Apple Watch Series 3 watchOS 7.0.3 update fixes reboot issue

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in Apple Watch
Apple has shipped an update for watchOS just for the Apple Watch Series 3, with watchOS 7.0.3 fixing issues for that particular Apple Watch model.

Apple Watch watchOS 7
Apple Watch watchOS 7


Released on Monday, the update is only available for the Apple Watch Series 3, with the Apple Watch Series 4 and later continuing to use watchOS 7.0.2. The update appears to be a targeted fix for problems just for that model.

The release notes for watchOS 7.0.3 states it contains improvements and bug fixes, "including an issue where Apple Watch Series 3 may unexpectedly restart for some users."

It is unclear if an update for watchOS 7.0.3 will be made available for other models, as Apple is currently running beta tests on watchOS 7.1. It seems likely that Apple will issue 7.0.3 for other models if there are any other issues that need fixing, that can't wait for the watchOS 7.1 release.

Users of the Apple Watch Series 3 can update their devices by opening the Watch app on their paired iPhone, then tap the My Watch app, followed by General then Software Update. Once downloaded, the iPhone may ask for a passcode before installing it to the Apple Watch when the wearable device is charging.

Alternately, the update can be applied on the Apple Watch directly, by opening the Settings app, tapping General, then Software Update. If an update is available tap Install then follow the onscreen instructions.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    Scot1Scot1 Posts: 126member
    Tried the update but seems to be stuck on verifying as usual. 
  • Reply 2 of 10
    ITGUYINSDITGUYINSD Posts: 553member
    My AW3 doesn't reboot and it's PAINFUL to do updates on the Series 3 due to constant errors about not enough space, so I'll pass on this.
  • Reply 3 of 10
    roundaboutnowroundaboutnow Posts: 757member
    The 7.0.2 update was complete when I put my older AW S3 on last Thursday morning (10/15) and an unexpected restart occurred about 4 hours later while I was wearing it.

    I thought that was a little weird, and it hasn't re-started since, but it's good to know that it was identified as a real issue and addressed. I'll be updating to 7.0.3 later today.

    PS: For those that have an S3 that won't take updates due to lack of space, I had that too at the last 6.x update. I ended up un-pairing and re-pairing as new to fix it. It's actually a relatively easy process.
    spock1234
  • Reply 4 of 10
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    ITGUYINSD said:
    My AW3 doesn't reboot and it's PAINFUL to do updates on the Series 3 due to constant errors about not enough space, so I'll pass on this.
    You need to hire someone who knows what they are doing to update your gear.
    spock1234
  • Reply 5 of 10
    anomeanome Posts: 1,545member
    I wondered what was going on with my watch. Had it reboot spontaneously a few times, including before 7.0.2 was installed. Now if I can just get my phone to actually connect to the server to check for the update...

    Or I could wait 3 days, and do it on my new phone when it turns up.
  • Reply 6 of 10
    appletechspotappletechspot Posts: 48member
    Scot1 said:
    Tried the update but seems to be stuck on verifying as usual. 

    Mine update lingered on verify for quite a while before update proceeded just fine. No reboots since the update as of yet.

    spock1234
  • Reply 7 of 10
    GeorgeBMacGeorgeBMac Posts: 11,421member
    lkrupp said:
    ITGUYINSD said:
    My AW3 doesn't reboot and it's PAINFUL to do updates on the Series 3 due to constant errors about not enough space, so I'll pass on this.
    You need to hire someone who knows what they are doing to update your gear.

    My experience has been that not even Apple technicians are that capable.  For the watch things either work well, or they don't.   And, if and when they don't, much guessing goes as to why and how.
  • Reply 8 of 10
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,857member
    Scot1 said:
    Tried the update but seems to be stuck on verifying as usual. 
    I spent all day yesterday trying to update my watch and my wife's' to 7.0.2. In the end, the solution was a hard shutdown of both the phone and watch (holding the buttons for ten seconds) and restart them both, i.e. the watches and phones.  Even then I had to enter the passcode on the watches as they sat on the chargers no less than four times.  It seems to me that the 'verification' process has its knickers in a knot at Apple's end.
    edited October 2020
  • Reply 9 of 10
    aegeanaegean Posts: 165member
    I updated my AW S3 Hermes to 7.0.2 yesterday without any noticeable issues so far. Didn't know 7.0.3 just came out. Did not experience any startup issues as well.

    But comparing today's watchOS version 7.0.2 installed on my watch with the one that was factory installed about 3 years ago, It definitely behaves  slow compared to the factory OS when it was released. Obviously it all started out slowly that anyone will even notice. My wife is running factory OS 5.0.1 on her S3 base model, it swipes through way faster than mine.  

    I also sometimes wonder why mine takes so long (up to 2 minutes) to measure my heart rate at the start of my workout session. It started out some time during watchOS 6 update.
    edited October 2020 GeorgeBMac
  • Reply 10 of 10
    alfredoloveslifealfredoloveslife Posts: 1member
    Every time I try to install 7.3.0 on my 3 series I get an error message that my device can not verify the update because it’s s not connected to internet and i am on wifi. 
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