Can’t download apps on your Apple Watch Series 8? Here are the troubleshooting steps when apps won’t install on your Apple Watch Series 8.
Several users have reported that they are unable to download apps on their Apple Watch Series 8. At times, apps tend to get stuck during installation and keep loading forever. At other times, they just refuse to download — without any obvious reason whatsoever. If you can’t install apps on your Apple Watch Series 8 and are looking for easy methods to solve the problem, then this troubleshooting guide is for you. In this article, i’ll explain why apps won’t download on your Apple Watch Series 8 and show you how to fix the issue.
There are a couple of reasons why apps may not be installing on your Apple Watch Series 8. However, there are just as many (or maybe more) methods that you can use to fix the problem as well. In this article we will take a look at all of these fixes for installing apps on Apple Watch.
Plus, we will also take a look at some of the reasons why this problem arises in the first place.
Why Apps Won’t Install on Apple Watch Series 8?
There are several reasons your Apple Watch Series 8 won’t install apps, from problems with your internet connection to a lack of storage on your device. Whatever the reason, you can use the troubleshooting steps below to fix it. We’ve listed them starting with the most common issues, that are the quickest to fix, so just work your way down the list to start downloading apps on your Apple Watch again.
How to fix apps not installing on Apple Watch series 8
1. Ensure That the App is Compatible
The very first thing that you should check out when faced with the problem of apps not installing on Apple Watch Series 8 is compatibility. There are still quite a few popular apps like WhatsApp that are yet to be available for Apple Watch. So, make sure the app you are trying to install on your watchOS device is compatible.
See also: Must Have Apple Watch apps for Students
2. Turn On/Off Airplane Mode (Toggle Airplane Mode)
If apps tend to get stuck on the loading screen forever, there is a good chance that the problem could be due to a poor internet connection. So, fixing the sluggish internet connection can help you resolve the issue.
Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to bring up Control Center. After that, tap the Airplane button to turn it on.
Now, wait for sometime and then tap the airplane mode icon again to disable it.
A lot of times a simple toggle of the Airplane mode can fix many connectivity issues, not only on your Apple Watch but also on iPhones and iPads. So always give this a try if you face any connectivity or network issues on your devices. It only takes a few seconds, and you don’t have to worry about anything.
3. Automatic Turn on automatic app install
If you’re expecting apps to install on the Watch automatically, and they’re not, your Watch could be set to install manually. In that case, go to the Watch app on your iPhone, tap App Store, and then move the Automatic Downloads slider to on/green. If the toggle is already enabled, turn it off. After that, restart both your iPhone and Apple Watch and then turn it back on.
4. Turn Off/On Cellular/Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Toggle Bluetooth, WiFi, and Cellular Networks)
Another troubleshooting tip that you should try to resolve the Apple Watch Series 8 app installation problem is to reset the radios. Many a time, it can get rid of any network-related issues right away. So, give it a shot.
On Apple Watch: Head over to Settings app -> Wi-Fi, Cellular/Mobile Data, and Bluetooth and then turn off the toggles.
Then, restart your Apple Watch. Press and hold the side button and then drag the power off slider to turn off the wearable device. Wait for a few seconds and then press and hold the side button again to turn on your smartwatch.
On your paired iPhone: Open the Settings app -> Wi-Fi/Cellular and Bluetooth and then turn off the toggles. Then, restart your iOS device.
On iPhone without a home button, press and hold either volume button and then side button until the power off slider shows up on the screen. After that, drag the power off slider to turn off your device. Now, press and hold your device until you see the Apple logo. Once your device has restarted, turn on Wi-Fi/Cellular and Bluetooth.
5. Make Sure to Download One App at a Time
Trying to install too many apps at the same time can slow down the connection between the iPhone and Watch so much so that nothing happens. Instead, install one app at a time. In the Watch on the iPhone, tap one Install button, and wait for the app to fully install, before trying another one. If more than one app is installing, tap all but one to pause the installations.
6. Force Restart Your Apple Watch and iPhone
Hard reset (also known as force restart) is a go-to troubleshooter not just on iPhone but also on Apple Watch. Aside from deleting cache, the hard reset is able to wipe out the temporary files, thus fixing many problems. Hence, if you ever run into any common watchOS issues, you should make sure to give it a try.
Hold down the side button and the Digital Crown simultaneously until the screen goes black and the Apple logo shows up on the screen.
Press and quickly release the volume up button. Then, press and quickly release the volume down button. After that, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Once your Apple Watch has rebooted, try installing apps again. If they get installed without any hindrance, chances are you’ve resolved the issue.
7. Force-quit the watch app on iPhone
Since the iPhone Watch app is what installs apps onto your Watch, a problem with the iPhone Watch app can cause a problem with installs. One quick and easy way to fix this by force quitting the app and launching it again.
- From the Home Screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle of the screen.
- Swipe right or left to find the Watch app
- Swipe up on the app’s preview to close the app.
iPhone SE:
- Double-click the Home button to show your most recently used apps.
- Swipe right or left to find the Watch app
- Swipe up on the app’s preview to close the app.
8. Reset Network Settings
No solution as yet? Try resetting the network settings to troubleshoot any network-related issues that might be preventing the apps from being installed on your Apple Watch Series 8.
Open the Settings app on your paired iPhone -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings.
9. Declutter Your Apple Watch
When Apple Watch gets clogged up for space, problems like sluggishness and apps installation become persistent. So, if you haven’t cleaned up your smartwatch for a long time, the cluttered storage could be the cause of the issue. Hence, try cleaning up your smartwatch.
But before going for the kill, take a close look at the storage consumption on your Apple Watch as it will offer a better insight into what needs to be cleaned up.
Head over to the Watch app on your iPhone -> General -> Storage. At the top of the screen, you should see a bar showing a breakdown of how the storage has been used.
On this very screen, a long list of apps will appear along with the total amount of space consumed by each app. Now, go ahead and get rid of all the useless apps and media to free up enough space on your Apple Watch.
10. Update watchOS and iOS
In most cases, your Apple Watch Series 8 won’t install apps because of software issues, which can typically be resolved by updating watchOS and iOS.
To update watchOS:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone -> General -> Software Update. Now, download and install the latest version of the watchOS version.
To update iOS:
- launch the Settings app -> General -> Software Update. After that, download and install the latest iteration of iOS on your device.
11. Erase Your Apple Watch And Repair Your Smartwatch to iPhone
If none of the tips mentioned above has worked in fixing the Apple Watch Series 8 not installing apps problem, erase the Apple Watch and set it again. This restores your Apple Watch to its factory settings, though your iPhone will create a backup. Considered to be a nuclear solution for Apple Watch, it has the knack for fixing even complex issues.
- Head into the Settings app on your Apple Watch -> General -> Reset -> Erase Content and Settings.
- Now, you will get a popup asking you to confirm the action. Tap Erase All to finish.
Alternately, you can navigate to the Watch app on your iPhone -> General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings. Next, tap Erase All to confirm.
Once you have erased your Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone and then follow the instructions to pair the Apple Watch with your iPhone.
Easily Solve Apps Not Installing on Apple Watch Series 8 Issue
There you go! So, these are the most effective ways to troubleshoot the apps won’t install on the Apple Watch Series 8 issue. Hopefully, the problem is behind your back now. As always, we would be glad to know your feedback and the hack that has helped you fix the issue. Moreover, if you find any other efficient solution missing from this troubleshooting guide, make sure to point it out as well.
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