Apple watch update failed because not connected to internet

I have tried:

- Resetting watch
- Changing DNS to manual on iPhone's wifi
- Deleting the watch from my Apple ID
- Using 2.4 instead of 5
- Changing the region (on both phone and watch)
- Pairing Manually Instead of with Camera
- Turning off cellular data on the phone

I have an iPhone XR and an Apple Watch Series 3 (without cellular). Does anyone have any advice? I am just shocked. I can't get anything to work. Do I need to combine some of the things above? Does my phone need to be on charge? Please help!

Have you been trying to fix the Apple Watch “Unable to Check for Update” error? 

You’ve successfully paired your Apple Watch to your iPhone. You’re excited to use it. But you couldn’t—your watch needed an update. What’s worse is you couldn’t check for an update because the error said, “software update failed because you are not connected to the Internet.” But you’re pretty sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi. 

Apple is known for its easy-to-use software and innovative products and features. It releases regular updates to ensure the best user experience. But, in this particular instance, keeping the Apple Watch updated has seemed to backfire.

That problem can be incredibly frustrating. It’d seem you’re stuck in an endless loop. But fortunately, we have several potential fixes here at Saintlad. Here’s how to fix the Apple Watch “Unable to Check for Update” error.

Let’s dive in!

1. Check If Your Apple Watch Qualifies for Updates.  

Before you check on other solutions to fix the Apple Watch “Unable to Check for Update” issue, you should make sure your Apple Watch qualifies for the new update.

Apple is forthcoming with all of its new software updates. The company usually provides detailed information about models that are compatible with such updates. To date, the latest Apple watchOS is watchOS7.5 (watch out for watchOS8, though). 

Note that watchOS7.5 is only compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 and newer versions. These include Apple Watch SE and later models. So if you have a Series 2 or an even older model, the update won’t be available—even if your iPhone is online. 

2. Connect Your Apple Watch to a Charger.

Apple recommends you leave your Apple Watch connected to a charger while the update completes. This is to avoid any interruption to the update process. 

If you’re online and your Apple Watch qualifies for the latest watchOS, then connecting your watch to the charger during the update might rid the error. Maybe, the battery was the problem, but the device flashed a different error dialog. So it’s worth a try. 

We could offer more potential solutions if this one didn’t work. Continue browsing below.

3. Re-Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connection.

Apple has designed its software updates to work only on a stable connection. That’s to make sure the update is completed without a glitch. So if you encounter software update fails, your iPhone’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection could be the culprit.

Even if you’re sure your iPhone is online, it pays to check its connection. If the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both on and stable, try turning them off and on. It allows your Apple Watch and iPhone to refresh their connection with each other—and to the internet.

Here’s how to do it:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings.
2. Look for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.They are listed one after the other.

1. If the toggle buttons beside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, turn them off.
2. Restart your iPhone.
3. Once your phone is back on, go to Settings again.
4. Turn on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth buttons.
5. Test if you can finally use or update your Apple Watch.

This fix has worked for many users. Try our other solutions if the issue persists.

4. Reset Network Settings.

Even if your iPhone is connected to stable Wi-Fi, there may be some unknown issues with your device’s network settings. In turn, your Apple Watch updates constantly fail.   

Resetting your network settings triggers the removal of the previously used Wi-Fi credentials, cellular settings, and VPN settings. Don’t worry. You won’t lose your data. But you have to re-enter your Wi-Fi, cellular, and VPN credentials after the reset. 

Here’s how to reset network settings:

1. First, open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap General and select Reset.
3. Next, select Reset Network Settings.

1. Enter your passcode.
2. Lastly, tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.

Your iPhone will restart to complete the reset. Once it’s back on, enter your Wi-Fi password, reconnect to the internet, and see if your Apple Watch is working. If your device asks to re-pair your Apple Watch, do it. Check the next method to see how.

5. Re-Pair Your Apple Watch. 

Unpairing your watch restores the device to its factory settings. It could help remove any random bug or garbage memory that has been disrupting the update. 

Is your Apple Watch connected to a transit card in your Wallet app? Make sure to remove that card before you unpair. That’s to avoid any other issues with Apple Watch. 

Here’s how to unpair your Apple Watch to your iPhone:

1. First, keep your iPhone and Apple Watch close together.
2. Then, open the Watch app on your phone.
3. Navigate to the My Watch tab. Then, tap All Watches. 
4. Tap the Info button next to the watch you want to unpair.

1. Select Unpair Apple Watch. Tap it again to confirm. Your phone might have to type your Apple ID password to complete the process.

After unpairing, set up your Apple Watch again—like how you did it the first time. 

6. Pair Your Apple Watch Manually. 

Did you complete re-pairing your Apple Watch by holding it up to your iPhone’s camera? Did it finally work to fix the Apple Watch “Unable to Check for Update” error? If not, you might have to unpair again. But this time, re-pair your watch manually.

Here’s how to do it:

1. After unpairing your watch, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Next, select All Watches. Then, choose the Pair New Watch option.
3. This time, tap Set Up for Myself.
4. Instead of holding your watch in front of the camera, select Pair Apple Watch Manually.

1. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Apple Watch.

See if you can use or update your Apple Watch again without a glitch. If not, don’t fret. We still have more workarounds to help you.

7. Change Region.

Apple is not without its flaws. Sometimes, Apple servers have issues in certain regions and countries. If that’s the case, you can’t check for software updates for your Apple Watch. That’s even if your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or cellular network. 

One way to work around this issue is to change your region on your iPhone. This is an easy solution. But make sure to unpair your Apple Watch before doing this trick. 

Here’s how to change your region on your iPhone:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Choose General. Then, scroll down and select Language & Region.

1. Tap Region and then change it to another one.
2. Re-pair your Apple Watch to your iPhone.

Want to try another solution to fix the Apple Watch “Unable to Check for Update” error? We have a few more tricks up our sleeves. Browse below to learn more.

8. Make Space for the Update.

Maybe, the reason behind the error is your watch ran out of space for updates. Each update file you download requires a certain amount of space on your Apple Watch. So if your watch has tons of files, you would have a problem checking for updates. 

Fortunately, you can fix this easily. All you have to do is clear space on your watch. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. On your Apple Watch, Launch Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Next tap Usage. You will see the used and available space on your watch.
4. Scroll down to explore the existing files and choose those you want to delete. 

Does the problem persist? We have two more potential fixes for your Apple Watch.

9. Delete Beta Profile.

The Apple Beta Software Program has all the good intentions. Installing a beta profile on your Apple device means you help the company test-drive pre-release OS versions. But sometimes, a beta profile can cause accidental issues on your device. 

If you have installed a watchOS or an iOS beta, try to delete it. Doing so could help fix the “Apple Watch Unable to Check for Update” issue that has been bugging you.

Here’s how to delete a beta profile on your iPhone:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap General. Then, select Profiles & Device Management (or Profile in other versions).

1. Choose the beta profile you want to remove. Then, hit Remove Profile. Input your iPhone passcode if requested to confirm the action. 

Here’s how to delete a beta profile on your Apple Watch:

1. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app.
2. Tap the My Watch tab.

1. Choose General. Then, tap Profiles.
2. Tap the beta profile you want to delete, then tap Delete Profile. You might have to enter your iPhone passcode to complete the process.

After removing the profile, restart the device (or both devices if you have beta profiles on your iPhone and Apple Watch). Then, check for the Apple Watch update again. 

10. Sign Out of iCloud Account from Your iPhone.

This workaround has been popular and effective for many users in support threads. But this includes doing a hard reset or force restart on your Apple Watch. So do this only after you’ve tried out all other solutions in this article. 

Here’s how to sign out of iCloud and hard reset your Apple Watch:

1. On your iPhone, launch Settings.
2. Tap your name. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
3. Enter your Apple ID password.
4. Then, tap Turn Off.
5. Once you’ve signed out of iCloud, turn off your Wi-Fi network. After a few seconds, turn it back on. 
6. Put your Apple Watch on the charger.
7. Press and hold the side button of your watch until the Power Off option shows up.
8. Select the Power Off option. Then, tap Erase all content and settings.

After resetting your watch, re-pair it to your iPhone. If the device requested you to sign in to your iCloud, do it. Then, check if you were able to fix the Apple Watch “Unable to Check for Update” error.

We’re hopeful one or two of our fixes have worked for you. But if that isn’t the case, the next step is to reach out to Apple Support.

You can contact Apple via call, live chat, or mail. You can also visit an Apple Store. But it’s best to set an appointment online before you bring your Apple Watch to the store. 

That wraps up this article. Tell us which solution has worked for you. Feel free to leave a comment below. If you still encounter the same error or have other Apple Watch-related issues, comment below, too. Our team will do our best to help you. 

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