watchOS 6 Archives - Gotta Be Mobile https://www.gottabemobile.com/tag/watchos-6/ Mobile Tech News & Reviews Tue, 05 Sep 2023 19:42:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.5 https://www.gottabemobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cropped-gbm-favicon-b-2-150x150.png watchOS 6 Archives - Gotta Be Mobile https://www.gottabemobile.com/tag/watchos-6/ 32 32 65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch https://www.gottabemobile.com/things-apple-watch-can-do/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/things-apple-watch-can-do/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2022 17:15:00 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=284800 65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch is a post by Xavier Lanier from Gotta Be Mobile.

Right out of the box, an Apple Watch can help keep you healthy, deliver notifications, make calls, send texts, run simple apps, and even save your life. But the real magic happens when you install apps and personalize your Apple Watch to help you achieve exactly what you hope to do in any given day. […]

65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch is a post by Xavier Lanier from Gotta Be Mobile.

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65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch is a post by Xavier Lanier from Gotta Be Mobile.

Right out of the box, an Apple Watch can help keep you healthy, deliver notifications, make calls, send texts, run simple apps, and even save your life. But the real magic happens when you install apps and personalize your Apple Watch to help you achieve exactly what you hope to do in any given day.

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly what the Apple Watch can do in a variety of settings. Some of them may sound obvious to long-time Apple Watch users, but we promise there are some cool things listed below that you’ve never tried since the Apple Watch and WatchOS are constantly evolving.

Almost all recent Apple Watch models can do everything listed below, but some of the features are exclusive to more recent Apple Watch models. If you are using an Apple Watch that’s a few years old and want to be able to do everything listed in this guide, you may need to upgrade to the newest Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch 8, or Apple Watch Ultra.

The Apple Watch is more than a miniaturized iPhone on your wrist. When you understand what you can do with the Apple Watch it becomes an amazing tool to help you get through your day, be more productive, lose weight, and even save money.

Your Apple Watch can do more than anyone likely needs. But just about everyone should get to know the basic Apple Watch features that are at its core. However, a lot of people don’t make use of the Apple Watch’s best features. This Apple Watch series aren’t the only watches that connect to the iPhone, but they are the best for most people. 

What Can the Apple Watch Do with watchOS 9?

With watchOS 9, there are more workout views, a new compass layout, improved medications reminders, better sleep tracking, and more dynamic watch faces. These, combined with many other watchOS 9 features, means you can do more with your Apple Watch than ever, and rely less on your iPhone. That’s important for those that aren’t allowed to or aren’t able to pull out their iPhones whenever they choose. There are more details within each of the sections below.

Communicating Quickly

1.) Answer Calls on the Apple Watch: 

You can answer phone calls on your Apple Watch, using it as a small Bluetooth speakerphone. There’s no need to pull out your iPhone for shorter calls thanks to the Apple Watch’s built-in microphone and speaker. Just keep in mind that those nearby may be able to hear your caller and the speakerphone on the Apple Watch isn’t nearly as loud as the iPhone’s. 

You can also use your Apple Watch to quickly let callers know that you can’t talk at the moment by tapping one of your pre-set replies, such as “Sorry, I can’t talk right now.”

2.) Place Calls from Your Apple Watch  

 

You can place calls from your Apple Watch in a flash. All you have to do is hold the Apple Watch’s crown down to activate Siri and ask your watch to call a contact. If you are dialing a number that isn’t in your contact list, then you can also tap it into your Apple Watch using an on-screen keypad. 

If you have an Apple Watch GPS + Cellular, you can make or receive calls on your Apple Watch, even when your  iPhone isn’t nearby. This requires adding the watch to your plan for about $10 per month with your wireless carrier. The Apple Watch Ultra comes with the cellular feature baked in. If you want to make calls from other models, you need to plan ahead and make sure you buy a cellular model as there’s no way to upgrade down the road. 

3.) Call 911 in Two Steps

In an emergency, the Apple Watch makes it fast and easy to call for help. All you need to do is hold down the side button for a few seconds until three options pop up. Sliding the SOS icon to the right will activate an emergency call. Regardless of where in the world you are, the Apple Watch will call the appropriate phone number for emergency services. While you may be used to dialing 911, the Apple Watch is smart enough to dial the proper number and even key in any confirmation number local authorities require. 

4.) View and Reply to Texts and iMessages on Your Wrist

Text messages and iMessages instantly appear on your wrist so you don’t have to take your phone out of your pocket. You can also reply quickly with canned messages, emojis, Siri or by scribbling letter by letter what you want to say. The canned messages often pick up on the context of a text so that you can tap on an option that someone gives you. 

You can also see recent conversations in the Messages app on the Apple Watch. This works with both iMessages and text messages. 

5). Send Facebook Messages 

 

Facebook Messenger is a popular app for staying in touch with family, friends and groups. You can receive Facebook Messages on your Apple Watch and even reply with with text, emoji, a thumbs up, your location or a custom message using the microphone to dictate. If you rely on Facebook Messages to stay in touch, this is an awesome feature. Facebook Messenger supports the scribble reply feature so you can reply even when you can’t talk. 

6) Use the Apple Watch as a Translator

Apple Watch iTranslate App Spanish English

You can use your Apple Watch as a translator so that you can talk with people you don’t share a common language with. There is even an offline mode to use when you are traveling and don’t have a cellular connection. 

iTranslate is a free app that offers in-app purchases to unlock some additional features. The app allows you to translate between more than 100 languages. The app translates quickly and allows the person you’re communicating with to read what you said in their native language. There’s also an option to have the Apple Watch speak the translations out loud. 

7. Apple Watches Can be Walkie Talkies

You can use your Apple Watch as a walkie talkie to communicate with friends and families when you are out and about. The Walkie Talkie app on the Apple Watch allows you to send audio messages that automatically play when the recipients are marked as available.  This allows you to quickly chat back and forth with friends during the day or connect with them when you are at an event like a concert easily. Some people use this feature like an intercom at home.  

8. Check Your Email 

Apple Watch Mail app Can Check Delete email

Is your email app your second home? If so, the Apple Watch will either be the best thing to happen or a gateway to checking your email even more often. You can get Mail notifications on your wrist, read flag, delete and easily open on the iPhone for a longer reply. This works inside the Mail app for iPhone. 

There isn’t a Gmail app for Apple Watch, but you can get Gmail notifications. You won’t necessarily get a notification for each and every email that comes in, but it will mirror what you see on your iPhone. 

9. Send Memojis on Apple Watch

Apple Watch Memoji

You can send Memojis from your Apple Watch, as well as standard emoji. You can’t animate the Memoji or make a specific face like you can on the iPhone, but you can send the Memoji that are standard on the iPhone from your watch. 

10. Send Apple Watch Drawings to Friends

You can sketch out a small drawing with your finger on your Apple Watch and send it to a friend’s Apple Watch. The only limits are your imagination, artistic skill, and of course the screen size. The drawing will come across as an animated sketch and your friend can respond with another drawing. This drawings will also go directly to iPhones.  

11. Share Your Heartbeat

The Apple Watch can track your heart rate for fitness activities, but that’s not all the sensors can do. You can share your heartbeat with a loved one as a message.  When you do this a small animation shows on-screen to show your heartbeat directly to another Apple watch. Apple calls this, “a simple intimate way to tell someone how you feel.”

This isn’t something that most Apple Watch users will use often, but it’s a cool way to send a message to someone you love to let them know you are thinking about them. 

 

Apple Watch Can Help Keep You Healthy and Safe

1. Monitor Safe Hearing Levels

The Apple Watch comes with a noise app that tracks how loud your environment is. This allows you to know if you are in a setting where audio is at a dangerous level so you can get hearing protection or move away from the loud sources of noise. You can expect to get alerts in loud environments like constructions sites, rock concerts, and fireworks shows.  You will also see alerts for things you might not think will damage your hearing, such as sustained noise at volumes that aren’t as jarring. 

2. Check and Track Blood Oxygen Levels

The Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, and Ultra include a sensor that tracks your blood oxygen levels. This is especially useful for those who need to monitor their blood oxygen levels due to illnesses such as Asthma, Influenza, and COVID-19.  

The more recent Apple Watches will take blood oxygen level readings throughout the day, which means you can instantly see your most recent reading on your Apple Watch’s Blood Oxygen app. If you want a current blood oxygen level reading it 15 seconds to take a new one.  You can see a running history of your blood oxygen levels in your iPhone’s Health app.

3. Monitor Your Heart Rate

Apple Watch heart rate Can track Automatically

The Apple Watch heart rate monitor is credited with saving the life of a teen and of a 62 year old.

The Apple Watch uses sensors on the back of the Apple Watch to check your heart rate automatically throughout the day. Your current heart rate, resting heart rate, and walking average are all instantly viewable on your Apple Watch by tapping the Heart Rate app. Your heart rate data is stored in the Apple Health app on your iPhone so you can look at trends and see more details.

 When you are exercising, you can see the heart rate at all times on your Apple Watch if you start a workout. 

4. Take an Electrocardiogram (ECG)

ECG Apple Watch Can Take Just 30 SecondsThe Apple Watch Series 4 and newer (except SE models) can take Electrocardiograms (ECG) to detect your heart health. An ECG used to be something that required a visit to a medical provider, but you can now check your heart’s rhythm in just 30 seconds with your Apple Watch. All you need to do is launch the ECG app and hold your finger to the Digital Crown. When the scan is done it will show you whether your heart shows signs of arterial fibrulation (afib). 

5. Track Your Fitness

The Apple Watch uses various sensors to monitor your movement and track your progress towards healthy goals that the Apple Watch or an Apple Watch app will help you set.

You can see this progress across three categories; movement, exercise and time spent standing. Movement measures calories burned, exercise is when you hit 30 minutes of exercise in a day, and the stand section aims to make you less sedentary. The watch will alert you to stand up if you sit for too long and nudge you towards movement and exercise goals. 

You can adjust your move goal by pressing hard on the screen when in the Activity App. You can also see the fitness information on your iPhone in the Health app.

6. Track Your Runs

The Apple Watch can use its built-in GPS to track where you runs, even if you don’t bring your iPhone with you. You can view your detailed runs on a map on your iPhone after your run so you can decide if you want to repeat the route in the future or not. 

7. Track Your Cycle

You can easily track your cycle and get alerts on your Apple Watch. The app uses information you enter on your last period  to help predict the start of your next period. 

You can see this information on your Apple Watch and log flow as well as symptoms of your period.

8. Track Your Sleep

All recent Apple Watch models include built-in sleep tracking features that make sure you get to bed on time, wake up on time, and help improve your quality of sleep. All you need to do is enter some basic info in the Sleep app and wear your Apple Watch to sleep.  The Apple Watch will track how much time you spend in each stage of sleep and at what time you hit each stage. 

 

Use the Apple Watch to Get Around

1. Use the Apple Watch as a Compass

Apple Watch Compass using to get around

Select Watch Faces and  the standalone Compass app is a standalone app can show you the which way you’re facing, the incline, elevation and your latitude and longitude. This is a cool feature to try at least a few times, especially if you’re directionally challenged. For more complicated navigation, there are countless watch apps that use the Apple Watch Compass to assist you navigate on land, water, or even sky. 

2. Use the Apple Watch as a Car Key

You can use your Apple Watch  as a key for most newer BMWs and select Hyundai and KIA models.  That means you can open your cars’ doors and start the ignition by just tapping on your watch’s side button a couple of times.  Almost all BMW models built since July 2020 support the Apple key feature, with Hyundai and Kia compatibility much more limited. 

Apple Watch Productivity Features

1. Use Your Apple Watch as a Calculator

The Apple Watch can be used as a calculator through Siri or the calculator app. The built-in app can help you solve basic math problems and settle restaurant bills. The Apple Watch calculator app has a TIP calculator that lets you put in the total due and adjust the percentage of tip you’d like to leave. It also gives you the option to select the number of people splitting the bill to give you a precise number for each person to pay. 

2. Record a Voice Memo or Conversation

You can use your Apple Watch to record a Voice Memo  with its built-in microphone. This means your Apple Watch can quickly record your thoughts before you forget them, important meetings and conversations without having to rely on your iPhone. All you need to do is open the app by selecting it from the app screen or by asking Siri to open the Voice Memos app. To start recording, all you need to do is tap the red button. Voice Memos are stored in iCloud and synced to your other Apple devices for playback and sharing.  

3. Unlock Your MacBook and Passwords

With Auto Unlock enabled on your MacBook, you can quickly unlock it while wearing your Apple Watch. That means you won’t need to type in your password every time your MacBook goes to sleep. You can also use your Apple Watch to automatically unlock your stored Passwords and password-protected Notes. 

Apple Watch Entertainment Features:

Listen to Podcasts on the Apple Watch:

Apple includes the Podcasts app on the Apple Watch. You can sync podcasts to the Apple Watch based on the ones you listen to on your iPhone when the watch is on its charger. If you are mobile you can stream the latest episodes on LTE or on WiFi.  You will to use your AirPods to listen as Podcasts won’t play back on the Apple Watch’s built-in speaker. 

Other Things the Apple Watch Can Do

1. Stay Quiet in a Movie Theater

You can tell your Apple Watch not to respond to hand movements while you are at the movies. This keeps your Apple Watch from lighting up when you move your arm. With this mode, the watch noises also stop, so you can enjoy the movie without disturbing others. You will still get notifications and the watch will vibrate so you know if something important is happening, it’s just less likely to annoy people around you. 

To enable this, just swipe up from the Apple Watch home screen, and you’ll see a pair of theater masks.  Tap on the masks to turn on Theater mode. When you are done, tap on it again to turn it off.   

2. Tell You The Time

There’s more than one way for the Apple Watch to tell you the time. While the most obvious way is to just look at your wrist, there are a few other ways to tell time on the Apple Watch. 

The Apple Watch can speak the time to you by tapping the watch face with two fingers. You can also set your Apple Watch to play hourly chimes.   The Apple Watch can also tap out the time on your wrist using its haptic engine.

Settings to change what Apple Watch can do for telling time

To enable or disable these time-telling tricks, you will need to launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch, then select Clock to see your options. 

What the Apple Watch Can Do:

  1. Answer Calls . 
  2. Use as Your Car Key .
  3. Use the Apple Watch as a Walkie Talkie .
  4. Record a Voice Memo .
  5. Track Your Cycle . 
  6. Monitor Safe Hearing Levels.
  7. Use a Calculator .
  8. Act as a Compass_.
  9. Always Show You The Display
  10. Listen to Podcasts on the Apple Watch .
  11. Unlock Passwords and Notes on Your Mac .
  12. Use the Apple Watch to Challenge Friends
  13. Use the Apple Watch as a Flashlight
  14. Use the Apple Watch in Water
  15. Track Your Runs .
  16. Stay Quiet in a Movie Theater .
  17. Change Your Watch Face
  18. See Info Quickly
  19. Monitor Your Heart Rate . 
  20. Track Your Fitness .
  21. View and Reply to Text and iMessage .
  22. Send Apple Watch Memoji .
  23. Get iPhone Notifications On Your Wrist
  24. Share Your Heartbeat. 
  25. Pay with Apple Pay
  26. Use Apple Watch Apps
  27. Get Directions On Your Apple Watch
  28. Send Drawings from the Apple Watch
  29. Use Siri on the Apple Watch
  30. Look at Photos on Your Apple Watch
  31. Connect to Your Car
  32. Send Facebook Messages
  33. Listen to Music on Your Apple Watch
  34. Stream Apple Music
  35. Share Your Location
  36. Check Your Email .
  37. Control Your Apple TV & Music
  38. Use it as a Camera Viewfinder
  39. Find a lost iPhone
  40. Store Tickets on Your Apple Watch
  41. Use it as a Nightstand Clock
  42. Set Your Apple Watch Up to 10 Minutes Fast
  43. Send an SOS
  44. Keep on Track to Close Your Activity Rings
  45. Keep You On Task as a Virtual Assistant
  46. Send Money to Friends with Apple Pay Cash
  47. Use it as a Stopwatch
  48. Show Store Loyalty Cards
  49. Control Your Smart Home
  50. Get Important Weather Alerts
  51. Use as a Translator . 
  52. Check Your Instagram Feed
  53. Track Your Sleep
  54. Always Have Your Passwords
  55. Track Skiing and Snowboarding with the Apple Watch
  56. Continuously Track Your Heart Rate Without Workouts
  57. Control Your HomePod Music
  58. Order a Pizza
  59. Open Your Garage Door
  60. Show Your Car Insurance
  61. Check the News
  62. Browse Etsy
  63. Make In-App Purchases on Your Apple Watch
  64. Check Your Blood Oxygen Levels .
  65. Use without an iPhone as a Kid or Senior

This list of things you can do with the Apple Watch should be more than enough to get your money’s worth out of it.

Read: Get the Best Gaming Chair You Can Buy

Answer Calls on the Apple Watch

Answer Calls on the Apple Watch

You can answer a call on your Apple Watch using it as a small Bluetooth speakerphone. You only want to use this for shorter calls because the audio quality isn't as good as when you are talking on speakerphone on your iPhone. 

The Apple Watch only allows you to answer your calls on Speakerphone, so you won't want to use this all the time. It is very handy when you are working on a project or busy with your hands. Definitely be conscious of where you are taking calls. If you wouldn't talk on speakerphone, you shouldn't talk on your Apple Watch.

If you buy the new Apple Watch with LTE, you can even make calls on the Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby. This requires adding the watch to your plan for $10 a month. You cannot answer a FaceTime video call on the Apple Watch. 

65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch is a post by Xavier Lanier from Gotta Be Mobile.

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4 Reasons Not to Install watchOS 6.2.8 & 10 Reasons You Should https://www.gottabemobile.com/reasons-not-to-install-watchos-6-reasons-you-should/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/reasons-not-to-install-watchos-6-reasons-you-should/#respond Wed, 15 Jul 2020 17:45:50 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=467403 4 Reasons Not to Install watchOS 6.2.8 & 10 Reasons You Should is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

There is a new watchOS 6.2.8 update that includes support for digital car keys on your watch and new support for heart health features in select countries as well a security and bug fixes. There are some great reasons to install the watchOS 6.2.8 update on your watch today, but there are also important reasons […]

4 Reasons Not to Install watchOS 6.2.8 & 10 Reasons You Should is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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4 Reasons Not to Install watchOS 6.2.8 & 10 Reasons You Should is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

There is a new watchOS 6.2.8 update that includes support for digital car keys on your watch and new support for heart health features in select countries as well a security and bug fixes. There are some great reasons to install the watchOS 6.2.8 update on your watch today, but there are also important reasons not to install it yet.

Apple ties this update into a new iOS 13.6 update. This is a moderate update for most users who’ve been using watchOS 6 for months. If you are upgrading from watchOS 5, this is a major update, but for users on watchOS 6.2 or higher this is a small update.

The watchOS 6 update is big, so you need to plan on spending a decent amount of time on downloading and installing the update. If you are already watchOS 6 or watchOS 6.2.5, the watchOS 6.2.8 update is smaller and installs faster.

Read: Things the Apple Watch Can Do

Unlike the iOS 13 update, you cannot downgrade from watchOS 6 or watchOS 6.2.8 to an older version. Once you install watchOS 6, you are stuck on it until Apple releases a new version — likely watchOS 7. New features include;

  • Adds support for digital car keys for ‌Apple Watch‌ Series 5
  • ECG app on ‌Apple Watch‌ Series 4 or later now available in Bahrain, Brazil, and South Africa
  • Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Bahrain, Brazil, and South Africa

If you’re on the fence about installing watchOS 6.2.8 on your Apple Watch, this is what you need to know to help you decide. For some users, now is a perfect time to upgrade, but for others, it is better to wait and let others work out any bugs.

Install if You Have Apple Watch Problems

Install if You Have Apple Watch Problems

Is your Apple Watch sluggish or are you experiencing problems on watchOS 5 or watchOS 6? If so, you may find a better experience on your Apple Watch with watchOS 6.2.8.

The watchOS 6.2.8 update does not list specific fixes, but every small update like this does include some fixes. The previous updates fixed issues with FaceTime, playing music, and Bluetooth connectivity. 

If your Apple Watch is slow, connectivity isn't what it used to be or there are other issues that you simply deal with every day, there is a chance that Apple will fix some of these issues in watchOS 6.2.8.

4 Reasons Not to Install watchOS 6.2.8 & 10 Reasons You Should is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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Here’s How Long the watchOS 6.2.8 Update Takes to Finish https://www.gottabemobile.com/heres-how-long-the-watchos-6-update-takes-to-finish/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/heres-how-long-the-watchos-6-update-takes-to-finish/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2020 18:01:31 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=468049 Here’s How Long the watchOS 6.2.8 Update Takes to Finish is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The watchOS 6 update takes a while to install, but the watchOS 6.2.8 update is much faster. Here’s how long the watchOS 6.2.8 update takes to finish. It took us an hour and 20 minutes to install watchOS 6 on the Apple Watch Series 4 on day one. The watchOS 6.2.8 update installed quickly on […]

Here’s How Long the watchOS 6.2.8 Update Takes to Finish is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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Here’s How Long the watchOS 6.2.8 Update Takes to Finish is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The watchOS 6 update takes a while to install, but the watchOS 6.2.8 update is much faster. Here’s how long the watchOS 6.2.8 update takes to finish.

It took us an hour and 20 minutes to install watchOS 6 on the Apple Watch Series 4 on day one. The watchOS 6.2.8 update installed quickly on the Apple Watch 5 in about 15 minutes.

The watchOS 6.2.8 update is a free update for the Apple Watch Series 1 through Series 5 devices. The watchOS 6.2.8 update is over 100MB on the Apple Watch 5.

Here’s what you need to do before installing watchOS and how to install watchOS updates.

How Long Does the watchOS 6.2.8 Update Take?

You need to plan on spending at least an hour installing the watchOS 6 update, but if you are just installing the watchOS 6.2.8 update it is much faster.

If you are upgrading from watchOS 6, you will have the quickest upgrade path, but if you are on an older release, this process could take longer, due to a potentially bigger update. Plan on spending at least 20 minutes and potentially up to an hour installing iOS 13.6 if you aren’t already on it.

To install watchOS 6.2.8 on your device, it needs at least 50% battery life, to be connected to the charger and to WiFi. That means you can’t use the Apple Watch, and you can’t leave the Apple Watch and take your iPhone somewhere, so you’re tied to your desk. Here’s how long the watchOS 6.2.8 update takes to finish;

Task Time
Backup Apple Watch (Optional) 1-30 minutes (Automatic)
watchOS 6.2.8 Download 3-15 minutes
watchOS 6.2.8 Update Installation 8-15 minutes
Total watchOS 6.2.8 Update Time 15-60 minutes

Don’t try to do this when you are in a hurry. If you are an essential worker and you need to be ready to go to work, don’t start this right before you need to go out the door.

The best time for many users to install watchOS 6.2.8 is in the evening or right before bed, when there is plenty of time for the Apple Watch update to download and install. Don’t attempt this on public WiFi.

Once the watchOS 6.2.8 update installs, you will get an alert on your phone so that you know it is done. The update will go faster in the coming days and weeks, so if this seems like too long of an update, just hold off until next week.

4 Reasons Not to Install watchOS 6.2.8 & 10 Reasons You Should

Install if You Have Apple Watch Problems

Install if You Have Apple Watch Problems

Is your Apple Watch sluggish or are you experiencing problems on watchOS 5 or watchOS 6? If so, you may find a better experience on your Apple Watch with watchOS 6.2.8.

The watchOS 6.2.8 update does not list specific fixes, but every small update like this does include some fixes. The previous updates fixed issues with FaceTime, playing music, and Bluetooth connectivity. 

If your Apple Watch is slow, connectivity isn't what it used to be or there are other issues that you simply deal with every day, there is a chance that Apple will fix some of these issues in watchOS 6.2.8.

Here’s How Long the watchOS 6.2.8 Update Takes to Finish is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.2 Update Today https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-watchos-6-1-2-update/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-watchos-6-1-2-update/#respond Tue, 28 Jan 2020 18:40:24 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=472414 5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.2 Update Today is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The watchOS 6.1.2 update is out now for the Apple Watch with bug fixes and important security updates. This likely fixes a number of watchOS bugs. This update is available after you install iOS 13.3.1, and it does arrive alongside macOS 10.15.3, though you don’t need to update macOS to use this new version. Any […]

5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.2 Update Today is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.2 Update Today is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The watchOS 6.1.2 update is out now for the Apple Watch with bug fixes and important security updates. This likely fixes a number of watchOS bugs.

This update is available after you install iOS 13.3.1, and it does arrive alongside macOS 10.15.3, though you don’t need to update macOS to use this new version.

Any Apple Watch running watchOS 6 will see this small update available today. The size and time it takes to download will vary based on what version of watchOS you are running and your connection.

This is a look at the important things you need to know about watchOS 6.1.2.

Our guide covers the watchOS 6.1.2 performance, any known problems with watchOS 6.1.2, the compatibility of the update, any known changes or new features and what’s next for the Apple Watch.

watchOS 6.1.2 Reviews

What you need to know about the watchOS 6.1.2 update.

What you need to know about the watchOS 6.1.2 update.

I installed and am testing the watchOS 6.1.2 update on the Apple Watch 5. This is the GPS only model, but I am looking for feedback on the LTE model. This is an early review, right after installing, so I am testing basic features.

Connectivity

  • WiFi connected and working as expected.
  • Bluetooth connected to my iPhone 11 Pro Max after reboot.
  • AirPods connected and streamed as well as AirPods Pro.
  • GPS and Compass are working.

Apps

  • Third-party apps launch and work as expected including Spotify, Starbucks, Ecobee, Facebook Messenger and others.
  • Apple’s apps like Apple Music, Messages, Calendar, and Podcasts are working.

Speed & Battery Life

  • The update performance is good so far, but this is the latest Apple Watch.
  • It is too early to offer any battery life performance.

watchOS 6.1.2 Problems

The watchOS 6.1.2 update is a relatively small bug fix update that focuses on solving problems and patching security issues.

Our team is looking at the update on our Apple Watch models as well as on social media to see if there are any specific watchOS 6.1.2 problems.

The good news is that our experience is good so far, and no major issues are popping up on social media.

watchOS 6.1.2 Update: What’s New

When to expect the watchOS 6.1.2 release date.

What’s new in watchOS 6.1.2.

There is no major change log of watchOS 6.1.2 features. Apple does say that this update is recommended for all users and that it includes important security updates.

We’ll update if we find any new features hiding in the update.

watchOS 6.1.2 Compatibility

The watchOS 6.1.2 update is compatible with all Apple Watches that run watchOS 6. This includes the Series 1 through Series 5.

The only catch is that you need to install iOS 13.3.1 on your iPhone before you can install the watchOS update.

watchOS 6.1.2 Downgrade

If you do decide to install the watchOS 6.1.2 update, you are not able to downgrade back to the watchOS 6.1.1 software. Apple does not support any kind of watchOS downgrade.

65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch

Answer Calls on the Apple Watch

Answer Calls on the Apple Watch

You can answer a call on your Apple Watch using it as a small Bluetooth speakerphone. You only want to use this for shorter calls because the audio quality isn't as good as when you are talking on speakerphone on your iPhone. 

The Apple Watch only allows you to answer your calls on Speakerphone, so you won't want to use this all the time. It is very handy when you are working on a project or busy with your hands. Definitely be conscious of where you are taking calls. If you wouldn't talk on speakerphone, you shouldn't talk on your Apple Watch.

If you buy the new Apple Watch with LTE, you can even make calls on the Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby. This requires adding the watch to your plan for $10 a month. You cannot answer a FaceTime video call on the Apple Watch. 

5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.2 Update Today is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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watchOS 6.1.1 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know Today https://www.gottabemobile.com/watchos-6-problems-5-things-you-need-to-know/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/watchos-6-problems-5-things-you-need-to-know/#comments Mon, 23 Dec 2019 21:25:42 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=468056 watchOS 6.1.1 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know Today is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

There are a number of watchOS 6.1.1 problems and issues even with this update that brings fixes to the Apple Watch. Apple brought watchOS 6 to the Series 1 and Series 2 for the first time with the watchOS 6.1 update, making this the first bug fix update for these models so they will be […]

watchOS 6.1.1 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know Today is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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watchOS 6.1.1 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know Today is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

There are a number of watchOS 6.1.1 problems and issues even with this update that brings fixes to the Apple Watch. Apple brought watchOS 6 to the Series 1 and Series 2 for the first time with the watchOS 6.1 update, making this the first bug fix update for these models so they will be dealing with these problems for the first time.

Even with several small fixes and this major update, there are still some frustrating problems and issues that you will need to deal with on watchOS 6.1.1. We’re hearing about some watchOS 6.1.1 bugs and problems during the update and after installing the update.

This look at watchOS 6.1.1 problems focus on the current issues and what we know about errors. When possible we’ll show you how to fix watchOS 6 problems and what to do if you have an issue that isn’t fixed yet. We’ll let you know what is happening with new watchOS updates and important information about a watchOS 6 downgrade.

watchOS 6.1.1 Problems

After a few days, we are starting to learn about watchOS 6.1.1 bugs, issues and performance complaints from users. Some of these are minor, while others are definitely more frustrating to deal with.

What you need to know about watchOS 6 problems.

What you need to know about watchOS 6 problems.

There aren’t any major watchOS 6.1.1 issues, but there are some reports of problems with the Series 1 when upgrading from watchOS 5 and typical slow download complaints when coming from an old version of watchOS. We aren’t seeing super-long watchOS 6 installation times, but this could change during the week after Christmas.

If you see a red exclamation point on your Apple Watch, you aren’t alone. Thankfully you may be able to fix this by holding the side button and digital crown for 10 seconds to reboot the watch. We’re seeing a few reports of bad Apple Watch performance or battery life on watchOS 6. In some cases, this will fix itself after a restart or after a day.

Where to Find Feedback

If you are already running watchOS 6, or if you are doing your research, you can read up on feedback and the experiences of other users. This will help you find specific issues that are linked to apps you use or the features you love.

We have a full guide on the reasons you should install watchOS 6.1.1 and the reasons you shouldn’t. This is a good place to start, but you can go further to learn more about this update.

We recommend checking out the Apple discussion forums, Twitter and YouTube to learn what other users are experiencing with watchOS 6.1.1.

How to fix watchOS 6.1.1 Problems

If you run into a major problem on your Apple Watch after installing watchOS 6.1.1 you may need to go to Apple for help, but you can fix many of these issues on your own. Before you take time out of your day to call Apple or go to a store, you can try some of these options. Here’s our guide to fix watchOS 6.1.1 problems.

Restart your Apple Watch to fix performance and battery life problems. You can press and hold the side button and digital crown to force a restart or you can hold the side button until Power Off appears and then slide to turn your watch off. The force restart can help you fix a red exclamation mark on your Apple Watch after updating to watchOS 6.1.1.

Use our Apple Watch problem fixes or look on the Apple discussion forums and reach out to Apple Support on Twitter.

Can You Downgrade from watchOS 6.1.1?

If you don’t like watchOS 6.1.1, you cannot downgrade to watchOS 5 or watchOS 6. Apple simply does not offer this as an option for the Apple Watch. Once you install this update, your on it until Apple delivers a newer version of watchOS 6.

You can go to an Apple Store if your watch is completely broken on watchOS 6.1.1, but they will replace it if the device is under warranty, not help you downgrade to watchOS 5.

What’s next for watchOS 6?

Apple is working on watchOS 6.1.2 and likely on watchOS 6.2. Apple already released a watchOS 6.1.2 beta, and that update is likely in early 2020. The watchOS 6.2 update is not official yet, but we could see a Spring timeline for this type of update.

We’ll update this post when we have more information about upcoming watchOS 6 updates.

65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch

Answer Calls on the Apple Watch

Answer Calls on the Apple Watch

You can answer a call on your Apple Watch using it as a small Bluetooth speakerphone. You only want to use this for shorter calls because the audio quality isn't as good as when you are talking on speakerphone on your iPhone. 

The Apple Watch only allows you to answer your calls on Speakerphone, so you won't want to use this all the time. It is very handy when you are working on a project or busy with your hands. Definitely be conscious of where you are taking calls. If you wouldn't talk on speakerphone, you shouldn't talk on your Apple Watch.

If you buy the new Apple Watch with LTE, you can even make calls on the Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby. This requires adding the watch to your plan for $10 a month. You cannot answer a FaceTime video call on the Apple Watch. 

watchOS 6.1.1 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know Today is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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10 Common watchOS 6 Problems and How to Fix Them https://www.gottabemobile.com/watchos-6-problems-fixes/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/watchos-6-problems-fixes/#comments Mon, 23 Dec 2019 21:01:29 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=468123 10 Common watchOS 6 Problems and How to Fix Them is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The watchOS 6 update is here with new features and performance fixes and recently the watchOS 6.1.1 update landed to fix some issues. However, there are still a number of watchOS 6 problems, errors and issues that are still on the final release after months of testing. If you’re using an Apple Watch in 2019, […]

10 Common watchOS 6 Problems and How to Fix Them is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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10 Common watchOS 6 Problems and How to Fix Them is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The watchOS 6 update is here with new features and performance fixes and recently the watchOS 6.1.1 update landed to fix some issues. However, there are still a number of watchOS 6 problems, errors and issues that are still on the final release after months of testing. If you’re using an Apple Watch in 2019, it’s likely running this update.

The current watchOS 6 problems include many familiar issues like; bad battery life, sluggish performance, connectivity issues, problems installing the update, incompatible phones, missing watch faces, color issues with watch faces and apps that won’t work. Some are new, and others are familiar from watchOS 5. Here’s a full guide on how to fix Apple Watch problems.

For some issues you will need to wait for watchOS 6.1.2 or watchOS 6.2 and others may require a trip to an Apple Store. Thankfully, you can fix many of these issues on your own in a few minutes.

This guide will walk you through fixes for some of the most common watchOS 6 problems. If you are running into your battery draining fast, the watch feeling sluggish and connectivity issues, this guide will help you get your Apple Watch back to like new.

watchOS 6 Installation Problems

How to fix watchOS 6 installation problems.

How to fix watchOS 6 installation problems.

One of the biggest issues that you may run into is a problem 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 the Series 4. Connecting to Faster WiFi and restarting your iPhone and Apple Watch can help. So can waiting a few days for demand to slow.

Read: How Long Does it Take to Install watchOS 6?

If your iPhone won’t see the watchOS 6 update there are a few things to try. First off, make sure you installed iOS 13. You need this to be able to install watchOS 6. The next thing you need to do is restart your devices. This can fix many issues.

If you tried the watchOS 6 beta or iOS 13 beta, you may need to delete those profiles to install the official release. Go to Settings -> General -> Profiles and then delete the beta profiles.

watchOS 6 Connection Problems

Fix watchOS 6 connection problems.

Fix watchOS 6 connection problems.

Is your Apple Watch no longer connecting to Bluetooth, WiFi or LTE? You may be one of the unlucky people with watchOS 6 connection problems. You can likely solve these issues on your own with a little work.

The first thing to do is try turning these connections off and then back on. You can also try turning AirPlane mode on and then off.

  1. Swipe Up from the bottom of your Apple Watch
  2. Tap on WiFi to turn it off.
  3. Wait for a second and tap again to turn it on.

You can try the same thing with LTE and if you need to fix Bluetooth issues the best bet is to restart the Apple Watch. To do this, hold the side button and then slide power off to the right and then after the watch powers down press the digital crown to start it back up.

watchOS 6 Battery Drain

Is your Apple Watch battery life bad after installing the watchOS 6 update? This is fairly common on the first day and also can plague users if something goes awry during the installation.

The first thing to try is restarting your Apple Watch and your iPhone. This can solve many issues. Press and hold the digital crown and the side button at the same time until you see the Apple Logo. Then let go.

If that doesn’t fix your battery life, wait a day or two and see if things improve. This is annoying to deal with, but sometimes the watch 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 problems, but it will get your Apple Watch through the day. To do this, hold the side button until the menu pops up and then swipe over on power reserve.

For users with bad watchOS 6 battery life after a few days, you may need to unpair and re-pair the Apple Watch and iPhone. To do this, you need to go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

  1. On your iPhone open the Watch app.
  2. Tap on My Watch and tap Apple Watch.
  3. Tap to Unpair Apple Watch.
  4. Next, tap to confirm and if you have Activation Lock on, enter your Apple ID password to turn it off.

Once this is done, you can connect the device and set it up with your iPhone again. This will take some time.

Color Missing from watchOS 6 Faces

Get color back on your Apple Watch faces.

Get color back on your Apple Watch faces.

The Apple Watch may look like there are no color options for some of the Apple Watch faces. There is a new selection option on the Apple Watch that you can use to add them back.

  1. Press and hold on the Apple Watch Face.
  2. Tap on Customize.
  3. On the main selection screen scroll with the digital crown until you get to white or black.
  4. White is the first color option.

Once you choose White or black, the rest of the colors return. It’s not clear why Apple limits the use of the color you choose, other than the fact that Apple believes they and only they know what a good watch face looks like.

Missing Watch Faces

The new watch faces aren't missing, just hidden.

The new watch faces aren’t missing, just hidden.

If you can’t find the new watchOS 6 watch faces, they are likely there, you just need to add them so that you can find them. To do this;

  1. Press on any watch face.
  2. Swipe all the way to the right.
  3. Tap on New (+)
  4. Scroll with the Digital Crown to find the face.

This is more likely than an actual missing watch face. So give it a try and see if you can get the new watchOS 6 face you want.

Sluggish Apple Watch after watchOS 6 Update

Is your Apple Watch running slow after installing watchOS 6? These fixes are similar to those for bad battery life on watchOS 6.

  • Try restarting your Apple Watch.
  • Try Restarting your iPhone.
  • Do a Hard Reset – Hodl the Digital Crown and Side Button for 10 seconds until you see the Apple Logo.

If these don’t work, you can try waiting a day or two for the device to index and update all the apps and adjust, or you can try a un-pair and re-pair option. To do that,

  1. On your, iPhone open the Watch app.
  2. Tap on My Watch and tap Apple Watch.
  3. Tap to Unpair Apple Watch.
  4. Next, tap to confirm and if you have Activation Lock on, enter your Apple ID password to turn it off.

This will take a little time, so don’t do it if you are in a hurry.

watchOS 6 App Crashes and Issues

How to fix watchOS 6 apps problems.

How to fix watchOS 6 apps problems.

Are Apple Watch apps crashing or acting slow after installing watchOS 6? The easiest way to fix this issue is to update your apps on the iPhone. This can bring iOS 13 and watchOS 6 updates that fix compatibility and it should fix most problems.

You can also try uninstalling the app on your watch and phone, restarting and then re-installing the app to see if that fixes the problems. If not, you may need to wait for an update to the app.

Can’t Install WatchOS 6 with iPhone 6

We’re seeing a number of reports from users with an iPhone 6 and an Apple Watch 4 who are not able to install watchOS 6. This is a common problem and an annoying one, but unfortunately, there is no fix.

The watchOS 6 update requires iOS 13 and the iPhone 6 doesn’t run iOS 13. Do not pair the watch to a newer iPhone and update and then try to pair to your iPhone 6, as it will not work.

Missing Notifications on watchOS 6

Some users are not getting notifications on the Apple Watch after installing watchOS 6. If this happens to you, you might need to unpair the watch and then set it back up. This is an annoying way to fix a small problem, but it has the highest rate of success. Before you do that, try restarting your phone and watch, and see if that fixes things. If not, follow these directions;

  1. On your, iPhone open the Watch app.
  2. Tap on My Watch and tap Apple Watch.
  3. Tap to Unpair Apple Watch.
  4. Next, tap to confirm and if you have Activation Lock on, enter your Apple ID password to turn it off.

Once that is done, you can open the Apple Watch app and connect the two devices again.

Red Exclamation After Installing watchOS 6

One of the worst watchOS 6 problems you can see is a red exclamation point on your Apple Watch while installing or right after installing the watchOS 6 update. This means that there was a problem with the installation and it could mean your watch is bricked.

Before you go to Apple, try forcing a restart. 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 up to a normal screen. If so, you are good to go.

If not, you need to make an appointment with Apple.

65 Exciting Things You Can Do With the Apple Watch

Answer Calls on the Apple Watch

Answer Calls on the Apple Watch

You can answer a call on your Apple Watch using it as a small Bluetooth speakerphone. You only want to use this for shorter calls because the audio quality isn't as good as when you are talking on speakerphone on your iPhone. 

The Apple Watch only allows you to answer your calls on Speakerphone, so you won't want to use this all the time. It is very handy when you are working on a project or busy with your hands. Definitely be conscious of where you are taking calls. If you wouldn't talk on speakerphone, you shouldn't talk on your Apple Watch.

If you buy the new Apple Watch with LTE, you can even make calls on the Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby. This requires adding the watch to your plan for $10 a month. You cannot answer a FaceTime video call on the Apple Watch. 

10 Common watchOS 6 Problems and How to Fix Them is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.1 Update https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-watchos-6-1-1-update/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-watchos-6-1-1-update/#respond Tue, 10 Dec 2019 18:55:25 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=470615 5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Apple’s watchOS 6.1.1 update is available now as a bug fix update for watchOS 6, which will hopefully fix a number of issues on the Apple Watch ahead of the holiday season. watchOS 6.1.1 is a fix-it style update that does not add new features but instead aims to fix watchOS 6 problems. This update […]

5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Apple’s watchOS 6.1.1 update is available now as a bug fix update for watchOS 6, which will hopefully fix a number of issues on the Apple Watch ahead of the holiday season.

watchOS 6.1.1 is a fix-it style update that does not add new features but instead aims to fix watchOS 6 problems. This update arrives alongside iOS 13.3, which is adding in some new features as well as bug fixes for the iPhone and iPadOS 13.3 on the iPad.

If your Apple Watch is running watchOS 6.1, you will find a small update with bug fixes and security updates for your watch today. If you are still on an older version of watchOS 6, you will get new features and need to plan on a larger update. The watchOS 6.1.1 update installs quicker than previous updates.

This is a run-through of the important things that you need to know about the watchOS 6.1.1 update.

Our guide covers the watchOS 6.1.1 performance, any known problems with watchOS 6.1.1, the compatibility of the update, any known changes or new features and what’s next for the Apple Watch.

Let’s start with the watchOS 6.1.1 performance after a short period of testing with the update.

watchOS 6.1.1 Reviews

What you need to know about watchOS 6.1.1.

What you need to know about watchOS 6.1.1.

I’m testing the watchOS 6.1.1 update on the Apple Watch 5 GPS only model. We’re keeping our eyes open for reports on the LTE model as well. This is an early review, so I am just testing basic features and what I use every day. I will update you with a deeper dive into features this week.

Connectivity

  • WiFi is connected and working as expected.
  • Bluetooth is connected immediately to my iPhone 11 Pro Max after reboot.
  • AirPods connected and streamed as well as PowerBeats Pro.
  • GPS and Compass are working fine.

Apps

  • Third-party apps launch and work as expected including Spotify, Starbucks, Ecobee, Facebook Messenger and others.
  • Apple’s apps like Apple Music, Messages, Calendar, and Podcasts are working as well.

Speed & Battery Life

  • The update performance is good so far, but this is the latest Apple Watch.
  • It is too early to offer any battery life performance.

watchOS 6.1.1 Problems

Be aware of watchOS 6.1.1 problems.

Be aware of watchOS 6.1.1 problems.

The watchOS 6.1.1 update is a small one and so far there are no reports of widespread watchOS 6.1.1. problems. We are monitoring our watch as well as social media in case users report errors or problems.

While trying to install directly on the Apple Watch, we ran into an error, starting the process over on the iPhone solved this issue for us.

As mentioned in the review section above, our watch is working nicely with the update. This is on par with our experience with the Apple Watch 5, but some problems only appear after long testing.

Stay tuned for any reports of update problems or watchOS 6.1.1 problems.

watchOS 6.1.1 Update: What’s New

watchOS 6.1.1 is a bug fix update. There are no new features mention in the update changelog, and no specific bug fixes called out. This is fairly common for an x.x.1 release like this. We could see users note specific changes and developers uncover the exact fixes, but for the most part, this is not an update that will change how you use or see your Apple Watch unless it fixes a problem you’ve been having.

watchOS 6.1.1 Compatibility

The watchOS 6.1.1 update is compatible with all Apple Watches running watchOS 6. That includes Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, Series 4 and the newest Series 5. You need to install iOS 13.3 to install watchOS 6.1.1 on your Apple Watch.

Apple released a watchOS 5.3.4 update to add fixes for Apple Watch models that are not able to run watchOS 6.

What’s Next for watchOS

This is likely the last Apple Watch update of the year. While Apple may start testing watchOS 6.2 internally or even with a developer beta in the near future, it won’t arrive on your watch in 2019.

Expect to see Apple focus on adding in new features with watchOS 6.2 in the new year. We may see a watchOS 6.1.2 update if Apple needs to fix any issues, but we don’t expect new features until a major update.

4 Reasons Not to Install watchOS 6.2.8 & 10 Reasons You Should

Install if You Have Apple Watch Problems

Install if You Have Apple Watch Problems

Is your Apple Watch sluggish or are you experiencing problems on watchOS 5 or watchOS 6? If so, you may find a better experience on your Apple Watch with watchOS 6.2.8.

The watchOS 6.2.8 update does not list specific fixes, but every small update like this does include some fixes. The previous updates fixed issues with FaceTime, playing music, and Bluetooth connectivity. 

If your Apple Watch is slow, connectivity isn't what it used to be or there are other issues that you simply deal with every day, there is a chance that Apple will fix some of these issues in watchOS 6.2.8.

5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1 Update https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-watchos-6-1-update/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-watchos-6-1-update/#respond Tue, 29 Oct 2019 19:07:04 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=470358 5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Apple released a new watchOS 6.1 update for the Apple Watch today that delivers AirPods Pro support, bug fixes and security patches to Apple watch owners. watchOS 6.0.1 was the first update to watchOS 6, and now watchOS 6.1 is here with fixes, new features and finally with support for the series 1 and series […]

5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Apple released a new watchOS 6.1 update for the Apple Watch today that delivers AirPods Pro support, bug fixes and security patches to Apple watch owners.

watchOS 6.0.1 was the first update to watchOS 6, and now watchOS 6.1 is here with fixes, new features and finally with support for the series 1 and series 2 models. It is lined up with iOS 13.2 and macOS 10.15.1.

If your Apple Watch is already on watchOS 6, this is a small upgrade with important changes. If you stuck to watchOS 5 while Apple fixed watchOS 6 problems, your list of features, fixes, and patches will be longer. This is a medium-size download and it installs faster than the base watchOS 6 update did, but it takes about 10 minutes longer than the watchOS 6.0.1 update. This update on the Apple Watch 5 with GPS is 340mb.

Now that you know the basics about watchOS 6.1 and where it sits in the lineup, this is what you need to know about this update right now as it is rolling out. You may already see an alert on your wrist about this update with a prompt to install it tonight, but you need to read up before you make the jump.

watchOS 6.1 Reviews

How does watchOS 6.1 perform?

How does watchOS 6.1 perform?

I’ve been using the watchOS 6.1 update on the Apple Watch 5 for a short amount of time and this is what I’ve learned. I am using the GPS only model, and we are monitoring feedback from the LTE model. A common complaint about the Series 5 with the Always On Display and with Noise monitoring was bad battery life, but it is still too early to tell if this update fixes that specific problem.

Connectivity

  • WiFi is connected and as quick as on watchOS 6.0.1.
  • Bluetooth is connected immediately to my phone.
  • AirPods connected and streamed. No AirPods Pro to test yet.
  • GPS and Compass are working.

Apps

  • Third-party apps launch and work as expected including Spotify, Calm, Starbucks, Ecobee, Facebook Messenger and others.
  • Apple’s apps like Apple Music, Messages, Calendar, and Podcasts are working as well.

Speed & Battery Life

  • The update feels as snappy and responsive as watchOS 6.0.1, which is no shock on the latest Apple Watch hardware.

It’s too early to make any bold statements about battery life, but after two hours, the battery life is stable.

watchOS 6.1 Problems

What you need to know about watchOS 6.1 problems.

What you need to know about watchOS 6.1 problems.

So far there are not widespread reports of any watchOS 6.1 problems, but you can expect some problems will still be a problem on this update.

Our installation and those of many others went quickly, compared to watchOS 6, which is a great sign. As you can read in our review above, the connectivity is working nicely and so far apps are working well. The only installation issue we’ve seen is that some users were unaware you needed to put the watch on the charger to start the installation.

We’re keeping an eye out for any connectivity or app issues on this new version of watchOS 6.1. Apple says this update includes performance fixes, which could solve the bad Apple Watch battery life that some users are experiencing and help with the overall performance on the

watchOS 6.1 Update: What’s New

You don’t get any real new features, but this is focused on AirPods Pro and un-named fixes and improvements. Here’s what’s new in watchOS 6.1;

  • Support for AirPods Pro
  • Includes improvements and bug fixes.
  • This update also brings watchOS 6 to Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2.

If you use these features, you should install the update now. There are also likely some additional security updates, but Apple has not posted them yet.

watchOS 6.1 Compatibility

The watchOS 6.0.1 update is compatible with all devices already on watchOS 6.

The watchOS 6.0.1 update is compatible with all devices already on watchOS 6.

The watchOS 6.1 update is available to all Apple Watch devices running watchOS 6 already. This update adds support to the Series 1 and Series 2 models.

You need to install iOS 13.2 on your iPhone in order to be able to install the watchOS 6.1 update.

What’s Next

Apple has not yet confirmed watchOS 6.2.1 or watchOS 6.2 to the public, but the company is clearly working on new watchOS updates. With the upcoming updates, we expect to see Apple roll into an update cycle of 1-2 small updates with a bigger update and then rinse and repeat. There is a good chance that we see a small update before the end of the year, but it could be into 2020 before we see watchOS 6.2. This all depends on what problems appear and how long it takes for Apple to release a developer beta.

5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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How to Install the watchOS 6.1 Beta Without a Developer Account https://www.gottabemobile.com/how-to-install-the-watchos-6-beta-without-a-developer-account/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/how-to-install-the-watchos-6-beta-without-a-developer-account/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2019 16:20:16 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=462772 How to Install the watchOS 6.1 Beta Without a Developer Account is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

You can install the watchOS 6.1 beta on your Apple Watch without a developer account. You first need to install the iOS 13.2 beta and then you should check out our reasons to install the watchOS 6 beta and reasons not to, so that you make sure you are committed. watchOS 6 arrived last month, […]

How to Install the watchOS 6.1 Beta Without a Developer Account is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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How to Install the watchOS 6.1 Beta Without a Developer Account is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

You can install the watchOS 6.1 beta on your Apple Watch without a developer account. You first need to install the iOS 13.2 beta and then you should check out our reasons to install the watchOS 6 beta and reasons not to, so that you make sure you are committed. watchOS 6 arrived last month, but with problems and issues, Apple is pushing ahead with a watchOS 6.1 beta.

There is no public watchOS 6.1 beta, only a developer one. That said, you can install the watchOS 6.1 beta without a developer account. You just need the watchOS 6 beta profile, and to understand that there is no downgrade. Once you upgrade to watchOS 6.1, you are there for the long haul. While Apple will cover issues for developers, if you walk into an Apple Store with a problem on the watchOS 6.1 beta, you may not get the help you are used to.

Once you install the iOS 13.2 beta on your iPhone, you can install the watchOS 6 beta profile and then install the watchOS 6 beta. Here’s where to find it without a developer account and what you need to do to try watchOS 6.1 early.

How to Download the watchOS 6.1 Beta Profile

This is how to download the watchOS 6 beta profile without a developer account.

This is how to download the watchOS 6 beta profile without a developer account.

For this to work you need to have iOS 13 installed on your iPhone. You cannot use watchOS 6 with iOS 12. Follow these instructions to install the iOS 13 beta before you continue.

  1. Download the watchOS 6 beta Configuration Profile from this website to your iPhone.
  2. Tap on Apple Watch when prompted.
  3. Tap on Install.
  4. Enter your passcode.
  5. Tap on Install.
  6. Restart the Apple Watch when prompted.

This installs a small piece of software that tells Apple your Apple Watch is allowed to install this watchOS 6.1 beta. You only have to do this once. Afterwards, it will install watchOS 6 beta updates just like a normal Apple Watch update.

How to Install the watchOS 6.1 Beta

This is how to install the watchOS 6 beta profile without a developer account.

This is how to install the watchOS 6 beta profile without a developer account.

Once your Apple Watch restarts, you can use your iPhone to install this just like any other Apple Watch update. Here’s how this works, and what to do. Keep in mind your Apple Watch needs to be on the charger, and you need at least 50% battery life. The iPhone needs to remain nearby and this will take a while.

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on My Watch.
  3. Tap on General and Software Update.
  4. When you See watchOS 6.1 beta 2 tap on Download and Install.
  5. Enter your iPhone passcode.
  6. Agree to the Terms & Conditions.
  7. With your Apple Watch on the charger tap on Install.

This will start the watchOS 6.1 beta download and then the installation on your Apple Watch. You cannot use your Apple Watch during this process, but you can keep using your iPhone as long as you remain close to your Apple Watch.

4 Reasons Not to Install watchOS 6 Beta & 3 Reasons You Should

Don't Install Because There is No Downgrade

Don't Install Because There is No Downgrade

If you install the watchOS 6 beta on your Apple Watch the only place you can go from there is forward. This means if you have problems, you will need to wait for the next beta update and so on and so on until the watchOS 6 release this fall. 

There is no way to downgrade from the watchOS 6 beta to watchOS 5 like you can with iOS 13 and macOS 10.15. This means you need to live with any problems like bad battery life or features not working. It also means you need to stay on iOS 13 once you install this beta on your Apple Watch if it is your primary Apple Watch. 

If you have any concerns about this process, don't install the watchOS 6 beta assuming you can go back, or if you think you may want to downgrade from iOS 13 to iOS 12. 

How to Install the watchOS 6.1 Beta Without a Developer Account is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.0.1 Update https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-watchos-6-0-1-update/ https://www.gottabemobile.com/5-things-to-know-about-the-watchos-6-0-1-update/#respond Mon, 30 Sep 2019 18:20:28 +0000 https://www.gottabemobile.com/?p=468650 5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.0.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Apple released a new watchOS 6.0.1 update for the Apple Watch that delivers bug fixes and security patches to Apple watch owners. watchOS 6.0.1 is the first update to watchOS 6, and it is pretty small. It’s not at the same level as iOS 13.1 that rolled out, in fact, it’s more in line with […]

5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.0.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.0.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Apple released a new watchOS 6.0.1 update for the Apple Watch that delivers bug fixes and security patches to Apple watch owners.

watchOS 6.0.1 is the first update to watchOS 6, and it is pretty small. It’s not at the same level as iOS 13.1 that rolled out, in fact, it’s more in line with iOS 13.1.1 and iOS 13.2.

If your Apple Watch is already on watchOS 6, this is a very small upgrade with not many changes. If you stuck around on watchOS 5 to see if Apple fixed a lot of the watchOS 6 problems, your list of features, fixes, and patches will be longer. This is a relatively small download and it installs faster than the base watchOS 6 update did. The watchOS 6.0.1 update is 76.4MB on the Apple Watch 5 with GPS and 91.5MB on the GPS+ LTE model.

Now that you know the basics about watchOS 6.0.1 and where it sits in the lineup, this is what you need to know about this update right now as it is rolling out. You may already see an alert on your wrist about this update with a prompt to install it tonight, but you need to read up before you make the jump.

watchOS 6.0.1 Reviews

What you need to know about the watchOS 6.0.1 update.

What you need to know about the watchOS 6.0.1 update.

I’ve been using the watchOS 6.0.1 update on the Apple Watch 5 for a short amount of time and this is what I’ve discovered. I am using the GPS only model, and a friend is sharing his insights from using the GPS+ LTE version of the Series 5. A common complaint about the Series 5 with the Always On Display and with Noise monitoring was bad battery life, but it is still too early to tell if this update fixes that specific problem.

Connectivity

  • WiFi is connected and as quick as on watchOS 6.
  • Bluetooth is connected immediately to my phone.
  • AirPods connected and streamed easily.
  • GPS and Compass are Working Nicely.
  • LTE users report strong connections.

Apps

  • Third-party apps launch and work as expected including Spotify, Calm, MyQ, Starbucks, Ecobee, Facebook Messenger and more.
  • Apple’s apps like Apple Music, Messages, Calendar, and Podcasts are working as well.

Speed & Battery Life

  • The update feels as snappy and responsive as watchOS 6, which is no shock on the latest Apple Watch hardware.

It’s too early to make any bold statements about battery life, but after an hour, the battery life is stable.

watchOS 6.0.1 Problems

So far there are not widespread reports of any watchOS 6.0.1 problems, but you can expect that some of the problems from the initial release carry over.

Our installation and those of many others went quickly, compared to watchOS 6, which is a great sign. As you can read in our review above, the connectivity is working nicely and so far apps are working well. The only installation issue we’ve seen is that some users were unaware you needed to put the watch on the charger to start the installation.

We’re keeping an eye out for any connectivity or app issues on this new version of watchOS 6. Apple says this update includes performance fixes, which could solve the bad Apple Watch battery life that some users are experiencing.

watchOS 6.0.1 Update: What’s New

What's new in watchOS 6.0.1?

What’s new in watchOS 6.0.1?

You don’t get any new features like you saw with watchOS 6, but this update does fix three specific problems and security patches. This is a focused set of fixes, and it won’t be the last that you see this year.

Here’s what’s new in watchOS 6.0.1;

  • Resolves an issue where the Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse watch face does not speak time
  • Addresses an issue where the calendar complication may not display events
  • Fixes a bug that could result in a loss of display calibration data

If you use these features, you should install the update now. There are also likely some additional security updates, but Apple has not posted them yet.

watchOS 6.0.1 Compatibility

The watchOS 6.0.1 update is compatible with all devices already on watchOS 6.

The watchOS 6.0.1 update is compatible with all devices already on watchOS 6.

The watchOS 6.0.1 update is available to all Apple Watch devices running watchOS 6 already. This update does not extend support to the Series 1 and Series 2 models. Apple is likely connecting that to the next major watchOS 6 update.

You need to install iOS 13.1.2 on your iPhone in order to be able to install the watchOS 6.0.1 update.

What’s Next

Apple has not yet confirmed watchOS 6.1 to the public, but the company is clearly working on new watchOS updates. We expect that this bug fix will tide us over to a larger watchOS 6.1 update.

Expect to see Apple deliver this sometime in October to bring the Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 onto watchOS 6 and to build out features. We expect to se a new iOS 13.2 update around this same time frame as well as the macOS Catalina release date.

It wouldn’t be a shock to see a watchOS 6.1 beta arrive for developers in the near future.

5 Things to Know About the watchOS 6.0.1 Update is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

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