[Apple Watch] Unable to Check for Update - Not connected to the internet error

After trying all methods noted in here, I contacted apple support and was able to resolve the issue quite quickly.

I reset the watch, erased all content and settings and on my Iphone I reset network settings.

After this the update worked. It took a while though, but my watch (4 series) paired with iphone 12.

hope this helps, I know how frustrating it was.

Hi! I’ve just had the same problem and here is what worked for me:

->I deleted any VPN app I had installed on my iPhone and after that it worked perfectly. So even if the VPN connection is not active if you have the app installed it will interfere with the update.

I have to thank Apple Support for this fix because they helped me with this idea. I hope this will work for y’all!

I kept having this until I unlocked my Apple Watch, then reloaded the software update screen. I'm not sure if it was a weird coincidence, but it was happening on two different occasions until I tried this.

I've been trying all of the suggestions I could find, but the one that put me over the top was resetting the network configuration on my iPhone (General > Reset > Reset Network Settings). No idea why and there's no way to know if one of the other steps was also necessary.

Also of note, I was originally on a 5Ghz-only WiFi network, which this watch (series 3) doesn't support. Switching to a 2.4Ghz WiFi network did allow the watch to get Internet access and I could see it downloading data over HTTP and HTTPS. And yet somehow it wasn't happy until the phone network was set up from scratch.

Quite the voyage of discovery.

Funny how they are still offering the Series 3 watch for purchase on their website considering you can’t pair it.

https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-3/

Hi! I am trying everything as well today and still being told “I’m not connected to the internet” - which I am! I’ve tried resetting my watch, restarting my phone, deleted and redownloading the Apple Watch app and still the same issues! So frustrating! Anyone had any luck?

This worked for me. Make sure youre connected to WiFi.

1. Manually pair Apple Watch
2. When iPhone prompts for an update to Apple Watch, go to settings (do not close apple watch app!)
3. Turn off bluetooth
4. Go back into Apple Watch app
5. The update should then proceed

I literally tried EVERYTHING listed in this forum and others as well, nothing worked! Spent a few hours today just trying to update my stupid watch! FINALLY, read that someone posted here to try setting your phone to Low Power mode, and boom! It worked perfectly! Hope this helps!

I was having the same issue.. I tried it all and the ONLY thing that worked for me was changing the language to Portuguese and country to Afghanistan on my watch. Now it’s finally updating after hours of being frustrated.

The same thing is happening to me, i have an iphone 11 and i can’t pair it with my series 3 because unable to check for updates. this is so frustrating

Thanks bro. Just change the country on your iphone eg. US and reset your apple watch and change the country to united state as well. Now try paring again. you good to go. thanks

BE AWARE! The watch needs to be 50% charged or it will not work. I dove deep into all of these suggestions before I knew it needed to be at 50% or more and then it worked right away.

Short answer-:- Many or most of the suggestions here will work to get past the update error. With one critical modification. The instructions to place your watch on its charger should not be taken lightly. What they mean is that you should place your Apple Watch on an Apple watch charger, not a generic watch charger. It does not matter the brand. And for insurance purposes, also connect your iPhone to an Apple charger. So, if you have already encountered the error, here is my long answer and suggested method. Long answer-:- I, like many people reporting here, went through the frustration of attempting to pair an Apple Watch to an iPhone. For the record, I am in IT and I think I am semi-capable of pairing a watch to a phone. In my case, an Apple Watch 5 to an iPhone 12 Pro Max. I have done this with 3 other Apple watches, and several iPhones. The iPhone was pre-updated to the latest iOS. As per instructions, both the iPhone and the watch were charged past 50%. On my first attempt to pair the two, the error was encountered. I verified that I was connected to the internet on my PC and my iPhone. My wi-fi is not the best but not terrible (as per WiFiman, 187 Down and 19 Up Mbps) on my iPhone. Found information on resetting the watch and the Watch app, and my iPhone. Tried it again, and again, and again, and nothing. Finally, this professional IT person, with his pride hurt, had to call Apple support. After 3 calls with no success, I was sent to the Apple Store. On the first try, the agent was able to get past the error. Unfortunately, my wife and our dog had accompanied me and waited outside the store. My dog develop a bad nervous crisis because of people with masks, and started vomiting, etc. Anyway, I had to walk out of the store with the update only about 25% complete. The pairing process got interrupted in our way home. Next day I tried again. Nothing. Two calls to Apple Support, and nothing. Back to the Apple Store. On the first try, it worked. What???? Then it downed on me. They were using an Apple watch charger, and I was using a generic watch charger because I like the design and convenience of it. So here is my suggested method:

• Update your iPhone iOS to the latest version available
• Charge both the iPhone and Apple Watch on their respective Apple chargers until at least 60% charge
• Leave them on their chargers as much as possible for the rest of the process. If you need to remove either from their chargers for easier manipulation, put them back on the chargers immediately after
• Hard Reset the Apple Watch to factory settings - Let it return to the pairing mode.
• Turn off the Apple Watch
• Delete the Watch application from your iPhone, and delete all the data
• Close all open applications on your iPhone
• Turn off your iPhone, wait about 30 seconds
• Restart your phone. Ensure that you are fully connected to your wi-fi (turn off your cell signal, and your bluetooth, search for something on the internet)
• Re-install the Watch application from the Apple Store on your iPhone
• Turn on your Apple Watch
• Your iPhone should detect the Apple Watch
• Follow the pairing instructions
• Do not use your iPhone while the update and pairing are still in process to reduce the chance of error
• Happy pairing

NOTE: The software update and pairing takes about 2 hours on a good wi-fi connection. Your total time may vary depending on your connection.

EVERYONE I HAVE FINALY SOLVED THIS ISSUE I found no solution after scouring the internet for days but after trying every option possible to mankind I found out that hard resetting the watch by holding the digital crown and side button until the logo pops up and then continue to hold the side button and release the crown you get the option to factory reset the watch. This was the absolute only solution hence trying everything vpns, mobile data, multiple wifi networks, full battery you name it but if this does not work then your only solution is to return your watch for a refund or exchange as it is faulty.

Have the same problem with an iPhone 8 Plus (14.7) and a brand new Watch 5. Tried everything from this topic, nothing worked. I don't understand why it has to be so dificult.

Its the same issue with me. I have series 3 watch and iphone 11. First the watch app asks for the update and then it can not be updated. If this is the trick of the apple to force us to buy new watch then I am not going to do that. Better I will buy a different brand smart watch. Sorry Apple this is not done. Things should not be made so complicated that people can not use your products.

None of the above worked for me! Did anyone find any real solution!!! I have Apple Watch Series 3 and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Every sync stuck at "Unable to Check for Update"!!!!

I did it!!! I did it!!! like everyone I was also stuck with a hard reset watch Series 3 and iPhone 11 (my IT ego really hurt!!) scourging the internet and trying everything, I came to a realisation that the issue for me was not of region or backup failure or anything rather a direct connection to internet!!

I normally use a wife mesh at home and after getting very desperate and some comments from internet talking about strong Wifi connection I removed the Wifi Mesh and connected by phone directly to the base router Wifi and used the below manual DNS 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 which seems that Apple server was able to respond in time that my iPhone App accepted the update!!!! So the issue seems to be the Wifi or network lag in response from the Apple server!!! I faced a similar problem when I was setting up my macbook pro for the first time and the macOS download kept failing but after many attempts it finally completed the download from the internet.

Hope this works for others!!! Reduce internet hops in your wifi and use manual DNS for faster response times. Oh Yes make sure your watch is on a Apple Watch charger not a third party charger.

I tried everything - all the resets, doing it manually, doing it in low power mode, changing the language and location, wearing it, not wearing it, updating for a family member, phone is updated.. EVERYTHING. Nothing works. I'm over it.

Check to see for the latest IOS updates for your phone. Also app updates. Once updated go back to the iWatch app and it should work.

I have a iPhone 11 with iOS 14.7 and I have my Apple Watch series 4 that’s not setup and I keeps saying not connected to internet. I tried a bunch of ways to get passed it and nothing. I even factory reset my phone. I found out that my Apple Watch right now is on 6.2.8. Someone help.

It seems a bug in the watch app is to blame. I ran the update on mine as my watch was effected with the bug ( series 1 on 12 pro max iOS 15 beta 3 ). The watch app is telling you your phone is out of date on every device ive tried. My iPhone 6s on 14.7 reports in the app the phone is out of date , iPhone 11 Pro Max on iOS reports out of date and iPhone 12 Pro Max does the same. 

The later phones you get a very fast and can't read grey pop up square with ' YOUR PHONE IS OUT OF DATE AND REQUIRES AN UPDATE - CANCEL - UPDATE ' This is far too fast to read on later phones however on my iPhone 6 it pops up and stays up.

I got around the by borrowing an iPhone 6 on 12.x.x which was fully updated to whet is finally supported , I paired it with the 6 which then gave phone out of date message in watch app. While the 6 was doing this nonsense again like other phones I paired the watch simultaneously to the iPhone 12 and stated the update and it worked , updated , synced etc.... I then unpaired it from the 12 and the watch then paired with all devices I own. 

The issue is the App reporting the phone is out of date even on phones in date for the series of watch at the same period in time ie. old iPhone 6 and series 1 should just work as both released around the same time give or take.

Switched phone to low battery mode and now it worked. I tried everything else!

So I got my Apple Watch to take my iCloud but still say it not connected to internet. Does anyone know what to do from that point.

I have the same problem with a Watch Series 3. Here's what worked for me. At the watch screen that shows apple watch and iPhone saying move watch close to your iPhone, I tapped the i in the bottom right corner. This took me to a screen to select language and region. I selected English and United States which is where I am. I don't know why, but it worked after that.

I think when I got the watch it was set to Japanese.