watchOS 10.4 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

Apple’s released a new watchOS 10.4 update and some Watch users have run into issues with the company’s latest firmware.

We’ve heard good things about watchOS 10.4 in the early going, but we’ve also heard about problems plaguing Apple’s latest upgrade.

Some of these issues will probably dissipate after a day or two while others may require a fix from Apple in a new watchOS 10 update down the line.

In this watchOS 10 problems guide we’ll take you through the most prominent bugs and performance issues.

We’ll show you where to find potential fixes for the most common watchOS 10 problems and provide you with some resources that will help if you run into trouble on your watch.

We’ll also touch on the watchOS downgrade and outline what you can expect from Apple and watchOS 10 software updates down the road.

watchOS 10 Problems

As we push away from watchOS 10.4’s release we’re hearing about problems impacting the operating system. Here are some of the issues we’ve heard about thus far:

• Charging issues
• Issues with Notifications
• Bluetooth issues
• Problems with first and third-party applications
• UI lag
• Issues with cellular service
• Pairing issues
• Abnormal battery drain

We expect the list of watchOS 10 problems to grow as more Apple Watch users transition from watchOS 9 to watchOS 10 and from older versions of watchOS 10 to the latest version.

Where to Find watchOS 10 Reviews

If you’re currently running watchOS 10.4 on your Apple Watch, or if you’re planning to upgrade in the near future, you’ll want to dig through feedback from early adopters.

This feedback about Apple’s latest software will alert you to bugs and performance issues others are seeing on the same Apple Watch model.

As a reminder, watchOS 10 supports the following models:

• Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple Watch SE.
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Apple Watch Ultra 2

We also recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, and the MacRumors forums for additional feedback about watchOS 10’s performance.

We’ve also published a quick watchOS 10.4 review that covers the software’s performance, all of its known changes, and a lot more.

How to Fix watchOS 10 Problems

If you run into a major problem on your Apple Watch after installing watchOS 10.4, you may need to contact Apple for help. That being said, you may be able to fix the problem(s) on your own.

In many cases, restarting your Apple Watch and/or your iPhone will fix an issue. This can also iron out performance issues like UI lag.

If you notice a big red exclamation mark on your device’s face, you’ll want to perform a hard reset. Force restarting your Apple Watch may also fix performance issues.

If you’re having issues charging your Apple Watch, make sure the device is situated properly on the charger. You may also want to try a different cord and/or outlet to see if that resolves the issue.

For more potential fixes, you should head on over to Apple’s discussion forums. If they can’t help you, you might want to get in contact with Apple via the company’s website.

If you still can’t fix your issue(s), you might want to schedule an appointment to see a Genius at your local Apple Store as they should be able to diagnose your issue(s) relatively quickly.

watchOS Downgrade

While you can move back to older software on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, downgrading isn’t an option for the Apple Watch. In other words, once you install a new software update on your Apple Watch, there’s no getting off that software until Apple releases new firmware.

You can go to an Apple Store if your watch is completely broken on watchOS 10.4, but they will replace it if the device is under warranty, not help you downgrade to older versions of watchOS 10 or watchOS 9.

What’s Next

If your Apple Watch is struggling on watchOS 10.4, or another version of watchOS, you’ll be on your own for a bit.

Apple’s confirmed a new watchOS 10.5 update and the software is currently in beta testing. We expect the software to roll out to Apple Watch users in May.

The company may release a watchOS 10.4.1 update to help bridge the gap between the two milestone releases. Keep an eye out as we push deeper into the month.

Wait for Blood Pressure Monitoring

> 1 / 10

Gurman believes Apple is targeting 2024 for a blood pressure monitor on the Apple Watch. This is the earliest it will launch and there could be a delay. That being said, it's a feature worth waiting for.  He's outlined three health features Apple's working on: glucose and blood sugar monitoring, the ability to take blood pressure, and the ability to measure body temperature. Of these, it looks like the blood pressure tool is the closest to launch. If this pans out, the Apple Watch 10 would be able to detect a user's blood pressure from the wrist using infrared light. If you have blood pressure issues, or simply want a quick way to check, this feature alone might be worth the wait.

> 1 / 10