How can I downgrade Watch OS 2 to 1.0.1?

Originally Posted by morgansays_hi

Stuck with this also. Admittedly should have just left it tbh. In town near an Apple Store tomorrow so may try and pull some strings and see what they may be able to do.

Any luck instore?

I saw in another thread it counts as a "out of warranty repair" he was checking on price

Originally Posted by ocrane

I saw in another thread it counts as a "out of warranty repair" he was checking on price

Can you post link to thread?

Yes my friend! Took it into Bath Apple Store today. I explained what I'd done and the genius explained that it had to be sent away as they didn't have access to the diagnostic port.

Watch has been sent away ( :( ) but should be back with me in a couple of days to a week. No more questions asked and no other charges.

Was more happy with it being sent away to be 'flashed' than being stuck with a useless watch. Try your local Apple Store if you can't get it to work :)

Originally Posted by morgansays_hi

Yes my friend! Took it into Bath Apple Store today. I explained what I'd done and the genius explained that it had to be sent away as they didn't have access to the diagnostic port.

Watch has been sent away ( :( ) but should be back with me in a couple of days to a week. No more questions asked and no other charges.

Was more happy with it being sent away to be 'flashed' than being stuck with a useless watch. Try your local Apple Store if you can't get it to work :)

Did you book in to the Genius Bar or just go in?

Originally Posted by morgansays_hi

Yes my friend! Took it into Bath Apple Store today. I explained what I'd done and the genius explained that it had to be sent away as they didn't have access to the diagnostic port.

Watch has been sent away ( :( ) but should be back with me in a couple of days to a week. No more questions asked and no other charges.

Was more happy with it being sent away to be 'flashed' than being stuck with a useless watch. Try your local Apple Store if you can't get it to work :)

Historically the first beta's are 14days.. So it's a toss up, be without a watch for a week? Or keep watch as is and hope beta 2 fixes issues... Hmmm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, its going to be a long 2 weeks. My watch no longer taps/notifies me for anything so its pretty much useless now.

Originally Posted by baz1536

Removing the profile makes no differenct, once the OS2 is installed it is there. Even removing the profile from the iPhone does not allow to reinstall 1.0.1.

I believe the profile is on the watch. I don't see anyway to remove it from the watch.

It is my opinion that everyone saying it worked for them hasn't checked the version in their about.

I will report back if battery is improved any by not using 3rd party apps. Since I have restored a few times today, may not have the best comparison from yesterday's terrible battery life.

Originally Posted by trevkat

Yeah, its going to be a long 2 weeks. My watch no longer taps/notifies me for anything so its pretty much useless now.

If you restart it the taps come back briefly before not working again. Not the best workaround.

I'm having the exact same problem. Can't downgrade even with backup the Watch will stay on 2.0. Has anyone tried to connect the Apple Watch with an iPhone running iOS 8.4 Beta 3 or Beta 4? Because the battery life on iOS 9 (iPhone 6) is horrible. I lose 2% per minute while on screen.
Otherwise I have to return the Apple Watch and order the 42mm version (I have 38mm and think this is a good chance since the 38mm is too small for me) but will Apple let me return the watch? Or will they send me the device back because it's not under the warranty?

Originally Posted by sebastiaaan

I'm having the exact same problem. Can't downgrade even with backup the Watch will stay on 2.0. Has anyone tried to connect the Apple Watch with iOS 8.4 Beta 3 or Beta 4? Because the battery life on iOS 9 (iPhone 6) is horrible. I lose 2% per minute while on screen.
Otherwise I have to return the Apple Watch and order the 42mm version (I have 38mm and think this is a good chance to use) but will Apple let me return the watch? Or will they send me the device back because it's not under the warranty?

One person above went to the store and they sent the watch to be flashed as out of warranty repair.

Oh boy. No third party apps installed. Using only 3 glances. 4% battery in 30 min. You would think it's a Moto 360!

Originally Posted by baz1536

Did you book in to the Genius Bar or just go in?

I didn't as, for some reason, there were none at my store until Saturday. Walked in around 12:30 and was given an appointment for 15:15. My store isn't normally too busy in the week so I was happy to head off and come back! :)

Originally Posted by ocrane

Historically the first beta's are 14days.. So it's a toss up, be without a watch for a week? Or keep watch as is and hope beta 2 fixes issues... Hmmm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well my friend, that is something that I had to consider. But I'd rather know that the problem is being fixed than not knowing what to do with it. The store was more than obliging to do so as well :)

Originally Posted by morgansays_hi

I didn't as, for some reason, there were none at my store until Saturday. Walked in around 12:30 and was given an appointment for 15:15. My store isn't normally too busy in the week so I was happy to head off and come back! :)



Well my friend, that is something that I had to consider. But I'd rather know that the problem is being fixed than not knowing what to do with it. The store was more than obliging to do so as well :)

True, I might just bite the bullet and send it in..

Hey man. Working on something that could be big. I'll let you know if it's successful.

There is currently potential for people that have access to an extra apple watch, or that have an iOS 8.3 backup with a backup of Watch OS 1.0.1.

Essentially, you would downgrade to 8.3, restore from your backup with the 1.0.1 backup, then do a Shift+Check For Update, select the iOS 9 Beta ipsw (DO NOT CLICK RESTORE) so that it keeps your settings during the update, then pair your apple watch on OS 2 beta and select restore from backup. Select the backup with OS 1.0.1 and you should be set.

Again, I'll let you know if what I'm working on pans out, which should allow anyone to downgrade.


Edit: Fails all around. When you restore from a 1.0.1 backup, people are thinking it took them back to 1.0.1 because it doesn't show the 2 new watch faces unless you select the +Add option. Looks like we have to wait it out and accept the fact that Apple says, "Zero fun allowed with your Apple Watches! If you want to play with one on beta software, spend another $400 minimum!"
Lesson learned. (And of course I know it's Beta and of course I expected it to be buggy. I just wanted to try it out for a few days, not realizing that it couldn't be restored to a stable OS like every other product they have ever released. Before now, there really hasn't been any risk involved with trying betas out, but I see they've decided to take a different path this time.

Originally Posted by JordanYork

Hey man. Working on something that could be big. I'll let you know if it's successful.

There is currently potential for people that have access to an extra apple watch, or that have an iOS 8.3 backup with a backup of Watch OS 1.0.1.

Essentially, you would downgrade to 8.3, restore from your backup with the 1.0.1 backup, then do a Shift+Check For Update, select the iOS 9 Beta ipsw (DO NOT CLICK RESTORE) so that it keeps your settings during the update, then pair your apple watch on OS 2 beta and select restore from backup. Select the backup with OS 1.0.1 and you should be set.

Again, I'll let you know if what I'm working on pans out, which should allow anyone to downgrade.

Sorry, tried this one earlier to no avail! Thanks for sharing though :)

Originally Posted by ocrane

True, I might just bite the bullet and send it in..

That's what I thought. They did it for free with no questions asked too so just did it :)

It won't work with iOS 8.4. They were clear that WatchOS 2 only works with iOS 9.

Also, isn't there a recovery mode? For example, if I shut off my iPhone, I can hold down the home button and plug it into a PC running iTunes and it puts it into recovery mode and downloads and installs the most recent firmware.

Originally Posted by Rich Woods

It won't work with iOS 8.4. They were clear that WatchOS 2 only works with iOS 9.

Also, isn't there a recovery mode? For example, if I shut off my iPhone, I can hold down the home button and plug it into a PC running iTunes and it puts it into recovery mode and downloads and installs the most recent firmware.

Nothing to plug in to on the watch. At least for us.

I am currently on the phone with Apple and there is apparently a way to go about this. The tech is trying to find an article that he can email me. If this is the case I will be sharing it shortly.

Originally Posted by hearmeoutx

I am currently on the phone with Apple and there is apparently a way to go about this. The tech is trying to find an article that he can email me. If this is the case I will be sharing it shortly.

Nice! Hopefully it's not a link to this thread..:)

https://ipsw.me/watch

Here are all the original firmware files....

Originally Posted by ocrane

Nice! Hopefully it's not a link to this thread..[emoji16]

I just lost connection with him, but so far he is suggesting that I have to reset the app as new using the watch app on the phone, but then I lost connection and I have yet to have him call back.

Interesting, so maybe unpair phone. Revert to current ios and set up as new. Then try to pair watch?

The only issue is the watch wont pair on a device that has lower than 9. So it would have to be a new install of 9

Originally Posted by ocrane

Interesting, so maybe unpair phone. Revert to current ios and set up as new. Then try to pair watch?

The only issue is the watch wont pair on a device that has lower than 9. So it would have to be a new install of 9

I tried that with my Dad's iPhone and it was unable to pair because he is on 8.3.

What about a fresh install of ios9?