William Gallagher
Yet another Apple update has been pulled after release, this time the Apple Watch developer beta watchOS 11.1, after issues including devices freezing.
First it was iPadOS 18 bricking some models of the M4 iPad Pro, then it was HomePod 18.1 beta 2 bricking the HomePod mini. Now amongst other problems, the developer beta of watchOS 11.1 has been bricking some Apple Watches.
The beta was released on October 1, 2024, and reports of problems appear to have begun immediately. Multiple users on Reddit found issues with Messages notifications, while one found Wallet cards were disappearing.
As spotted by 9to5mac, the biggest problem was that the update was causing some Apple Watches to freeze and require constant restarts. The issue appears to be related to Messages, as one user reported that "it happened right when someone had text[ed] me and it's nonstop since."
"Completely locking up every single boot," continued the user. "I hold the side button and crown to restart it, it reboots, and not even a minute later is completely frozen. Time won't update, nothing."
Further suggesting that Messages is part of the problem comes from how another user said they got around the issue by disabling message notifications on the Watch.
The now three recent incidents of Apple pulling updates are all over the latest iPadOS 18 and watchOS 11 releases, or their betas. But this is not the first time Apple has had to withdraw a release over severe problems, and not even the first time in 2024.
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
5 Comments
Remember folks do not put beta updates on Mission Critical devices!
Apple's releases of OSes are bricking many a device, it seems, beta or official.
Groan, for me, I think this has been the most unpleasant beta experience on both iPhone and Watch. In my past beta testing I have never encountered any serious bugs until now. No hissy fits because I went in knowing this could happen. After all, it is beta.
(By the way, is anyone else experiencing Apple Savings access issues after installing beta 5 on their iPhones? Such as, the savings line item disappeared so it is not possible to view any savings account data or to manage it on the iPhone because it is as though the savings account does not exist. EEK! Even after factory restoring the iPhone to the official iOS 18.01, the savings line item in Apple Card is still not available. Per Goldman Sachs’s support, they confirmed that our savings account is in order, and they suggested that this is a matter for Apple to address. So, we are in communication with Apple Support, and they are working on it to find out what happened.)
Aren't beta programs supposed to work exactly like this?