With watchOS 6, your Apple Watch gets a ton of new features. With this preparation you are completely ready for the update.
watchOS 6 preparation: you can do this
Every year, Apple Watch users receive a major update to watchOS, with a ton of improvements and new features. This year it’s watchOS 6’s turn. The new features of watchOS 6 were already revealed at the WWDC 2019 keynote in June earlier this year.
Beta versions of the update have since been running. One of the new things is that more Apple apps are coming to watchOS, such as Calculator and Voice Memos. With this update, your watch also gets access to the App Store without an iPhone. Also read our watchOS 6 preview.
The update to watchOS 6 will be offered automatically. However, if you want to prepare yourself for the update, there are a few things you can do.
1. Make a backup
If you want to make sure you don’t lose anything from your Apple Watch, you can make a backup before installing an update. This saves, among other things, the layout of the watch face, settings for apps, fitness data and other settings.
To make a backup, disconnect your Apple Watch from your phone. You do this by going to the ‘My Watch’ tab in the Apple Watch app. There, tap the i icon next to your watch and choose ‘Unpair Apple Watch’.
To check if the backup was successful, go to the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General> iPhone Storage> Watch. The backup you just made should be there. Learn more about creating and restoring an Apple Watch backup.
2. Update iOS
To install the latest version of watchOS, you need the latest version of iOS. So before installing watchOS 6, make sure to update your iPhone to iOS 13.
3. Charge your Apple Watch
It can be very frustrating when the update is available, but you are not allowed to install it yet because your Apple Watch is not charged enough. Your watch must be at least fifty percent full before you can install watchOS 6. So do that in advance. Your watch must also be on the charger to install the update.
4. Clean up
Also take the opportunity to tidy up your apps right away. That is not necessary to install watchOS 6, but it immediately gives a nice tidy feeling. Learn more about cleaning up watchOS apps.
5. Install
To install watchOS 6 as soon as the update is available, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and go to the ‘My Watch’ tab. Then tap ‘General’> ‘Software update’.
Read more about watchOS 6
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- Apple Watch beginner’s guide: how to get the most out of your smart watch (7/20/2020)
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