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Wearables & Gadgets

Apple pulls watchOS 3.1.1 after the update bricks some Series 2 smartwatches

Apple has pulled the latest release of watchOS, version 3.1.1, after some Series 2 users started reporting that the update made their smartwatch inoperable.

News of the devastating bug began to circulate on Reddit yesterday when Series 2 users began to share pictures of their bricked smartwatches. In some instances, installing watchOS 3.1.1 causes the Series 2 Apple Watch to display a red exclamation mark, with a message prompting its owner to visit Apple’s support site, www.apple.com/help/watch, when the update is done installing.

Apple Watch Series 2 bricked

The support page directs Apple Watch owners to restart their device by holding down the Digital Crown and side button at the same time. The website adds that if a reset does not restore the device, it will need to be taken in for repair at Apple.

Unfortunately, according to Apple Insider, the majority of affected Series 2 owner say the fix has not worked for them.

To make matters worse, Apple Stores are not equipped to facilitate the repair; properly restoring the Apple Watch requires access to its diagnostic port, which the company’s technicians do not do in-store.

If 3.1.1 bricked your smartwatch, your best bet is to skip the visit to the Apple Store and contact Apple Support directly. The company is sending replacements to affected Series 2 owners.

Cupertino has yet to reveal why watchOS 3.1.1 has bricked some devices, though it’s likely a safe bet that the company will release a patched version of 3.1.1 soon. Apple released watchOS 3.1.1 on Monday alongside iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1.

Inline image courtesy of Reddit user jayt-94

[source] Apple Insider, MacRumors, Reddit [/source] [via] Engadget [/via]

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