Image: Gizmodo
Whoops. The latest software update for the Apple Watch bricked the device for some users. Even worse? It looks like the only way to really fix the problem is to return the Apple Watch to the Apple Store.
Complaints that the watchOS 3.1.1 update was bricking some watches hit Reddit on Tuesday, with users complaining that installing the update would show an exclamation point with a text message to go to apple.com/help/watch.
Image: Imgur
That page then instructs users to manually reset the watch by holding the side button and the Digital Crown for ten seconds until you see the Apple Watch screen. But, as the page says, if that doesn’t work you’ll need to take it to an Apple Store or send it in for service.
Hearing the complaint, Apple has pulled the watchOS 3.1.1 update. We’ve reached out to Apple for comment but haven’t heard back. In the meantime, this is what the company told ArsTechnica:
A very small number of Apple Watch customers experienced an issue while installing watchOS 3.1.1, so as a precaution we’ve pulled back the software update. Any customers impacted should contact AppleCare, but no action is required if the update installed successfully. We are working on a fix for an upcoming software update.
This isn’t the first time an Apple software update has bricked some devices. When iOS 9.3 was released this spring, some older iPads were left unable to activate with Apple’s servers. The company then pushed out a series of updates to correct the problem.
[ArsTechnica and MacRumors]