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Spinning "Heavy Rotation" on new Apple Watch Series 5

I am having the same issue as described by users years ago. I tried adding one 20-song playlist to my Apple Watch Series 5, but there is a spinning wheel under Heavy Rotation on the Apple Watch App that has been spinning for days now. And the selection is turned off. Apple Support was not helpful. Did anyone ever get an answer as to how to stop the spinning? Thank you!

Apple Watch

Posted on Apr 13, 2020 4:27 PM

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Apr 14, 2020 2:36 PM in response to DMac1210

Hi DMac12010,


Thanks for the reply and additional details!


You may be able to turn off an automatically added playlist like "Heavy Rotation" using these steps: Add music to Apple Watch


"Remove music from Apple Watch

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch, then tap Music.
  3. Turn off any automatically added playlists you don’t want on your Apple Watch.
  4. To remove other music you’ve added to Apple Watch, tap Edit, then tap  next to the unwanted items.

Music you remove from your Apple Watch remains on your iPhone."


Does that work for you?


Take care.

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Apr 14, 2020 8:32 AM in response to DMac1210

Hello DMac1210,


​Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. Being able to play music from your Apple Watch is always great, and I'm glad to see what assistance I can offer. As I understand, you're seeing a spinning wheel under a playlist that you've recently synced to your device. Is that right?


To verify, are you able to play any of the music from this playlist?


Does it help if you restart both the paired iPhone and the Apple Watch?


Restart your iPhone


How to restart your Apple Watch


If that doesn't help, I recommend removing the playlist and then re-adding it to see how that works. You'll find the steps for both here: Listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks on your Apple Watch


Cheers.

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Apr 15, 2020 6:47 AM in response to DMac1210

Hello DMac1210,


Thanks for the reply.


If you haven't tried this already, it might help to unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch and then test: Unpair and erase your Apple Watch. If that doesn't clear things up, your best bet is to continue working with AppleCare using this link: Contact Apple Support


Have a good day.

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Apr 14, 2020 1:39 PM in response to chris_g1

Hi Chris,


Thanks for responding. My issue is the "Heavy Rotation" option on the watch. The spinning wheel is there, underneath. I have it toggled to off, but it doesn't matter if it's off or on - it looks as though it is still trying to download something. And this is constant. I cannot delete Heavy Rotation, or I don't know how. It's nothing that I added.


I did get a playlist added and am able to play those songs on my watch. Again, it's the Heavy Rotation that is the problem. If you google that term with the Apple Watch, others have the same issue - years ago up to now. I spoke with an Apple Support person before I posted on the community, and he tried everything you listed above. Nothing worked.


I tried adding a screenshot of my phone to show you the spinning under HR, but it wouldn't allow me to attach. Yes, it was spinning incessantly trying to attach the screenshot lol.

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Apr 14, 2020 5:13 PM in response to raina_b22

Unfortunately, that does not work with Heavy Rotation. The only playlist it gives me the option to delete is the one playlist I added.


I didn't add Heavy Rotation - it was there already. I assume Apple added it. I can toggle it on or off, but it spins regardless of either option.

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May 10, 2020 5:31 AM in response to voc2020

I eventually gave up. I tried everything (over and over) that Apple suggested. But, miraculously, when I checked it about a week ago, it is no longer spinning. Heavy Rotation has always been turned off, and still is. And I will keep it that way.


I'm not sure if an update fixed the issue or exactly how it stopped spinning. Now it does show suggested "mix" playlists that I did not add, but they are all turned off. This makes me think there was an update.


Hope yours stops - I know how annoying it was. Sorry I can't be of more help.

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May 30, 2020 8:02 AM in response to DMac1210

Yes I too have the same problem in heavy rotation on music spinning away for over 6 months now from the app on Apple Watch for music. Apple support have not been able to help sort the problem. I haven’t used my watch for 2 months and guess what it’s still spinning.

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Jun 28, 2020 2:56 PM in response to DMac1210

I have this exactly same problem as well after I reset my Apple Watch 5. So far I have tried these steps and nothing has worked;


1) Unpaired and repaired Apple Watch (about 5 times).

2) Reset entire iPhone X.

3) Changed Apple ID Password.

4) Signed out of all services that use Apple ID on iPhone.

5) Paired watch with a completely different iPhone.

6) Paired an Apple Watch 3.


At this point I am out of ideas, if resetting everything and using different devices does not work this must be a software issue of some sort. My next attempt possible is to see what happens if I try iOS 14, with Watch OS 7.


Also FYI I am running iOS 13.5.1 and Watch OS 6.2.6 (the latest at the time I posted this). As for hardware, I used an iPhone X, iPhone SE (generation 1), Apple Watch 5 and Apple Watch 3 (both with cellular).

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Jun 28, 2020 9:16 PM in response to jessemooney

I have tried with iOS 14 and WatchOS 7 the spinning wheel is there.... in my opinion this issue depends on AppleID with brand new AppleID the issue is gone and Watch Music working well. Apple Support is now changing my watch but my opinion this will not help.

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Jul 6, 2020 10:55 PM in response to Criton

I agree, I think it has something to do with the Apple ID that is associated with Apple Music. I wonder if there is anyway to remove those playlists (Chill Mix, New Music Mix, Favourites Mix and Get Up!) and re-add them? I can't remember where I read it, but somebody was saying that they had this same issue a few years ago.

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Spinning "Heavy Rotation" on new Apple Watch Series 5

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