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Apple Releases watchOS 5.0.1 Update for Apple Watch With Activity Ring Fix

Thursday September 27, 2018 1:06 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today released a new software update for the Apple Watch, upgrading watchOS 5 to watchOS 5.0.1. The new watchOS 5.0.1 release comes 10 days after Apple released the watchOS 5 update.

watchOS 5.0.1 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by 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.

The watchOS 5.0.1 update is minor in scale and focuses on fixing bugs that have been discovered since the watchOS 5 update. According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 5.0.1 addresses an issue that caused a "small number of users" to see increased exercise minutes, fixes a bug that caused some users not to receive stand credit in the afternoon, and solves a problem that could prevent the Apple Watch from charging.

watchOS 5, the latest major watchOS update, brought a slew of new features to the operating system. It includes Activity Competitions for challenging friends, a Walkie-Talkie mode with real-time push-to-talk communication, support for Siri shortcuts, new watch faces, and tons more.

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For details on everything new in watchOS 5, make sure to check ourtour watchOS 5 roundup.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
[ 118 comments ]


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PBG4 Dude
9 months ago

Good thing I am staying away from 12 on my main devices - I only have it on my iPad 10.5 which I don’t care if it’s flaky - I think by 12.02, 12.03,12.1 a lot more uncovered bugs will be squashed

This is about WatchOS 5.0.1, not iOS 12.
Rating: 30 Votes
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jud.stade
9 months ago
Any word on if this brings back missing complications, like Messages and Home?
Rating: 14 Votes
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djcerla
9 months ago
After just 2 days with the AW4 Cellular, carrying the iPhone when I go out is a complete no-no.

It’s a wonderful feeling of freedom; now I realize how much useless social network and website checking I was doing. A complete revelation. This is the beginning of the end for the smartphone as far as I can tell.
Rating: 14 Votes
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Black Magic
9 months ago

Good thing I am staying away from 12 on my main devices - I only have it on my iPad 10.5 which I don’t care if it’s flaky - I think by 12.02, 12.03,12.1 a lot more uncovered bugs will be squashed


This is a watchOS update. Also, not sure why you are holding off from updating to iOS 12? You are only hurting yourself and missing out on performance and features. Sometimes people can be too smart for themselves.
Rating: 12 Votes
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Braderunner
9 months ago
I hope that one day, Apple does away with "Make sure Apple Watch is on it's charger".
Rating: 11 Votes
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Chloros
9 months ago

Downloaded/installing in the UK.

Great news...ill go ahead and update the internet
Rating: 10 Votes
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bluespider
9 months ago
maybe walkie talkie will finally accept my invitations :-)
Rating: 9 Votes
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sirgromit
9 months ago

Can anyone confirm if this brings back the haptic tap when a mail notification comes in? Cheers!

You should be able to fix it by adding a vibration to your mail account. If you are mirroring your mail settings on your watch, try changing the vibration setting for your mail account in your iPhone settings.

On your iPhone go to: Settings/Notifications/Mail/~your email account/Sounds/Vibration

and then add a vibration style to your mail account. This appears to not be a bug but rather in change in functionality.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Alendrix
9 months ago
So let's see. With my new Apple Watch 4, I was finally getting a fair amount of exercise ring credit on an Outdoor Walk workout (Avg Pace 20 minutes, which is 3mph), and walking for 20 minutes was giving me roughly 15 minutes of 'exercise ring'.

I guess after this update, it'll go back to 'normal' where the above walk will give me 2-3 minutes of exercise ring for the same activity? Nice....:-/
Rating: 6 Votes
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jermwhl
9 months ago

I did both the last two updates at work. watched both of them install, both times not on the charger. I don't have one at work.

Just tried it here. Downloads, prepares, and then sits at "waiting to install". I've never had an AW update install without being on the charger.
Rating: 6 Votes

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