iOS 17.4: Now Playing not working on Apple Watch
Tags: ios, applewatch, watchos, nowplaying
Published: 2024-03-30 20:06:02

<img src="https://gist.github.com/assets/8126807/ee09230f-d099-43ee-9332-f93a59b05dd0" alt="Now Playing on Apple Watch not working since Apple iOS 17.4">

**Since I updated my Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max to [iOS 17.4][ios-1741], I can no longer control the audio playback from my [Apple Watch Series 2][apple-watch-serie-2] with the [Now Playing][watchos-now-playing] app.**

| [Apple Watch Series 2][apple-watch-serie-2]                                     | Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max                |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Model A1758                                                                     | Model A2894                            |
| [watchOS 6.3](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118388 "About watchOS 6 Updates") | ~~iOS 17.4~~<br>[iOS 17.4.1][ios-1741] |
| 14 Dec 2020                                                                     | 07 Mar 2024                            |

The **[Now Playing][watchos-now-playing]** app _should let_ you control audio playback on Apple Watch, iPhone, and other devices.

Since March 7th, 2024, the [Now Playing][watchos-now-playing] app on my [Apple Watch Series 2][apple-watch-serie-2] displays an endless spinning wheel demonstrating that it cannot connect to my iPhone 14.

### Failed Troubleshooting Attempts 🙅

1. Switching off the [Apple Watch Series 2][apple-watch-serie-2] and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max did not solve the problem.
2. [Forcing](https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-220564/ "Apple Watch - Force-Quit Apps") the [Now Playing][watchos-now-playing] app to quit did not solve the problem.
3. Toggling the **Auto-Launch Audio Apps** option OFF and then back ON, in the Watch app on the iPhone, under Settings > General > Wake Screen did not solve the problem.
4. [Unpairing](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108372 "Unpairing your Apple Watch restores it to its factory settings") the [Apple Watch Series 2][apple-watch-serie-2] and restoring it to its factory settings did not solve the problem.

### Some Online Bug Reports 🐛

1. [Now playing on Apple Watch not working after update](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254765567?sortBy=newest_first#260320368022 "Now playing on Apple Watch not working after update")
2. [Apple Watch’s Now Playing Issue](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252833238?sortBy=newest_first "Apple Watch’s Now Playing Issue")
3. [Now Playing State Not Updating on Apple Watch](https://forums.developer.apple.com/forums/thread/728212 "NowPlaying State Not Updating on Apple Watch")
4. [Apple watch crown does not regulate volume in Now Playing after update](https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/747224 "Apple watch crown does not regulate volume in Now Playing after update")
5. [Now playing Apple Watch 3 series not working after watchos 5 update. What to do?](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8554444?sortBy=newest_first "Now playing Apple Watch 3 series not working after watchos 5 update. What to do?")
6. [Now playing on Apple Watch not working after update](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254765567?&sortBy=newest_first "Now playing on Apple Watch not working after update")
7. ["Now Playing" App Not Working on Apple Watch](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252650881?sortBy=newest_first "Now Playing App Not Working on Apple Watch")
8. [“Now playing” not working](https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1bctibt/now_playing_not_working/)
9. [My Apple Watch running watchOS 6.3 no longer displays my iPhone in the 'Now Playing'](https://twitter.com/andersofsydney/status/1772182546635243523 "My Apple Watch running watchOS 6.3 no longer displays my iPhone in the 'Now Playing'")
10. [Now Playing app stopped working on Apple Watch ⌚ after upgrading iPhone to iOS 17.4 ⁉️](https://apple.stackexchange.com/q/471485/96921 "Now Playing app stopped working on Apple Watch ⌚ after upgrading iPhone to iOS 17.4 ⁉️")
11. [iOS 17.4: Now Playing not working on Apple Watch](https://gist.github.com/JV-conseil/55b94bcb5f5e79084d786476a956718f "iOS 17.4: Now Playing not working on Apple Watch")

### _Update March 21st, 2024_

The release of [iOS 17.4.1][ios-1741] on March 21st, 2024 did not solve the problem 🙅🏻

<!-- links -->

[apple-watch-serie-2]: https://support.apple.com/en-us/112022
[ios-1741]: https://support.apple.com/en-us/118723
[watchos-now-playing]: https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/now-playing-apd4ea5db227/6.0/watchos/6.0