Apple Releases watchOS 8.4.2 With Bug Fixes

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Apple today released watchOS 8.4.2, a minor update to the watchOS 8 operating system that launched in September. watchOS 8.4.2 comes two weeks after the release of watchOS 8.4, an update that added a fix for an ongoing charging issue.

watchOS 8 on Apple Watch feature
‌‌watchOS ‌8.4.2 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.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, watchOS 8.4.2 introduces unspecified bug fixes and security updates for the Apple Watch. There is no additional information available on the new software, but if we find out what's addressed, we'll update this article.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

nwcs Avatar
nwcs
49 months ago
I wish they would let us update without having to put the watch on the charger if we are on wifi and battery > 80%.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will Tisdale ? Avatar
Will Tisdale ?
49 months ago

watchOS ‌8.4.2 can be downloaded for free
I’ve noticed this on various occasions.

Has Apple ever charged for a watchOS update? (Or any other OS update in the last 10 years for that matter). No.

Why point out that it’s available for “free” then? Very odd.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iamasmith Avatar
iamasmith
49 months ago

I wish they would let us update without having to put the watch on the charger if we are on wifi and battery > 80%.
yeah, just being very cautious in case the thing drops over a long download... downside of no tethered recovery mode is that you have to be ultra conservative in the update approach.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will Tisdale ? Avatar
Will Tisdale ?
49 months ago

I wonder what security issues are being fixed.
[S]https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201222

Nothing that has a CVE (yet) seemingly.[/S]

Ignore me. Seemingly I can’t tell the difference between a 1 and a 2 these days. ;)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jrath1 Avatar
jrath1
49 months ago
Hope this fixes my NHL team no longer showing up in the Siri watch face. ?

**After the update my NHL team returned to the Siri watch face. Hoping it stays this time.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iamasmith Avatar
iamasmith
49 months ago
First stop usually is to do an iPhone update check before these and it looks like iOS 15.3.1 is up too. Didn't see an artical covering this.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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