If you have an Apple watch I am certain you have come across this issue where when your watch needs an update but you are unable to look for it as the error says ‘software update failed because you are not connected to the Internet. And what is worse is that you are connected to a stable WiFi or an internet connection. So, to learn more about what causes the ‘Unable to check for update’ error in Apple watch, keep reading the complete article!
How To Fix ‘Unable To Check For Update’ Apple Watch?
Now let us have a look at some of the methods that can help you fix this issue. These solutions are very effective and it is recommended to try all the methods until you find the one that fixes the issue. Keep reading till the end of this article:
1. Re-Enable WiFi & Bluetooth
It must be known to you that updates require a stable internet connection and even if you are completely certain that you are connected to one, we would recommend you refresh your connection. It takes a minute or two to disable both Bluetooth and WiFi connection and turn it back on. You can follow the steps given below:
- Open Settings in your iPhone.
- You have to look for the WiFi and Bluetooth settings, both of them are visible right when you open the Settings app on your device.
- If they are turned on already, disable both of them one-by-one.
- Now, simply restart your iPhone. And then, once it has been restarted go back to Settings on your device and turn on Bluetooth and WiFi.
Now you need to verify if you can update your Apple watch after this process or do you still face the ‘Unable to check for update’ error.
2. Ensure That Your Current Watch Version Is Compatible For The Update
The newer versions that emerge are usually not compatible with all the versions of an Apple watch. This is one of the most common causes for this issue. You need to ensure that the Apple watch you currently have qualifies for the new update.
You can simply learn more about an update on Apple’s website or on Google where the brand lists all the models that are compatible with a particular update. Such as the watchOS7.5 is only compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 and above version. It is not compatible with Series 2 or older models.
3. Connect To Charger
You are supposed to connect every device to a charger while they are updating for a smooth process. So there are chances though low that your Apple Watch is not fully charged and that is why you are receiving such error messages. You can try putting your Apple watch to charge and then, start the update process and see if the issue persists.
4. Resetting Network Settings
When you face issues related to network connections, it’s highly advisable to reset the network settings on your device. This will remove all the small unknown glitches and also the WiFi connections previously used and VPN settings, etc. However, we ensure you won’t lose any of your data while resetting, here’s how you can reset network settings on your device:
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Click on the General option and then, tap on the ‘Reset’ option.
- In the next step, you are supposed to select the ‘Reset Network settings’ option as shown in the image below.
- You will be asked to enter your passcode, and after that tap the ‘Reset Network settings’ to confirm the reset process.
Once the reset is completed, your phone will restart and you will have to reconnect to your WiFi and enter the credentials to do so. Then, check if your Apple Watch is working now or not.
5. Re-Pairing Apple Watch
In this method, we will be repairing the Apple watch with your iPhone. Unpairing an Apple watch will put all of its settings to factory settings. Thus, removing any glitch or network error, or bugs that were interrupting the update. Here’s how you can repair your Apple Watch:
- Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close to each other and then, open the Watch application in your iPhone.
- Then, you have to click on the ‘My Watch’ tab in the application and then, click on the ‘All Watches’ option.
- Now, you have to tap on the info button which is located right beside the watch you would like to unpair, it’s a symbol of i.
- Then, choose the ‘Unpair Apple watch’ option and then, tap on it again to confirm the unpair. Once the watch has been successfully unpaired, you can go on and repair it again just how you did for the first time.
6. Restart Apple Watch
Restarting a device when experiencing glitches is the best option. So, we are now going to try rebooting the Apple watch to see if the issue fixes up. Restarting an Apple watch is not a complex process, just follow the steps below:
- You need to press and hold the button located on the side of your Apple watch for a few seconds until a menu appears.
- As said, a menu will appear with a few options on the screen.
- Then, click to drag the Power Off slider from the options.
- Once the apple watch is turned off, click and hold the same power button on the side of the Apple Watch to restart it, Apple logo will appear on the screen as soon as it restarts.
7. Make Space By Removing Media/Apps
Every update file needs space in a device for downloading therefore, there is a possibility that your Apple watch has run out of space which is why it is unable to download an update. Therefore, you can try removing some applications, old media, files, etc. to make some space and then, check if the ‘unable to check for update’ error persists:
- Go to Settings on your Apple watch and then, click on the ‘General’ option.
- Now, click on the ‘Usage’ option, this will show you how much space you have and which app is taking how much space.
- You can scroll down and delete old files and media that are of no use to you now. Doing so will create space for any new update in the watch.
8. Hard Reset Apple Watch
When you have performed every method that is listed above and nothing seems to be fixing the issue then, the last resort is to hard reset the Apple Watch. This method will work in fixing the issue as it will remove all the bugs or any errors the watch might have. Here’s how you can sign out of iCloud and hard reset your Apple Watch:
- Open Settings on your iPhone and then, you have to open your profile. There will be your name and your photo located above all the other settings options. You have to scroll down in your profile and click on the ‘Sign out’ option.
- Now, you will be asked to enter your Apple ID and password. After entering your credentials, click on the ‘Turn Off’ option.
- And when you have logged out of your iCloud account, disable your WiFi network for a few seconds and then, turn it back on.
- Plug your Apple watch into a charger and then, press and hold the side power button of your watch until you see a menu appear on the screen.
- Click on the ‘Power Off’ option and then, click the ‘Erase all content and settings option.
- That is it, after the watch has been reset, if it’ll ask you to enter your iCloud credentials then do so and repair your watch with your device and check if the issue is solved.
Also Read: How Long Do AirPods Last?
Conclusion
I hope you liked reading this article and found it helpful. With the help of the above-given solutions, you will be able to fix the unable to update Apple watch issue. If you still have any queries, let us know in the comments below.