Apple Watch wearers can now install watchOS 8.4. And many will want to do so soon because the new version removes an irritating bug that prevented some third-party chargers from working.
This is just one of a slew of system software updates from Apple on Wednesday, including macOS Monterey 12.2, iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3.
What’s new in watchOS 8.4
Apple’s release notes for the update are short and to the point:
watchOS 8.4 includes bug fixes and important security updates, including:
- Some chargers may not work as expected
The release notes also make clear that Wednesday’s update doesn’t include any new features. It’s all about squashing bugs.
But one of those bugs is a doozey. It prevented devices from charging when using third-party accessories from a wide range of brands. Apparently, it mostly affected Apple Watch Series 7, but caused the wearable to stop charging after a few minutes. Fortunately, the problem is removed by watchOS 8.4.
Install it now
The watchOS 8.4 update can be installed directly onto an Apple Watch, as long as the wearable is connected to Wi-Fi. From the Settings app just navigate to General > Software Update. Alternatively, it can be installed from an iPhone by opening the Apple Watch app and going to My Watch > General > Software Update.
