The watchOS 6 update is here with new features and performance fixes, and the watchOS 6.1.1 update is here to fix some issues soon. That said, there are a number of watchOS 6 issues, bugs, and issues that are still in the final release after months of testing. If you’re using an Apple Watch in 2019, it’s most likely running this update.
Current watchOS 6 issues include many familiar issues such as; bad battery life, slow performance, connectivity issues, issues installing update, incompatible phones, missing watch faces, color issues with watch faces, and apps not working. Some are new, some are familiar from watchOS 5. Here is a complete guide on how to fix Apple Watch problems.
For some issues you will have to wait for watchOS 6.1.2 or watchOS 6.2 and for others you may have to go to an Apple Store. Fortunately, you can fix most of these problems on your own within minutes.
This guide will walk you through fixes for some of the most common watchOS 6 issues. If your battery is draining fast, your watch is getting slow, and you’re experiencing connection issues, this guide will help you get your Apple Watch back like new.
watchOS 6 Installation Issues
How to fix watchOS 6 installation problems?
One of the biggest problems you can face is the problem of installing watchOS 6 on your device. You can fix this on your own.
Common complaints are that the watchOS 6 update takes too long to download and install. It took us almost an hour and a half to install watchOS 6 on Series 4. Connecting to Faster WiFi and restarting your iPhone and Apple Watch can help. It could also be to slow down demand.
If your iPhone isn’t seeing the watchOS 6 update, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure you have installed iOS 13. You need this to be able to install watchOS 6. The next thing you should do is reboot your devices. This can solve many problems.
If you’ve tried the watchOS 6 beta or iOS 13 beta, you may need to delete these profiles to install the official version. go.
watchOS 6 Connection Issues
Fix watchOS 6 connection issues.
Is your Apple Watch no longer connecting to Bluetooth, WiFi or LTE? You may be one of the unlucky people experiencing watchOS 6 connection problems. With a little work you can probably fix these problems on your own.
The first thing to do is to try closing and reopening these connections. You can also try toggling AirPlane mode on and off.
- Swipe Up from the bottom of your Apple Watch
- Tap WiFi to turn it off.
- Wait a second and tap again to turn it on.
You can try the same with LTE and if you need to fix Bluetooth problems, the best option is to restart the Apple Watch. To do this, hold down the side button and then slide the power to the right and then press the digital crown to start it again after the watch is off.
watchOS 6 Battery Drain
Is your Apple Watch bad battery life after installing the watchOS 6 update? This is pretty common on the first day and can annoy users if something goes wrong during installation.
The first thing to try is to restart your Apple Watch and iPhone. This can solve many problems. . Then leave it.
If that doesn’t improve your battery life, wait a day or two and see if things improve. It’s annoying to deal with, but sometimes the clock just needs to catch up with the update.
You can also try to limit notifications or get rid of apps you no longer use. Another option is to turn on power reserve mode if things get really bad. This isn’t a fix for bad battery life issues, but it’ll get your Apple Watch through the day. To do this, .
For users with poor watchOS 6 battery life after a few days, you may need to unpair and re-pair Apple Watch and iPhone. To do this, you need to go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap My Watch, then tap Apple Watch.
- Tap to Unpair Apple Watch.
- Then tap to confirm and if Activation Lock is on, enter your Apple ID password to turn it off.
Once this is done, you can connect the device and set it up again with your iPhone. This will take some time.
Missing Color in watchOS 6 Faces
Refresh your Apple Watch faces.
Apple Watch may appear to have no color options for some Apple Watch faces. Apple Watch has a new selection option you can use to add them back.
- Press and hold Apple Watch Face.
- Tap Customize.
- In the main selection screen, scroll with the digital crown until it turns white or black.
- White is the first color choice.
When you select white or black, the remaining colors return. It’s not clear why Apple is limiting the use of the color you choose, except for the fact that they believe only they know what a good watch face looks like.
Missing Watch Faces
The new watch faces are not missing, they are just hidden.
If you can’t find the new watchOS 6 watch faces, they’re probably there, just add them so you can find them. To do this;
- Press any watch face.
- Swipe right all the way.
- Tap on New (+)
- Scroll with the Digital Crown to find the face.
This is more likely due to an actual missing clock. So give it a try and see if you can get the new watchOS 6 face you want.
Apple Watch slowing down after watchOS 6 Update
Is your Apple Watch running slow after installing watchOS 6? These fixes are similar to the fixes for bad battery life in watchOS 6.
If these don’t work, you can try waiting a day or two for the device to index and update and set all apps, or try the unpair and re-pair option. To do this,
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap My Watch, then tap Apple Watch.
- Tap to Unpair Apple Watch.
- Then tap to confirm and if Activation Lock is on, enter your Apple ID password to turn it off.
This will take some time, so don’t do it if you’re in a hurry.
watchOS 6 App Crashes and Issues
How to fix watchOS 6 app issues?
Are Apple Watch apps crashing or acting slow after installing watchOS 6? The easiest way to fix this problem is to update your apps on iPhone. This may bring iOS 13 and watchOS 6 updates that fix compatibility and should fix most issues.
You can also try uninstalling the app on your watch and phone, restarting the app, and then reinstalling it to see if that fixes the issues. If not, you may have to wait for an update to the app.
Cannot Install WatchOS 6 on iPhone 6
We’re getting some reports from users who have iPhone 6 and Apple Watch 4 and can’t install watchOS 6. This is a common problem and an annoying one, but unfortunately there is no solution.
watchOS 6 update requires iOS 13 and iPhone 6 will not run iOS 13. Do not pair and update the watch with a newer iPhone and then try to pair it with your iPhone 6 as it is not working.
Missing Notifications in watchOS 6
Some users are not getting notifications on Apple Watch after installing watchOS 6. If this happens to you, you may need to unpair the watch and then set it up again. This is an annoying way of solving a minor problem, but has the highest success rate. Before doing that, try restarting your phone and watch and see if that fixes things. If not, follow these guidelines;
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap My Watch, then tap Apple Watch.
- Tap to Unpair Apple Watch.
- Then tap to confirm and if Activation Lock is on, enter your Apple ID password to turn it off.
Once this is done, you can open the Apple Watch app and reconnect the two devices.
Red Exclamation After Installing watchOS 6
One of the worst watchOS 6 problems you can see is a red exclamation mark on your Apple Watch while installing or right after the watchOS 6 update. This may mean that there is a problem with the installation and your watch is bricked.
Before going to Apple, try force restart. Press and hold the side button and digital crown for 10 seconds. If you see an Apple logo, let go and see if the Apple Watch boots to a normal screen. If so, you’re good to go.
If not, you’ll need to make an appointment with Apple.