Trying to update your Apple Watch to watchOS 26 but can’t see the update? There’s a good reason for that.
Can’t See watchOS 26 Update? Not Showing Up in Watch App No Matter What You Do? There are Several Reasons Why
All the excitement goes to waste when you realize that the new software update isn’t showing up for download, even though it is for everyone else.
In this case, a lot of people might not see the watchOS 26 update show up on their iPhones in the Watch app. And before you start blaming Apple, there are a couple of reasons why the update is not available for you.
Your Apple Watch is Not Compatible
Even if you have something like the iPhone 16 or iPhone 15, the update will not show up for download if your Apple Watch is an older model.
Apple clearly says that you need at least an Apple Watch Series 6 in order to download the latest watchOS update. If your Apple Watch is older than that, then you’re out of luck.
You Should be on iOS 26
You have the latest iPhone and the latest Apple Watch, but you still don’t see the update? That’s because your iPhone is not on iOS 26. For watchOS 26, your iPhone must be on iOS 26 otherwise the update won’t show up in the Watch app.
Installing watchOS 26 is a two-step process. You start with your iPhone by installing iOS 26, and end on Apple Watch by installing watchOS 26.
Other Possibility
If you have an iPhone that does not support iOS 26, your Apple Watch will never receive the watchOS 26 update, even if your Apple Watch fully supports it.
I know it’s really frustrating to not see the latest watchOS update on your Apple Watch because one device doesn’t support it, like your iPhone. But that’s how things are currently.
If either of your devices doesn’t support the new software update, it’s simply time to get a new one. And it doesn’t have to be the latest model either. Anything that’s two years old will do just fine.
