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S3 Storage mysteriously filling up
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Update! With fingers crossed I think it may be fixed. I got a walk-up appointment at an Apple Store and they erased all content and settings by holding down the crown and side button until a menu option comes up to do so. After it unpairs, remove the watch from your Watch app and pair again. Apparently when unpairing regularly, it doesn’t erase misc data (like a bug that leaves old software that takes up a lot of room). Will report back if the message comes back within the week.
I’ve never seen a menu option come up when holding those two buttons down. It usually just reboots.
It may have been a really long hold that shows up after that all comes up. I was socially distant from him so I couldn’t see well but asked him what he did so I could report back. He told me he usually does it by holding 2 fingers on the screen but that way wasn’t working likely due to the lack of storage.
Spoke too soon. Woke up this morning to storage full again. Will try to go back to the Apple Store this weekend.
I really am starting to think that this is a deep firmware issue. I had my OG series 3 replaced under the screen recall and thats when I started to have the issues. both the OG and the replacement were on the same software version and within days of me getting the replacement I started to get the notifications telling me that it was full. that was over a year ago and ever since then if I need to update I have to unpair and repair to get it to update.
Went back to the Apple Store today and because they were so busy a Genius met me outside to tell me that Apple had admitted to the issue 2-3 weeks ago and are actively working to fix it. While they could send it away for repair/replacement, because it’s out of warranty there would likely be a charge. So my watch will sit on my table until Apple releases a fix, which considering they just acknowledged this problem a few weeks ago after people have been having an issue for over a year according to these Forums, is probably the single most frustrating thing I’ve encountered in my years of owning Apple products. So to all - don’t continue to waste your time with Support or the Genius Bar. We all have to “hold tight” for a fix from Cupertino.
Im glad they are owning up to it. I hope its just a simple software bug that needs to be fixed. Im still stuck on beta 1 on my watch and we are on Beta 3 but can't update unless I unpair.
Yeah, I’m personally glad that it’s being acknowledged and not some fringe issue related to my specific setup that will never get fixed. Now I can stop driving myself crazy trying to figure out what’s causing the problem.
It’s frustrating that we just have to wait but at least we know they’re aware of it now.
I’m experiencing this issue too. Hadn’t noticed it before the most recent update, then put in a call with the support team before I saw this thread.
She said I had two options, repair or replace - so I mentioned that several people were reporting the same issue and had been doing so for well over a year, and her response was “well you can believe random people on the internet or you can do what I tell you to do.”
Needless to say I terminated the call and chose the former!
So now joining you all in the wait for a software update to fix the issue.
She said I had two options, repair or replace - so I mentioned that several people were reporting the same issue and had been doing so for well over a year, and her response was “well you can believe random people on the internet or you can do what I tell you to do.”
Needless to say I terminated the call and chose the former! So now joining you all in the wait for a software update to fix the issue.
Assuming the repair they mentioned came within a likely if not definite cost and the replacement would also be at your own expense?I’m experiencing this issue too. Hadn’t noticed it before the most recent update, then put in a call with the support team before I saw this thread.
She said I had two options, repair or replace - so I mentioned that several people were reporting the same issue and had been doing so for well over a year, and her response was “well you can believe random people on the internet or you can do what I tell you to do.”
So now joining you all in the wait for a software update to fix the issue.
I presume so - honestly, she conveniently left that part out of the conversation..!
So, I just got a prompt to update to latest WatchOS and guess what? I CAN'T because the watch does not have enough available storage! I think it said the OS requires 2.2GB, and my watch only has 1.5GB available after a reboot, even though there is basically nothing on it.
Update: So I rebooted the watch again by holding down both buttons for a long time, and it rebooted with 2.1GB available. I tried the install again anyway, despite the fact that the update said it needed 2.2GB available, and it actually went through and updated successfully. After the update, the phone showed 1.6GB available, and a few minutes later 1.4GB. This is watchOS 6.2.8.
Update: So I rebooted the watch again by holding down both buttons for a long time, and it rebooted with 2.1GB available. I tried the install again anyway, despite the fact that the update said it needed 2.2GB available, and it actually went through and updated successfully. After the update, the phone showed 1.6GB available, and a few minutes later 1.4GB. This is watchOS 6.2.8.
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Thanks so much for the update! Keep us posted.
I’ve been running 6.2.8 since mid August when I deleted my phone backup and Health Data from iCloud and fully un-paired and re-paired my watch as new. I haven’t loaded a single app other than the native apps onto the watch as a test. It’s been fluctuating but I currently have 126MB worth of native app data and it says I’m using 2.5GB with 2.2GB available. With no other apps, I’m still seeing the issue persist but with more room so as to not get the “Storage Full” message. At this point I think we have to wait until WatchOS 7 for a full reset. So disappointing.
I’ve been running 6.2.8 since mid August when I deleted my phone backup and Health Data from iCloud and fully un-paired and re-paired my watch as new. I haven’t loaded a single app other than the native apps onto the watch as a test. It’s been fluctuating but I currently have 126MB worth of native app data and it says I’m using 2.5GB with 2.2GB available. With no other apps, I’m still seeing the issue persist but with more room so as to not get the “Storage Full” message. At this point I think we have to wait until WatchOS 7 for a full reset. So disappointing.
Yeah, I had to set mine up as a new watch in order to get Watch OS 7. What a nuisance.
Same, I didn't have enough room to install so I had to unpair, repair, then download Watch OS7. Right before I unpaired, I had 2.0GB being used, down to 729MB with 2.6GB displayed separately as Software Update after repairing, then back up to 1.8GB used after installed Watch OS7.
This is what it's been hovering at with no additional apps, so looks like Watch OS7 did not provide a fix. It's clearly old software and/or iCloud data syncing issue.
It's infuriating to know they're still selling Series 3 (with improvements) and that they're aware of this issue. I'm temped to trade in for a Watch SE, but too frustrated at the moment to give Apple more money and risk I'll still have an issue.
I had the same thought. I can't believe this issue is not higher priority considering that they're intent on continuing to sell Series 3. In fact their neglect to fix this issue actually led me to believe that they probably were going to drop the Series 3 altogether, but obviously that is not yet the case.
After unpairing and repairing to update, I got the Sotrage Full message again on OS 7 and had to fully reset. I’m curious to see if anyone who may get an SE or 6 will continue to have an issue after it persisting with their 3. I may be that person if it keeps up, ha! So so frustrated.So I spent half of my day resetting up my watch to get WatchOS 7. This is completely an unacceptable user experience.
Mine also filled up the other day and I had to do a hard reboot. Still not fixed with WatchOS 7.
I really want to know what percentage of 3s this is affecting. Wonder if it’s happening with any of the newly purchased ones.Mine also filled up the other day and I had to do a hard reboot. Still not fixed with WatchOS 7.
And I can’t even install 7.0.1 because it needs 2GB free. Unbelievable! I guess you have to re-pair the watch for every update. I’m so done with this. Waiting for my S6.