Apple Releases watchOS 9.6 With Bug Fixes (2024)

by Juli Clover

Apple today released watchOS 9.6, a minor bug fix update for the Apple Watch. watchOS 9.6 is a free software update that comes a month the launch of watchOS 9.5, an update that brought the new 2023 Pride watch face.

Apple Releases watchOS 9.6 With Bug Fixes (1)
watchOS 9.6 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by opening it up and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌‌.

According to Apple, the update includes bug fixes and security improvements for Apple Watch owners, with no new specific features.

watchOS 9 will soon be replaced with watchOS 10, the next-generation version of watchOS that Apple is currently beta testing.

Related Roundup: watchOS 10

Related Forum: Apple Watch

[ 25 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

surfzen21

9 months ago

The best thing about this is we are getting closer to watchOS 10 ??

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

skardvin

9 months ago

Holy cow, this update is taking forever to download/install...

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

itsmemuffins

8 months ago

Is anyone having battery issues with this update? Series 5 battery getting absolutely hammered. Battery going down one percent every minute or so.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

pinkkie

9 months ago

and the grey background problem is still not fixed on series 4...

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TheYayAreaLiving ?️

8 months ago

Find out what’s new here! watchOS 9.6. ⌚️

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

al256

9 months ago

How do I disable the notification that my watch updated? I hate it so much.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

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FAQs

Apple Releases watchOS 9.6 With Bug Fixes? ›

watchOS 9.6.

What is the known issue with streaming on watchOS 9 update? ›

Apple WatchOS 9 introduced a bug that causes Spotify streaming on the Apple Watch to stop working. We urge Spotify Apple Watch users not to install the WatchOS 9 update until Apple has implemented a fix for the issue.

What is the latest software update for watchOS? ›

Contents. watchOS 10 is the newest version of watchOS, the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. Introduced at WWDC in June 2023, watchOS 10 saw a public release on September 18 just ahead of the launch of new Apple Watch models.

Why are Apple Watches being recalled? ›

This decision was the outcome of a patent dispute between Apple and the medical technology company Masimo concerning the blood oxygen sensor technology used in both Apple Watch models. Masimo accused Apple of infringing on five patents.

What are the improvements to the Apple Watch 9? ›

The S9 SiP

Custom Apple silicon makes Apple Watch Series 9 more capable, more intuitive, and faster. The dual-core CPU has 5.6 billion transistors — 60 percent more than the S8 chip. A four-core Neural Engine processes machine learning tasks up to two times faster.

What are complications in Apple watchOS 9? ›

Starting in watchOS 9, the system organizes complications (also known as accessories) into several families — like circular and inline — and defines some recommended layouts you can use to display your complication data. A watch face can specify the family it supports in each complication slot.

What version is 9.6 3 on Apple Watch? ›

Version history
VersionInitial release dateLatest version
watchOS 9September 12, 20229.6.3
watchOS 10September 18, 202310.4
10.5 beta 2
10 more rows

How do I force my Apple Watch to update? ›

Update directly on your Apple Watch

Make sure that your watch is connected to Wi-Fi. On your watch, open the Settings app. Tap General > Software Update. Tap Install if a software update is available, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Why won't the Apple Watch update? ›

The Apple Watch needs to be charged sufficiently to be able to accept an update. Plug it in to be sure of this. Check your connections. Check both your Apple Watch and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network to complete the update.

Is the Apple Watch 9 banned in the US? ›

A patent infringement case is pushing for Apple to stop selling its two most recent Apple Watch models, the Series 9 and Ultra 2. A ban came and went in December, but the court lifted its stay, so the new watches are once again banned from the US if they have the disputed blood oxygen technology.

Why are Apple Watches being banned in the US? ›

Last October, the ITC ruled that the pulse oximeter feature in the advanced Apple watches violated a patent that belongs to the California based company called Masimo. Apple was banned from bringing the specific models into the U.S and began to pull products off the shelves when the ban officially started in December.

What Apple Watches are obsolete? ›

Apple will no longer offer replacement parts or repair the 'Series 0' models. The first-generation Apple Watch released in 2015 is now classed as obsolete by Apple.

Is WatchOS 9 worth it? ›

The bottom line: The Apple Watch Series 9 is a worthwhile upgrade over the Series 5. The performance benefits that come with upgrading from a 4-year-old chip will feel substantial, and there are plenty of new features that make the Series 9 feel significantly different.

Is the Apple Watch 9 worth the upgrade? ›

Because of the generational technology leap with the Series 9, I'd recommend getting this model rather than the Apple Watch SE or the previous Series 8 or Series 7 models that you can still buy -- since the Series 9 technology will remain current for longer and is likely to benefit from future software upgrades for ...

What is the battery life of the Apple Watch 9? ›

Apple Watch Series 9 Battery Information

So we made sure we gave it a battery that lasts all day, too. Our goal for battery life is 18 hours after an overnight charge, factoring in things like checking the time, receiving notifications, using apps, and doing a 60-minute workout.

Why did Apple Watch update fail? ›

The Apple Watch needs to be charged sufficiently to be able to accept an update. Plug it in to be sure of this. Check your connections. Check both your Apple Watch and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network to complete the update.

What are watchOS complications? ›

Overview. Complications are small interface elements that users place on the clock face. Having your complication on an active watch face gives you the opportunity to provide useful data whenever the user glances at their watch. Users can also interact with your app by tapping on the complication and launching your app ...

What did the latest Apple Watch update do? ›

watchOS 10.1 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including: Double tap gesture can be used to perform the primary action in notifications and most apps so you can answer a call, play and pause music, stop a timer, and more (Available on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2)

Which device is not compatible with watchOS 9? ›

Though it's possible certain watchOS 9 features will be optimized for the rumored Apple Watch 8 (that ended up being the case for watchOS 8 and the Apple Watch 7) earlier Apple Watch models should get the latest software. But one model in particular has finally been excluded — the Apple Watch 3.

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