Apple Releases watchOS 8.4.2 With Bug Fixes

[MacRumors]

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 ‌8.4.2 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.

Article Link: Apple Releases watchOS 8.4.2 With Bug Fixes

 

[iamasmith]

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.

 

[nwcs]

I wish they would let us update without having to put the watch on the charger if we are on wifi and battery > 80%.

 

[iamasmith]

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.

 

[Marswarrior462]

Does it fix the Wallet syncing issue where it erases all other cards except your debit card? That’s an issue I’ve had ever since watchOS 8.4 and that 8.4.1 didn’t fix. I wish I never installed that update

 

[pdaholic]

The last update really jacked my watch (7 series). Some days my watch battery is dead by 8p, and last night the screen stayed on full brightness the whole night after I put it on the (original Apple) charger. Hope this update fixes things. The Apple Watch software team needs to be shaken up a bit.

 

[Will Tisdale 🎗]

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.

 

[jz0309]

Didn’t we get 8.4.1 a week ago? Well, with all the updates today - security fixes

 

[_Spinn_]

I wonder what security issues are being fixed.

 

[Will Tisdale 🎗]

I wonder what security issues are being fixed.

Apple security updates

This document lists security updates for Apple software.

support.apple.com

Nothing that has a CVE (yet) seemingly.

Ignore me. Seemingly I can’t tell the difference between a 1 and a 2 these days.

 

[jrath1]

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.

 

[Dormammu]

I hope this fixes my series 4 charging so slow.

 

[nattK]

The last update really jacked my watch (7 series). Some days my watch battery is dead by 8p, and last night the screen stayed on full brightness the whole night after I put it on the (original Apple) charger. Hope this update fixes things. The Apple Watch software team needs to be shaken up a bit.

Yeah, I agree. watchOS 8 is probably the buggiest update in Apple Watch history. I'd actually prefer if they focused less on trying to add new features constantly and more on refining the software.

 

[827538]

I wish they would let us update without having to put the watch on the charger if we are on wifi and battery > 80%.

Agreed. I can update my MacBook and iPhone without being plugged in, why not my Watch?

 

[jbachandouris]

I went from 99% charge down to 96% on an Apple OEM charger. Annoying.

This was 2+ hours after the update.

 

[iamasmith]

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.

I think it's to remind the nostalgic of us in the bad old days when Windows CE PDAs were the only thing

 

[jz0309]

This update removed the unity face from my watch. It still shows on the watch app on the phone but I cannot apply it anymore.
Wtf?

Update: I deleted the unity face from the watch app, re-added it and its on the watch again… QA Apple????

 

[Phuz01]

I hope this fixes the hand washing timer. My watch had my behaviors pretty well figured out until 8.4.1, and then it wouldn't start tracking hand washing until I was about 18 seconds into a vigorous scrub, or it would start tracking right away when I was washing dishes.

 

[Marswarrior462]

I can confirm that this update, maybe only with 15.3.1, because it didn’t fix it until after I updated my phone; finally fixes the Wallet syncing issue!!!!

 

[Jaffa]

Does it fix the Wallet syncing issue where it erases all other cards except your debit card? That’s an issue I’ve had ever since watchOS 8.4 and that 8.4.1 didn’t fix. I wish I never installed that update

Yes, it finally fixed it for me

I can confirm that this update, maybe only with 15.3.1, because it didn’t fix it until after I updated my phone; finally fixes the Wallet syncing issue!!!!

I installed the watchOS update first, and it fixed it without the iOS update. I didn't install the iOS update until a few hours later.

 

[Stonechenrock]

My unity lights watch face is completely broken after this update. Only showing a yellow dot and the seconds hand.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I tried to update but, I got the message my series 7 is up to date, even though I only have 8.4.1.