Apple Issues Emergency Update to Fix Repeated Restart Bug in Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

Apple yesterday released watchOS 27.0.1 as an emergency update to address a critical bug causing the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 to repeatedly restart without warning. The issue, reported widely on social media by new device owners, prompted immediate action from the tech giant.

Users Report Frequent Restarts During Daily Tasks

Owners of the recently released Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 began reporting that their new wearables were suddenly rebooting while performing common tasks, including making calls, utilizing Siri, customizing watch faces, and recording workouts. The problem was acknowledged by Apple in the update’s release notes.

Root Cause Identified: Neural Engine Timeout

Analysis suggests the root cause lies in a Neural Engine timeout that was taking 20 milliseconds longer than its intended 2,000-millisecond limit. This prolonged timeout triggered a reboot. Apple has confirmed that this issue has been resolved with the watchOS 27.0.1 update.

Installation Instructions

To install the update, users should ensure their Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi and has at least 50% battery life. Through the Watch app on their iPhone, users can navigate to My Watch>General>Software Update. Alternatively, the update can be installed directly on the device through Settings>General>Software Update>Install Now. Users are advised to leave their Apple Watch plugged in during the installation process.

Impact on Users

While not all units were affected, the bug presented a significant inconvenience for users who rely on their Apple Watches for critical functions like alarms, timers, medication reminders, workout tracking, heart rate monitoring, and fall detection. Apple’s swift response highlights the importance of timely software updates for user safety and device stability.