watchOS 8.6 Features, Improvements And Bug Fixes
Apple has released watchOS 8.6 (19T572) with new features, improvements and bug fixes. This 6th significant watchOS 8 iteration comes a little over two months since the release of watchOS 8.5. It’s available for all watchOS 8 compatible Watches.
watchOS 8.6 Update
You can force the installation from the Watch app available on the paired iPhone:
- In the My Watch tab, tap on General -> Software Update.
- watchOS 8.6 update should pop up on the screen. Tap Download and Install to begin the process. (Install button should be already available as the update is downloaded automatically via iOS.)
- Enter iPhone Passcode and be patient until the update is verified and installed. Your Apple Watch will automatically reboot when the update ends.
Fact: Watch has to be connected to its charger, with battery level over 50% and in range with the paired iPhone for the installation process to work.
watchOS 8.6 Features
The release notes, highlight two new features, both of them being related to the region of Mexico:
- ECG app support for Apple Watch Series 4 model and later in Mexico (already available for most other regions).
- Irregular heart rhythm notifications support for users in Mexico (already available for most others).
- To be updated.
However, unmentioned new features and improvements should be available for worldwide users. If you spot anything new don’t hesitate to share it in the comments and we will update it below:
watchOS 8.6 Bug Fixes
The update log also claims that bug fixes are included in this release, without providing any other details.
Below, you can find a list with problems solved that have been identified by us or reported by other users:
- To be updated.
Fact: For the security content of this update please tap here.
watchOS 8.6 Issues
Besides new features, unfortunately, new bugs might also slip trough the beta stages. Below you can find a list with new problems reported in this version:
- To be updated.
Have you updated to watchOS 8.6? What’s your feedback? Do you notice any changes, bug fixes or new issues that aren’t covered in this article? Use the comments section to share your feedback.
Related: Apple has also released iOS 15.5 / iPadOS 15.5 (19F77), macOS 12.4 (21F79), tvOS 15.5 (19L570) and HomePod 15.5!
Activity rings on my watch are outdated since this update. I get yesterday’s progress, although they data seems to be displayed correctly on the watch face complication. Any help?
Thanks for the feedback. Have you tried to force restart your Apple Watch?
I notice that my watch face keeps freezing. The realtime seconds counter freezes every now and then. I use World Time template. It unfreezes a few wrist raises later. If I want it to unfreeze straightaway I have to reboot.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, I could replicate this bug. We will submit a report for it. Rebooting helps, but it seems to be only a temporary fix.
I can no longer access notifications or control centre from the clock screen. I can still swipe sideways, just not up or down.
I’ve fixed it by force restarting
Great! Thanks for confirming.
Thanks for the feedback Janet. Have you tried to reboot your watch and see if it helps?
Having updated to 8.6, I needed to put some credit cards which are on my phone on to my watch. These are cards from different provisors. I could put cards onto my watch easily before, but now non of them will go onto the watch. I have contacted two of the providers who say they cannot see any evidence of my trying to put the card on the watch.
I cannot prove that this is an 8.6 problem, but it has arisen since I upgraded to 8.6 and the fact that four cards from different providers have ceased to work simultaneously suggests that this is a problem on the Apple side as they are the common factor..
Thanks for reporting. I just tried to replicate it and managed to add a Mastercard debit card without too much hassle. After manually adding the card details on the watch, I had to verify it in the Watch app on the paired iPhone, with a short code sms. At which stage of this process are you getting stuck?
P.S. There’s also the option to ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ if you open the app of your card provider on your iPhone. There you will find the add to Apple Watch option. Try both ways, one of them might work.
Also reboot your devices before trying.
Thank you very much for your efforts here. It is useful information to know that it works for you.
To respond to your question and suggestion: I don’t seem to have an option to add my card to add a card to either the phone or watch wallet from my card provider apps.
The point at which I am getting stuck is soon after add th 3 digit CVV from the back of the card. On all of the cards, this is accepted and the terms and conditions of the card provider are displayed. I agree these and there is a short wait before a window is displayed saying that the card has not been added and that I have to contact my card provider. When I contacted two of them and tried to add a card while talking to them, they said they can see no evidence that I have tried to add a card.
I have tried to add cards many times and have rebooted both devices and unpaired/repaired the watch many times. Nothing makes it work now whether I try to add the cards from the iPhone watch app or whether I try to add them directly from the phone. In the past this used to work with the same cards with no problem at all.
In my case it appears to have stopped working after the 8.6 upgrade, but your investigation shows that it is at least not always the case that it will not work with 8.6.
Thank you again for your investigation.
Sorry in the last message I meant to say:
‘Nothing makes it work now whether I try to add the cards from the iPhone watch app or whether I try to add them directly from the watch. ‘
Thanks for the follow-up. Not sure what else to suggest excepting unpairing and re-pairing the Apple Watch before trying again.
A backup of your watch is automatically stored on your iPhone when you decide to remove it.
On the Watch app on your iPhone, tap All Watches (top-left corner of the screen).
Tap the ‘i’ icon next to your watch and go for Unpair Apple Watch.
Follow the on-screen instructions. When ready, pair your Apple Watch back and use the most recent backup to get your data back. Let us know if this works.
Hi Patricia – thank you again for the time you have spent on this. Unfortunately, unpairing and re-pairing the watch doesn’t work – I have done that many times as reflected in my message above and it makes no difference.
I don’t expect a reply to this as as this does look like a sticky problem to solve. I just wanted to record it here in case anyone else ever reports a similar problem.
Thank you again for the efforts you have made on my behalf.
No problem. You’re most welcome. Thank you too for sharing the feedback and raising awareness.
We appreciate every single comment. Please let us know if the situation changes in the future. Keep in touch.
After updating to watchOS 8.6, my notifications are not showing when I turn my wrist up after it “bumps” me that I’ve received a text or anything else that triggers a notification. I just restarted my watch to see if that fixes it.
Thanks for the feedback. Would appreciate a follow up? Did the restart fix it?
Me neither,
notifications vibrate in the watch, the red dot shows but they do not appear unless touch the screen.
I have restarted and force restarted the watch without any result.
is this wanted?
Best,
Thanks for reporting Jamie. No, it’s not the intended behavior. Have you updated to watchOS 8.7?
Not sure if it’s because of the update but I’m getting : You don’t have Timer app installed, when asking Siri to set one. The app is obviously there and works if I try to set the timer manually.
Thanks for the feedback Soribes. This has been reported in previous iOS 15 versions too. A temporary fix requires you to reboot the Apple Watch. More details available here: https://www.iphonetricks.org/timer-not-working-on-apple-watch-siri-issue/