Latest watchOS 5.1 update pulled after bricking some Apple Watch units [u]
It appears Apple has another software issue on its hands with the release of watchOS 5.1, as a small number of Apple Watch owners are reporting the update renders their device useless.
Apple Watch Series 4 displaying Apple's new Infograph watch face.
According to a handful of reports posted to social media outlets and forums like Reddit, Apple's just released watchOS 5.1 software update "bricks" some Apple Watch hardware.
Users impacted by the apparent bug are able to download the update and begin the installation. The process seems to get stuck when Watch displays the Apple logo, which remains onscreen for hours.
The complications appear restricted to Apple Watch Series 4, though other Apple Watch models might also be affected. So far, however, reports are limited to Series 4 devices including Nike+ versions.
While some Series 4 owners have reported the bricking issue, others sailed through the watchOS 5.1 installation process with nary a hiccup.
Whether the problem is local -- perhaps a non-compliant Watch configuration -- or an issue with the update itself is likewise unknown. Apple has not commented on the reports and continues to host watchOS 5.1 on its servers.
With reports of bricked devices in the wild, users would be well served to hold off on updating their unit until the problem is rectified.
The watchOS 5.1 difficulties come on the heels of a separate bug that earlier this month caused Series 4 devices in Australia to enter a reboot loop when country switched over to daylight savings time.
Update: Apple has temporarily pulled watchOS 5.1 from circulation.

According to a handful of reports posted to social media outlets and forums like Reddit, Apple's just released watchOS 5.1 software update "bricks" some Apple Watch hardware.
Users impacted by the apparent bug are able to download the update and begin the installation. The process seems to get stuck when Watch displays the Apple logo, which remains onscreen for hours.
The complications appear restricted to Apple Watch Series 4, though other Apple Watch models might also be affected. So far, however, reports are limited to Series 4 devices including Nike+ versions.
While some Series 4 owners have reported the bricking issue, others sailed through the watchOS 5.1 installation process with nary a hiccup.
Whether the problem is local -- perhaps a non-compliant Watch configuration -- or an issue with the update itself is likewise unknown. Apple has not commented on the reports and continues to host watchOS 5.1 on its servers.
With reports of bricked devices in the wild, users would be well served to hold off on updating their unit until the problem is rectified.
The watchOS 5.1 difficulties come on the heels of a separate bug that earlier this month caused Series 4 devices in Australia to enter a reboot loop when country switched over to daylight savings time.
Update: Apple has temporarily pulled watchOS 5.1 from circulation.
Comments
to stop update while it's installing:
General>Usage>Software Update>Delete
i was able to delete in time
i called Apple. They said the engineers knew of the issue but were still trying to collect info.
They asked me to hold down both volume controls and briefly press (half a second) the main button on the other side, causes it to briefly vibrate. They said this would cause the phone to generate diagnostic logs.
The technition said he would call me back in a few minutes after the logs have had time to generate.
That BS if it does. Shouldn’t it be covered under the regular warranty regardless?