Skip to main content

watchOS 4

See All Stories

[Update: Apple Watch Series 5 feature] How to stop Now Playing and audio apps from automatically opening on Apple Watch

[Update 9/24/2019: This is still the default behavior two years later, and it can be especially frustrating on the new Apple Watch Series 5.

The new Apple Watch has an always-on display that shows your watch face and the Workout app even when your wrist isn’t raised, but all other apps are blurred out with a digital clock in the corner. That includes the Now Playing screen even if audio is playing from your iPhone, preventing your watch face from showing at a glance.

Read below for instructions on disabling the default auto-launch audio apps feature.]

watchOS 4 introduced a new default behavior to auto-launch audio apps when you wake the screen while playing audio on your Apple Watch or iPhone.

Auto-launching Now Playing can be useful when you’re playing music from the watch or a podcast from the phone for example. Instant access to play/pause and seek controls on the watch screen and the ability to spin the Digital Crown to adjust volume is really great when using AirPods since they lack physical controls. It’s sort of like the Now Playing card on the iPhone lock screen.

But this behavior isn’t always ideal on the Apple Watch. Luckily there’s a simple way to turn it off.


Expand
Expanding
Close

watchOS 4.3 for Apple Watch coming today with iPhone Music control, smarter Siri watch face, more (U: Now available)

Apple is officially releasing watchOS 4.3 for all Apple Watches today. The latest software update includes several new features and changes including restored Music control for iPhone libraries from Apple Watch, more data points on the Siri watch face, portrait orientation for Nightstand Mode, updated alerts when unlocking Macs, and several animation changes including charging and loading apps.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple releases first iOS 11.1, watchOS 4.1, tvOS 11.1, and macOS 10.13.1 developer betas

Apple has released the first iOS 11.1 beta for developer testing on iPhone and iPad. We’ll update with what changes are included as soon as the new releases are installed on our devices. Features we’ll be watching for include Apple Pay Cash, AirPlay 2, and Messages in iCloud which were all announced but not included in iOS 11.0.

Apple has also released watchOS 4.1, tvOS 11.1, and macOS High Sierra 10.13.1 developer betas.


Expand
Expanding
Close

watchOS 4: How to customize and use the new Siri face on Apple Watch

watchOS 4 introduces a new Siri watch face on Apple Watch that intelligently updates to show you relevant content throughout the day. The Siri watch face pulls data from 14 different sources by default, but customizing these sources can help remove information from the timeline that you don’t need and make the watch face more useful.


Expand
Expanding
Close

tvOS 11 and watchOS 4 GM now available to developers

Apple has officially released the GM build of its watchOS 4 and tvOS 11 to developers and public beta testers. watchOS 4 brings new watch faces including Siri and Toy Story options, enhanced Music and Workout experiences, Apple News, and more. tvOS 11 brings Home screen sync, automatic dark and light mode, full AirPods support, and AirPlay 2.


Expand
Expanding
Close