Yet another Apple update has been pulled after release, this time the Apple Watch developer beta watchOS 11.1, after issues including devices freezing.
watchOS 11 introduces better cycle tracking, more customizable Activity Rings, and more personalization.
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.