Latest iOS 15 and watchOS 8 Beta Lets Users Install Software Updates with Less Available Storage - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Latest iOS 15 and watchOS 8 Beta Lets Users Install Software Updates with Less Available Storage

Apple yesterday released the third betas of iOS 15 and watchOS 8, and while there are plenty of front-end changes, one notable behind-the-scenes issue that was resolved is that users will now be able to install software updates when their device is low on storage.

iPhone Free Up Storage Feature
In the release notes for the updated iOS 15 and watchOS 8 betas, Apple says that software updates can now be downloaded and installed on devices even if they have as little as 500MB of storage left.

You can now update your device using Software Update if less than 500 MB of storage is available

Apple doesn't provide any context to the new change; however, it is likely targeted at users of the older Apple Watch Series 3. Owners of the older Apple Watch currently have to face an unpleasant experience when updating their device to newer versions of watchOS, including resetting and repairing their watch to their iPhone due to little available storage. Apple is aiming to address these and other concerns with iOS 15 and watchOS 8 this fall.

The third beta of iOS 15 also includes plenty of other changes, including refinements to the controversial Safari design, with a relocated address field. Check out our roundup to see everything that's new in the latest beta.

(Via 9to5mac)

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forums: iOS 15, Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Series 10 Jet Black Touch ID

Apple Watch Series 12 and watchOS 27: What to Expect Later This Year

Friday May 8, 2026 2:07 pm PDT by
While not too much has been reported about the next Apple Watch models, there are a few rumors about potential design changes and watchOS 27 features. Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 models are expected to be released in September, and we have outlined some of the key rumored hardware and software changes below. A new Apple Watch SE is not expected this year, as that model was...
ios 26 5 luminance colors 2

A Closer Look at watchOS 26.5's New Luminance Watch Face

Friday May 8, 2026 3:38 pm PDT by
With watchOS 26.5, Apple is introducing a Pride Luminance face, and it's one of the most versatile and customizable watch faces. There are pre-configured color options, but the face also supports custom colors. You can select 1 to 12 colors from a palette that has every color of the rainbow, some in-between shades, and black, white, brown, and gray. The colors you pick are distributed...
watchos 26 gradient light

Apple Releases watchOS 26.5 With New Pride Luminance Watch Face

Monday May 11, 2026 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 26.5, the fifth major update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.5 comes a month and a half after Apple released watchOS 26.4. watchOS 26.5 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.5 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the...

Top Rated Comments

tevion5 Avatar
64 months ago
About time! No idea why it took this long for them to allow my Watch Series 3 to automatically delete apps/music, update and redownload content overnight.

At first I thought I was the odd one out needing to reset my device every update but seeing instructions to do exactly that directly from Apple was something else.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago
the cost of offering paltry storage coming to bite Apple.

meanwhile, their base icloud plan still offers 5gb like it's 2005.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago
Time to make 128GB as base storage for all iPhones then? :D
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iAFC Avatar
64 months ago
Glad to hear they are still improving the experience for Series 3 owners.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago

Nitpick: The current "Reset and Re-Pair" problem only applies to the 8GB non-LTE version of the Apple Watch 3.
Which is the only version of the S3 still for sale today.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago

Great, this paves the way for non-storage iPhone devices with no ram and everything is stored on iCloud.
That ... doesn't even make sense?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)