Upgrading software is easy.
It’s downgrading that’s the hard part.
A number of deleted posts from Apple’s support forums and active discussions elsewhere online highlight a growing concern for Apple Watch users; specifically, the inability to downgrade from a newer version of watchOS to an older version. The issue, which first became apparent when users discovered that watchOS 1.0.1’s heart rate monitoring was less frequent than in watchOS 1.0, is that the Apple Watch apparently lacks a user-accessible recovery or DFU (device firmware update) mode. While there has been a spike in downgrade-related complaints since Apple released the beta version of watchOS 2 on Monday, the issue remains a concern for some watchOS 1.0.1 users.
Given that the Apple Watch lacks such a mode, users with watchOS-related problems are currently being instructed by AppleCare representatives to send their new Apple Watches back to the company for service, often with “out-of-warranty repair” charges. By comparison, Apple’s other devices, including the iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV and Mac, all have the ability to downgrade to earlier OS versions without sending their devices back to Apple…
Users who bought the Apple Watch and wished to downgrade their operating system have expressed concerns. While the watchOS 2 beta warns that downgrading is not possible, similar warnings have accompanied iOS beta releases and proved inaccurate thanks to the DFU mode in iOS devices.
If you’ve encountered this issue on your end, please let us know in the comments and we’ll have additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac and Apple support forums