to remove from your Watch and tap “Delete.” For audiobooks in the “My Audiobooks” section under “Audio Books.”
Is My Apple Watch Too Old to Update?
Apple doesn't update its older devices to the newest versions of watchOS, so you may find your Apple Watch isn't compatible with the latest software. If this is the case, you can still keep your Apple Watch running just fine. It will just be running an older version of the software.
Check the Storage Available on My Apple Watch
You can check how much storage space is available on your wearable by heading over to the “General” section of your Watch's settings menu using the Digital Crown or an iPhone app. Tap on “Usage” and see how much space is left on your device.
Restore From Backup
Restoring from a backup is a good way to fix any issues with your Apple Watch, including the “not enough space to update” problem. Just make sure that the backup you are restoring is from before the issue starts.
Bottom Line
Updating your Apple Watch to the latest watchOS version will bring many new features and a tonery of improvement. The Apple Watch is a handy device, and its performance has gotten better with each successive watchOS update.
When a newer version of the software becomes available, it's common to want to grab the new version right away, but sometimes you don't have enough storage space on your wrist-worn computer.
