Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Runs For Fun

macrumors 65816
Nov 6, 2017
1,138
2,601
Series 3 is quite old now.

Please upgrade to a Series 6 for a much smoother experience. You'll love it.
Not exactly a solution. While I did upgrade to the S6, it’s unreasonable to tell everyone to do that when Apple is still selling the S3. It should be just as supported as any other device that is still being sold.
 

patsfan83

macrumors 6502
Apr 6, 2008
279
97
I just tried it, and it's not possible to completely ignore the phone. When I initiate the software update from the watch, it tells me to accept the terms on my phone. There's no way to pass this screen on the watch. Once I accept the terms on my phone, it goes through the phone setup process that fails again.

Is there any way you know of to bypass the need to accept the terms on the phone? Are you unpairing before trying this?
This happened to me. I hard reset the watch, turned off the phone, and initiated again from the watch. It didn't prompt me for the terms and made it through the update.

It's pathetic this is what you have to go through, and I don't have anything on my watch, like nada. No songs, no pics, no podcasts, no apps.
 

dumastudetto

macrumors 603
Aug 28, 2013
5,532
8,311
Los Angeles, USA
Not exactly a solution. While I did upgrade to the S6, it’s unreasonable to tell everyone to do that when Apple is still selling the S3. It should be just as supported as any other device that is still being sold.

It is still supported in alignment with the hardware capabilities of an ageing device.
 

Soondae

macrumors 6502
May 22, 2012
253
99
Hua Hin, Thailand
What the heck? Two months ago I was frustrated by the fact that I couldn’t do anything to update my Series 3 Watch. I had to erease everything and then it finally updated. Since then it spent all this time on the charger. I didn’t restore the backup, didn’t set anything up, it was just erased and updated because I knew new watchOS was coming and that I’d have to do that again.
Imagine how furious I am right now when I found out that, once again, I can’t update my watch because it doesn’t have enough space! What? How?! I’m seriously done with this thing. And at this point I’m not sure if erasing will help anymore. View attachment 1764468 View attachment 1764469
View attachment 1764472
I have the exact same issue every update, it is such a pain to unpair then re-pair and install from the backup. Took me practically two hours this last time. I have not installed any APPs, music or photos, it is such a pain. Also I am occasionally having charging issues with my watch 3 and just the past couple of months when I swim my laps I cannot swipe on the watch while it is wet. I have to dry it off with a towel before I can swipe to stop my workout. I guess there was once a coating on the display that made it reactive to wet fingers that is worn off now? I have been seriously thinking of trading it in against against a new SE.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Sebosz

Soondae

macrumors 6502
May 22, 2012
253
99
Hua Hin, Thailand
Every year its the same thing so I bought an SE last month specifically so I can avoid the Series 3 WatchOS update stress. I really wanted to hold out for the Series 7 but after a very fast 7.4 upgrade on my SE then I feel justified.


BTW. I set up my Series3 for trade in but before I shipped it I just wanted to try the 7.4 update just to see how it goes. After many hours a dozen attempts I still haven’t gotten it to work yet. I know I am getting ripped off on trade in value but after years of update headaches then I’m happy to get this watch out of my life... (…after I update it. I am determined to not lose this final update battle)
I agree with you 100% I plan to order my new SE today!
 

Soondae

macrumors 6502
May 22, 2012
253
99
Hua Hin, Thailand
I finally managed to update my series 3 after trying 5-6 times over the last 3 days.

This time I did a restore to the most recent backup, a backup taken after the 6th time of resetting my Watch, basically with nothing on it, no pictures, no music, just default apps etc.

Straight after the restore, in the Watch app on my iPhone I went into General and then Usage. In there there was an item listed for Software Update 2.5 GB. I deleted this which gave me a total of 3.3 GB free. I was then able to update.

I noticed this item of Software Update of 2.5 GB in Usage when trying previously after resetting to new, but it always went away shortly afterwards, so I think you need to delete it straight after restoring/resetting.

Hopefully this method might work for some of you.
And did the process take you two hours like it has for me? My GF has an SE and everything works perfectly transparent for her.
 

Soondae

macrumors 6502
May 22, 2012
253
99
Hua Hin, Thailand
Apple Watch 3. Just installed 7.4.1. No problems. Not able to install 7.4 after several unpairs etc. Checked available space after 7.4.1 update 3.1 gigs. Could not get any more than 2.5 gigs with 7.4. Did not restart or unpair with 7.4.1.
Yes the update 7.4.1 installed fine on my AW3 however this was a small supplemental update of only 72mb, still took an hour which is way too long, my iPad updated in about 15 minutes. We will continue to have the same issue requiring an un-pair re-pair to install the next large update.
 

patsfan83

macrumors 6502
Apr 6, 2008
279
97
Yes the update 7.4.1 installed fine on my AW3 however this was a small supplemental update of only 72mb, still took an hour which is way too long, my iPad updated in about 15 minutes. We will continue to have the same issue requiring an un-pair re-pair to install the next large update.
Same- first time it actually went through on the first shot. They must’ve done some house keeping as it’s freed up 2.6GBs. I was usually closer to 1.8GB.
 

weezin

macrumors 6502
Jul 20, 2012
407
353
I'm in the same boat with my S3. The Verge just wrote an article on it: https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/4/22419569/apple-watch-series-3-software-update-reset-bad-experience

Its crazy to me that they still sell this watch when you have to go through these hoops to update it. I like my S3 generally, aside from some occasional sluggish performance. I use it fairly passively, and only really interact with it to start / end workouts, which it's fine for. I don't particularly want to upgrade, but I feel like I'll need to if they keep this up (or stop supporting it altogether, which is probably the right move).
 

raymanster

macrumors 6502
Feb 13, 2008
357
128
UK
And did the process take you two hours like it has for me? My GF has an SE and everything works perfectly transparent for her.
I’d say it probably took about 40-60 mins.

The .1 version update yesterday seemed to go very smoothly though.
 

Soondae

macrumors 6502
May 22, 2012
253
99
Hua Hin, Thailand
Great idea. Give a company that screws customers by still selling an outdated product more of your hard earned money so they can do it to you again in a couple of years with the SE. :rolleyes:
I didn't just purchase the AW3 though I get your point but you are off base. I have had the AW3 for 4 years. How long do you hang onto your phones?
 

Expos of 1969

Contributor
Aug 25, 2013
4,839
9,543
I didn't just purchase the AW3 though I get your point but you are off base. I have had the AW3 for 4 years. How long do you hang onto your phones?
I guess 4 years of service is decent for the watch when you compare it to phones. When compared to equally priced mechanical watches 4 years is very poor. But Apple Watches are really phone like devices and not normal watches so a watch to watch comparison is futile.

The customers who are really being taken advantage of are those who recently bought the AW3. In my view Apple should not still be selling the AW3.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The1andOnly

Superman07

macrumors 6502a
Aug 28, 2007
704
2
I didn’t realize this thread existed or software updates are a known issue with the S3. My watch essentially bricked after automatically wiping everything because it didn’t “have enough space” and I wasn’t “connected” to the internet.

Watch OS Update Failed

Apple said they’ll hard install for me (out of warranty), but I certainly won’t try to update again. Ironically, I was only trying to update so I could check my battery health which seems to be dropping off a cliff.
 

The1andOnly

macrumors regular
Aug 2, 2020
162
93
I guess 4 years of service is decent for the watch when you compare it to phones. When compared to equally priced mechanical watches 4 years is very poor. But Apple Watches are really phone like devices and not normal watches so a watch to watch comparison is futile.

The customers who are really being taken advantage of are those who recently bought the AW3. In my view Apple should not still be selling the AW3.
I totally agree. Apple should, at a minimum, double the internal storage.

I still have an S3, but it’s SS/LTE/16 GB, so no problems there. However, I gave my Mom an S3 Sport for her birthday nearly three years ago.

I have this problem every time; it’s getting old.
 

mk313

macrumors 68020
Feb 6, 2012
2,086
1,159
Also I am occasionally having charging issues with my watch 3 and just the past couple of months when I swim my laps I cannot swipe on the watch while it is wet. I have to dry it off with a towel before I can swipe to stop my workout. I guess there was once a coating on the display that made it reactive to wet fingers that is worn off now? I have been seriously thinking of trading it in against against a new SE.

I'm not sure how you were able to do it, but I've never been able to reliably use my phones touch screen when wet (raining, etc). But you can stop exercises by pressing both the crown & the side button at the same time. It will pause the workout until you are able to dry off your fingers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The1andOnly

The1andOnly

macrumors regular
Aug 2, 2020
162
93
I'm not sure how you were able to do it, but I've never been able to reliably use my phones touch screen when wet (raining, etc). But you can stop exercises by pressing both the crown & the side button at the same time. It will pause the workout until you are able to dry off your fingers.
Same; watch or phone, wet fingers never work for me.
 

patsfan83

macrumors 6502
Apr 6, 2008
279
97
Just upgraded to an SE 44mm from S3 42mm over this nonsense. What a leap. Weighs 30% less, thinner, so much more usable screen area. No brainer. Going to keep the S3 as a workout watch.
 

mj_

macrumors 68000
May 18, 2017
1,618
1,281
Austin, TX
7.4.1 went smoothly and didn't have to go through the usual unpair/repair process. Unfortunately my AW3 is now suffering from a sever battery drain
 

Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
6,264
7,287
Seattle
I think it is time for Apple to stop selling the series 3. it doesn't have enough free storage to handle current OS versions well.

For those having trouble with updates, this site lists a couple of workarounds.
 

Soondae

macrumors 6502
May 22, 2012
253
99
Hua Hin, Thailand
Received my new 40mm SE yesterday, surprisingly I find it a touch heavier than the AW3. However the 2mm larger display really is nice as I can read my data easier at a glance while I had to stare at the AW3. I ordered it from the Apple store so that I could get the watch band of my choice and not the uncomfortable sport band they come with at the stores. I ordered mine with the olive sport loop. The pairing process and update on the SE was about the same as the AW3 but without issues and it boots much faster.
 

RPhoto

macrumors 65816
Jul 18, 2010
1,130
2,294
Surrey, UK
My sisters house have three S3’s.

Original SBSS with 16gb RAM
Original aluminium with 4gb RAM
Recent aluminium with 8gb RAM

The original one with 4gb has update issues every single time. The other two never do.
 

NoBoMac

Moderator
Staff member
Jul 1, 2014
6,302
5,021
Received my new 40mm SE yesterday, surprisingly I find it a touch heavier than the AW3.

About 3g difference. For me, suspect case size difference is more the "issue": sits different on the wrist and after a few days, will no longer notice difference between 3 and SE.

(Replaced my 3 this week with an SE, as I destroyed the 3 over the weekend canyon hiking: tried to get myself up and over some class 3 rock climbs and must have banged it pretty hard on the rocks; lesson learned, put it in daypack when in these situations)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.