Connecting Apple Watch 5 on watchOS 9.0 to iPhone 13 (iOS 17.4.1)

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Level 1

6 points

Connecting Apple Watch 5 on watchOS 9.0 to iPhone 13 (iOS 17.4.1)

Hello!

Please help me with the following question:

When I bought an iPhone 13 (currently iOS 17.4.1), the Apple Watch 5 (watchOS 9.0) does not connect to the phone, asking for an update. I would not like to do this.

But the Apple Watch 3 on the previous operating system (watchOS 8) connects to this phone without any problems.

How can this be fixed? I would like to stay on watchOS 9.

Perhaps I should update the Apple Watch 5 to the latest version 9.6.3? But how can I do this without switching to watchOS 10? If I update the watch to version 9.6.3, will it connect to the iPhone 13 on iOS 17.4.1 without asking for an update?

Maybe I should contact a service center that can update them to 9.6.3?

Or if I find someone with an iPhone 8 with the latest version of IOS 16, will it be possible to update the AW watch to the latest version 9? After all, the iPhone 8 does not support iOS 17 and for the watch to connect to it, you will need their version watchOS 9.

Please share your experience and ideas, I would appreciate your feedback, thank you!

P.S.

I do not want to update to the latest version of watchOS 10, because I use them with two different phones, one of which is on IOS 16 (iPhone 12 mini), and then the watch will no longer connect to it. I do not want to update the IOS of my phones either.

Apple Watch Series 5

Posted on Apr 10, 2025 4:34 AM

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Answer 1

LD150

Level 10

100,191 points

Apr 10, 2025 2:59 PM in response to TonyDeLaGAN

OS10 would not pair with iOS16

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Answer 2

LD150

Level 10

100,191 points

Apr 10, 2025 9:24 AM in response to TonyDeLaGAN

You cannot pair you watch to two different phones at the same time.

IPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 could both be on ios18.4 anyway.

Watch on os10 can happily pair with ios18

Ensure you unpair then set up as new watch, no backup.

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Answer 3

TonyDeLaGAN Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 10, 2025 12:42 PM in response to LD150

Thanks for your feedback!

Yes, I know that I can't connect the watch to two different phones at the same time. For example, if I'm snowboarding or going on a hike where I don't mind damaging my old iPhone 12 mini, I want to reset the watch from the iPhone 13 and reconnect from the backup. It's not difficult and takes a few minutes.

I am also aware that the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 can update to iOS 18, but I don't want to do it. That's my personal opinion and I'm not forcing it on anyone. From personal experience, I can say that the iPhone 12 mini on iOS 16 works smoother and faster than the iPhone 13 on iOS 17, oddly enough. I have seen this for myself.

It would be possible to update to watchOS10, but I am completely satisfied with version 9. Autonomy (my AW 5 watch on IO 9 holds a charge for 2 days, which is quite acceptable for me, but I am not sure that WatchOS10 will have even approximately the same result), muscle memory (remembering watchOS 9 gestures for years. I don’t like the swipe-up widgets, the widget wheel, etc.)

Again, I don’t tell anyone my experience of using the Apple ecosystem.

Thank you for sharing the information!

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Answer 4

TonyDeLaGAN Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 11, 2025 6:17 AM in response to LD150

Yes, exactly! That's why I want to stay on watchOS 9, looking for ways to connect to IOS 17 without updating the watch. Thanks for the comment

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Connecting Apple Watch 5 on watchOS 9.0 to iPhone 13 (iOS 17.4.1)

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