Right alongside the iOS 17.1.1 firmware update for iPhones that Apple released on Tuesday, the Cupertino-based company also pushed out watchOS 10.1.1 for compatible Apple Watch models.
Apple explains what’s new in watchOS 10.1.1 in the official change log:
This update provides important bug fixes and addresses an issue that could cause the battery to drain more quickly for some users.
As it would seem, a small subset of Apple Watch users were experiencing abnormal battery drain issues since installing watchOS 10.1, causing it to die faster than it should. The watchOS 10.1.1 software update addresses this problem, allowing those affected devices to last the correct amount of time on a full charge.
Whether you were experiencing issues with battery life or not, updating the software on your Apple Watch is strongly advised. To update, you can launch the Watch app on your paired iPhone and navigate to General → Software Update to find the software update waiting for you to install.
Unlike on an iPhone, there are additional steps that a user must take to prepare their Apple Watch for a software update. Apple requires that the device be sitting on its charger, have at least 50% of its charge remaining, and be connected to Wi-Fi to initiate the software update.
Use of watchOS 10 requires an iPhone running iOS 17, but it’s worth noting that jailbreakers on iOS 16 and below can still pair a watchOS 10 device, including one updated to watchOS 10.1.1 using a new jailbreak tweak called Legizmo Lighthouse. That said, Apple Watch users shouldn’t be afraid to update their firmware, as it only serves to benefit them.
Have you updated to the latest version of watchOS yet? Be sure to let us know in the comments section down below.