Users who received ill-fitting bands on Apple Watch Series 6 can now return only the bands instead of entire devices as earlier required by Apple.

Apple backpedals on its decision to require users who received ill-fitting bands with their new Apple Watch Series 6 or Apple Watch SE to return the entire package and not only the loops. Some customers who ordered the new Apple Watches complained receiving their devices with the wrong size Braided Solo Loop or Solo Loop bands.

The new Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE feature a Solo Loop or Braided Solo Loop band choices which do not have a clasp or fastener. It instead stretches so it could fit over your hand and quickly compresses to snugly fit on the wrist. Since there is no on-band fitting mechanism, Apple offered customers Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loops in nine sizes. This led to sizing issues with some customers receiving ill-fitting bands with their newly-bought Apple Watches.

Adding to the frustration of customers is the decision of Apple to require them to return the entire Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE packages and not just the ill-fitting bands. Apple's staff told them that the watches and the loops are considered one set, meaning they must all be returned, bands, watches, and all.

After more customers complained about the return policy and the negative attention that the issue received, Apple reverses course and changed the policy. According to MacRumors, the company now allows customers with ill-fitting bands on their Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE to swap the loops online without returning the entire package.

Some watch owners who previously tried to initiate an online band swap and were unsuccessful in that aspect were able to do so today. This suggests that Apple changed its policy on the return of ill-fitting bands on Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE only very recently. Customers who sent their poorly-fitting loops can expect to receive a new one after the old loops are received by Apple's support staff.

Eli Hodapp, a GameClub exec and who was among the first to raise the issue on Apple's return policy, reported he was also successful in initiating a return of his ill-fitting Braided Solo Loop without having to return the entire package. Hodapp also revealed that Apple added an extra Sport Band in the replacement package for free as the company's way of apologizing for the trouble he went through with the ill-fitting bands on his Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE.

Twitter also exploded with anecdotal reports of users encountering similar situations where they are now able to return ill-fitting bands on their Apple Watch Series 6 or Apple Watch SE. Many users are happy with the change in policy and called it a much-improved solution as they need not wait for a new set of Apple Watch anymore which could take anywhere from two weeks to more than a month of waiting time.