Apple Pulls Third Software Update in Past Month Due to Issues

Apple on Wednesday pulled watchOS 11.1 beta 3 after some users complained that the update caused their Apple Watch to freeze or lock up until they restarted the device, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

watchos 11 smart stack
This is the third software version that Apple has pulled over the past month. In September, Apple pulled iPadOS 18 for iPad Pro models with the M4 chip after the update prevented some of those devices from working, and it also pulled HomePod software 18.1 beta 2 after that beta caused some HomePod speakers to stop working.

While two out of three of these problematic releases were betas, which are meant to catch these sort of issues, this is still an unfortunate stretch for Apple.

Apple will likely make a new build of watchOS 11.1 beta 3 available in the coming days, or it might simply move on to watchOS 11.1 beta 4.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...

Top Rated Comments

Kylo83 Avatar
15 months ago
They need to hire better people for the job
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Maclver Avatar
15 months ago
I will give you that pulling iPadOS 18 was a blunder... but pulling betas are a non-issue becasue they ARE betas. Be glad it was discovered before being released. I think Apple should put a disclaimer in their beta software that it is beta software and shoulnd't be installed on your main device... oh wait.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thadoggfather Avatar
15 months ago
Devices bricking should be more of an internal alpha thing that never sees light of day than a beta.

We'd be dunking on Android bois if they experienced something like this thrice in a short period of a major new OS upgrade.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Entilzha Avatar
15 months ago
So a beta release has issues.

SHOCKING!

This doesn’t excuse the iPadOS 18 official release bricking M4 iPad Pros, mind you, but come on. It’s a beta. People who use betas put their devices at risk, and these things happen. Don’t want to have this happen? Don’t run betas.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
abatabia Avatar
15 months ago
This is making me want to get off the beta train for good.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thadoggfather Avatar
15 months ago

So a beta release has issues.

SHOCKING!

This doesn’t excuse the iPadOS 18 official release bricking M4 iPad Pros, mind you, but come on. It’s a beta. People who use betas put their devices at risk, and these things happen. Don’t want to have this happen? Don’t run betas.
iOS 18.0 GM that was yoinked for M4 iPad Pro OLEDs was not a beta tho.. and still isn't being signed almost two weeks later. if you aren't already on 18.0 or a beta, highest it will still go is 17.7

that's embarrassing for a $1k tablet.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)