Apple Releases watchOS 7.3.1 With Fix for Apple Watch Series 5 and SE Charging Issue

Apple today released watchOS 7.3.1, a minor update to the watchOS 7 operating system that was released in September. watchOS 7.3.1 comes a couple of weeks after the release of watchOS 7.3.

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‌‌The watchOS 7.3.1 update‌‌ 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. Today's update is only available for the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch SE, so other Apple Watch models will not have an update available.

According to Apple's release notes, the watchOS 7.3.1 update introduces a fix for an issue that prevented some Apple Watch Series 5 and SE models from charging after entering Power Reserve mode.

watchOS 7.3, the prior update, brought a Time to Walk feature for Apple Fitness+, expanded ECG functionality to new countries like Japan, and added a new Unity watch face. Apple is also working on watchOS 7.4, a major update that allows the Apple Watch to be used to unlock an ‌iPhone‌ when wearing a mask.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

Runs For Fun Avatar
65 months ago

Too bad there's literally no way to install if you have a 8GB Series 3 unless you re-pair the watch to your phone, and that's a world of hurt.
I still can’t believe they are selling the S3 with this glaring problem.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
65 months ago
Don’t see it yet
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
peglegjack Avatar
65 months ago
Too bad there's literally no way to install if you have a 8GB Series 3 unless you re-pair the watch to your phone, and that's a world of hurt.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stuipdboy1000 Avatar
65 months ago
Apple’s Security Updates page suggests that this update is indeed only for the Series 5 and SE.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Homme Avatar
65 months ago

Odd that a charging issue would affect S5 and SE...
I’m not someone who uses the Apple watch and has zero knowledge of it but I think they’re CPU could be the problem (as they both use the same CPU) which is the only thing I can think of in relation to both watches

but yes I find it very strange indeed
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheGeneralist Avatar
65 months ago

excuse my ignorance - were all S3 8GB or only certain models?
Only the GPS versions (lacking Cellular) were limited to 8GB. The Cellular & GPS Version came with 16GB.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)