Apple Releases watchOS 3.1 With Bug Fixes

Apple today released a new software update for the Apple Watch, upgrading watchOS 3 to watchOS 3.1. The new watchOS 3.1 update comes more than one month after watchOS 3 was first provided to the public, marking the first update to the new operating system. watchOS 3.1 has been in testing since September 21, with Apple having seeded three betas before launch.

watchOS 3.1 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General -> Software Update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. An iPhone running iOS 10 or later is required to download the new software, but it is available for all Apple Watch models.

watchos3-1

During the beta testing period, no major outward-facing changes or feature tweaks were discovered, so watchOS 3.1 focuses mainly on performance improvements and bug fixes to address issues that have popped up since the release of watchOS 3. The release notes list several bug fixes and improvements:

- New option to replay bubble and full screen effects in Messages
- Messages effects can play with Reduce Motion enabled
- Fixes an issue that could cause the notification for Timer complete to be delivered twice
- Resolves an issue that could prevent Apple Watch Series 2 from fully charging
- Resolves an issue where Activity rings may disappear from the watch face
- Fixes an issue that prevented Force Touch options from appearing in some third-party apps.

watchOS 3 is a significant update that brings a new interface to the Apple Watch, with a dedicated app dock, instant launch apps, and new watch faces. There are new Activity sharing features, a "Breathe" app guides users through deep breathing sessions to cut down on stress, and an SOS feature can automatically call emergency services. For more details on watchOS 3, make sure to check out our watchOS 3 roundup.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5

Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

Top Rated Comments

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macsplusmacs

24 months ago

Frosting on the delicious cake.

Rating: 26 Votes

dacreativeguy

24 months ago

My apple watch series 1 is slow and laggy on watchos 3. hope this at least alleviates that.

Can't help but think that lazy programming is behind all this. I mean come on, do we really need a dual core processor nowadays to smoothly run a 42mm screen computer on a wrist watch?

My main desktop computer 10 years ago was single core amd athlon xp with 512mb ram....same as my 'old' watch...and it was a beast and could do incredible and amazing things... like play online against 30+ people on battlefield lol.

Now 10 years later, the same specs can't send or receive emojis to one person without lag.

I bet that 10 yr old desktop wasn't milled from a solid ingot of aluminium! Was it the most personal computing device you ever owned? Probably wasn't even magical either.

Rating: 7 Votes

Tyenglund

24 months ago

Is the build number the same as beta 3?

Rating: 4 Votes

Raineer

24 months ago

I don't get what some of you guys are doing with your watches - I've had a S0 for around a year before upgrading and damn this battery in my S2 is amazing! Days with a trip to the gym or a run without my phone is still around 50% at night and days with no workout is around 70% remaining battery - never got near that with my S0

Agreed, same here. I have all the bells and whistles turned on, I do 1-2 hours of cardio a day, typically half of it using GPS. I've yet to ever go to bed with the battery below 30%.

Rating: 3 Votes

ipedro

24 months ago

I don't think the watch no longer needs to be placed in a charger to update. As long as your batter is greater than 50%, you should be good.

Incorrect.

Rating: 3 Votes

kissfan

24 months ago

With app updates that are much larger, when will Apple do away with Wi-Fi only update requirements? [emoji35]

Rating: 3 Votes

xDKP

24 months ago

That's what I keep hearing about the S2, is the poor battery life. That was the one thing that kept me from upgrading. I know the battery is larger in the S2, but with the screen brightness and GPS, its equivalent to the first Gen Apple Watch.

Honestly its actually worse. My gen 1 was easily better, and I'm not even hard on my watch, i only get text and email notifications. Disappointed with it.

Battery life exceeds specs for me .. even using the integrated GPS for about an hour run most days. It was never claimed that the battery life of the S2 exceeded the S0. Both are spec'd for 18 hours. The bigger battery in the S2 is to compensate for the additional features (GPS, Brighter Screen). I usually wear mine about 22 hours a day and never worry about the battery.

I own both a S0 and S2 and battery life is comparable on WatchOS 3. You will have to charge either every day.

I didn't have any expectations when I got my first gen (2nd hand one about 4 months ago). Couldn't believe how amazing it was, a little slow, but amazing. Way better battery life than I was reading about in reviews and on this forum.

Then I got the new one, and the whole thing is crazy fast, nicer screen for sure, but battery life is not on par I feel with the first gen. I can get to the end of the day, but then the next day I can't and my activities are the same. I'm hoping to get the patch later on today on the watch and hopefully it's a lot better.

Rating: 2 Votes

Fzang

24 months ago

your desktop stays on your table and it could be the most energy-inefficient device ever, but it doesn't matter cos it stays there with power plugged in all the time. your apple watch needs to run with limited battery life.

So why does my watch easily display a 3D solar system at 60 FPS but can barely load emojis?

Rating: 2 Votes

jonnysods

24 months ago

The S2 is my first Apple Watch. I was worried about battery life, but have been pleasantly surprised. Maybe setting expectations low helped me?

I'm out all day doing physical work and at bedtime at the end of the day I usually have 48% battery life remaining. With my expectations, that's pretty good. I can wear it to bed and in the morning have it charging while I'm fixing/eating breakfast and showering, and I'm usually good to go. I've been surprised by how fast it charges.

My usage during the day is a fair amount of texts/replies, check the time fairly often, and controlling music on my iPhone that is streaming to wireless headphones, oh, and making a couple short phone calls through it.

I don't know that it's actually using the GPS unless you're doing a Workout. I haven't used that feature yet, so I don't know how much that would drain the battery.

Anyhow, that's just my experience with the S2. I've been very happy with it.

Rating: 2 Votes

jhfenton

24 months ago

Same here. My battery life with my S2 is great. So much better than with my S0. My percentages are about the same as yours: 70% at bedtime with no workout less 20%/hr running with GPS playing music to wireless BT headphones.

Rating: 2 Votes

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