How to fix Apple Watch stuck while preparing WatchOS 11 update

Apple has released watchOS 11 with a handful of new and useful features. However, not everyone can try it out as some people report that their Apple Watch gets stuck on “WatchOS 11 update being prepared”.

So we will try to solve this problem and hopefully help everyone get the latest watchOS version on their wearables.

Why is your Apple Watch stuck at “Preparing WatchOS 11 update”?

If your Apple Watch is stuck on “Preparing” when updating to watchOS 11, there could be several reasons. Here are some possible causes and solutions:

• There is an error in the update file.
• Unstable internet connection.
• Insufficient storage space.
• Low Apple Watch battery.

What to do if your Apple Watch is stuck on “Preparing watchOS 11 update”?

Now that we know the possible culprits, let’s see what we can do to fix this problem and finally install watchOS 11 on your Apple Watch.

1. Restart your iPhone and Apple Watch

We’ll start with the oldest trick in the book, just in case there’s no serious problem and your devices need a reboot.

To restart your iPhone, Press the button Decrease volume And Page buttons at the same time. The power off slider will appear. Slide it to the right to shut down your iPhone. Then turn around again on your iPhone.

How to restart your Apple Watch: Hold that Page until the slider appears. Then tap Shut Down button in the top right corner. Drag the slider to the right to turn off your Apple Watch.

Once you turn on your Apple Watch and reconnect to your iPhone, try installing the update again.

2. Delete the update file

Most people who faced this problem said that deleting the update file and restarting the process does the job. Here’s how:

3. Charge your Apple Watch

Make sure your Apple Watch is charged before updating. The watchOS update process requires a significant amount of battery power. If your watch is less than 50%, the update may be stuck in the “Preparing” phase.

So if the battery level is below 50%, put your Apple Watch on the charger and wait for it to charge before trying to update again.

4. Check your internet connection

If your Apple Watch is still stuck at “Preparing update” while installing watchOS 11, it may be due to a poor Wi-Fi connection. An unstable internet connection can cause the update to not download properly, which in turn can lead to all sorts of problems down the road.

Therefore, check whether your internet connection is stable. If it doesn’t, try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network or try troubleshooting any potential issues with the network you’re currently connected to.

5. Turn off Bluetooth

If watchOS 11 is still stuck at “Preparing update,” try turning off Bluetooth. The update is usually transferred from your iPhone to your Apple Watch over Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth can sometimes affect the stability or speed of this transfer.

If both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are active, the iPhone and Apple Watch may attempt to communicate via Bluetooth, which is slower and less reliable when transferring large files such as an update.

If you turn off Bluetooth, the update file will be transferred over Wi-Fi. So turn off Bluetooth on your iPhone and try to start the update process again.