Level 1

47 points

Podcasts not updating on watch

So it seems this podcast issue on Apple Watch is still not fixed.

I have about 10 different podcasts I listen to regularly. They work perfectly from my phone - both streaming and downloaded. When I try and sync these to my watch it sticks on "updating". So I can't download podcasts to my watch to listen to when I am not tethered or on wifi - which means if I go for a run, I have to carry my phone. Music syncs perfectly to the watch - just not podcasts.

I have tried everything. Deleting the podcast app, reinstalling. Deleting and then re-pairing the watch to my phone. Checking I subscribe to podcasts. Making sure both phone and watch are charging. Using bluetooth / wifi / combination of both. Trying both "custom" and "listen now". All software is updgraded to the latest version.

I have tried overcast but the same issue appears - podcasts sync maybe 1 in 5 times but it's very patchy.

Help. I'm going nuts here. Am I missing something obvious?

Posted on Apr 14, 2020 2:28 AM

Top-ranking reply

JuanPabloDeLaVega

Level 1

11 points

Posted on Dec 11, 2020 3:32 PM

I have struggled for months with the same Podcast to Watch sync issues that everyone else here seems to have. I love Apple since I bought Quadro something or other but as of the last 12 months or so, I'd say the user interfaces and user experience of Apple's iOS apps have become complete garbage.

Bottom line on THIS particular issue IMHO:

The Podcast app for sync to Watch is completely useless (why Bluetooth? That's a completely brain dead way to transfer media when wifi is present almost everywhere). TBH, the Podcast app interface basically ***** to begin with. Littered with confusing icons and a counterintuitive workflow.

Overcast might be the BEST podcast app for playback on the iPhone. Clean and user friendly. But I can't sort out how to sync to Watch over anything but Bluetooth (maybe it can't) so I ditched if for syncing podcasts to the Watch

Now be careful. The next bit is about the unfortunately similarly named Outcast:

Outcast syncs over WiFi. Praise Allah. But it quit working maybe 60 days ago and I bailed back to the Podcast app. After a few weeks of that useless and frustrating garbage, I couldn't take it anymore. As of today, I'm back to Outcast on the Watch. New interface, wifi-fast downloads and 100% satisfaction.

So:

Overcast for podcast playback on the Phone
Outcast for offline podcast playback on the Watch
Apple Podcast app - nvmd!

And as soon as Spotify releases an offline playback version for the Watch, I'm back to that and dropping Apple Music like a bag of hammers. Because Apple Music might be the biggest UI/UX catastrophe I've ever experienced.

Sorry Apple. You need to get your head back into the software game. Your hardware's mostly great; your iOS software is a disaster.

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215 replies

MikeOxhuge Author

Level 1

47 points

Jun 22, 2020 11:55 AM in response to mosejevaite

Thanks for the update - good to know you have a workaround. Sadly, I did try this previously but it didn’t make a difference, and I just tried again and still nothing. It was stuck on the “updating episode x of xx” message for about an hour, and then just moved to “updating” where it sat all night. I connected via Bluetooth and then moved the phone out of range (so both phone and watch are still connected to WiFi) and also tried just turning Bluetooth off on the phone - neither seems to make a difference.

This is properly annoying me now. I can’t use this Apple Watch for listening to podcasts. It’s not good enough.

Jun 24, 2020 6:59 PM in response to mosejevaite

Here’s the thing that frustrates me the most about this. Downloading or syncing music to the Apple Music app is easy and predictable. It sometimes takes up to 30 minutes or so if you have a massive playlist, but it works EVERY time. Why can’t the podcast app have the same consistency?

ededed

Level 1

12 points

Jun 25, 2020 1:37 AM in response to mosejevaite

When I first got the watch it worked fine. 30 seconds a podcast (same as music). Now I leave it all night and it hasn’t done any. Still not working, still no concrete ideas from Apple. Ridiculous.

As mentioned above, what I have now is the world’s most expensive Fitbit.

MikeOxhuge Author

Level 1

47 points

Jun 26, 2020 3:24 PM in response to ccostilla361

That’s a really helpful post, thanks for sharing. I tried following it but it sat on “updating x of x” for 10 minutes, then dropped back to “updating....”, then went to “pending...” and has been there for the last 2 hours. I checked the watch and no podcasts have been synced. Not one.

I have an 18 mile run planned tomorrow. Gonna have to listen to the sound of my footsteps and heavy breathing. £500 for a podcast watch that doesn’t play podcasts. Maybe IOS14 will fix this, but I seriously doubt it.

Jun 26, 2020 3:34 PM in response to MikeOxhuge

You know, this is crap, because it’s easy, predictable and reliable to sync music from the Apple Music all to your watch. You can select playlists, choose them for the Apple Watch, and see the progress as the playlists sync.

So the process works to sync, either through Bluetooth or WiFi.

Why then, can’t you do it for podcasts?

eusholli

Level 1

4 points

Jun 28, 2020 3:59 AM in response to MikeOxhuge

I have exactly the same issue and it is doing my head in. Basically it just does not work. I have tried uninstalling, reinstalling. Everything except resetting the whole phone/watch which I refuse to do, I have not got the time.

@Apple - can this not be escalated? I currently have $1500 of non-working electronics from you.

Aug 6, 2020 8:11 PM in response to MikeOxhuge

The whole reason I bought an Apple Watch was to listen to podcast while running. Now second day after unboxing I realise it doesn’t work and I now have a $600 piece of junk on my wrist.

Seems to be a problem for months judging by comments but Apple don’t care enough to fix it.

bosabri

Level 1

4 points

Aug 11, 2020 10:15 AM in response to MikeOxhuge

Same exact problem here. The iPhone in the watch app > podcast section says "updating" but podcasts never are downloaded on the watch. They all have the little cloud icon next to them. Every night the watch and phone charge on the night stand right next to each other. I can't believe that something so simple as syncing an audio file to the watch doesn't work.

JFrenaye

Level 1

4 points

Aug 11, 2020 10:28 AM in response to bosabri

Hold off for a month on that.... maybe the new software will fix it. Due out in September I think. Maybe if we keep flooding this thread and get it big enough, Apple will take notice!

I love the products for the most part, but the Watch is a disappointment in several aspects

MikeOxhuge Author

Level 1

47 points

Aug 12, 2020 11:10 PM in response to CMWoodard

OP here, 4 months down the track, escalated up the pipe at Apple Tech, and still nothing. Lots of great workarounds suggested in these replies (thanks folks) but still not working. Maddening at first, but now it just feels like Apple know about this but don’t care - thanks for the heads up on a cellular watch not working, that’s saved me £400+

I’m taking my iPad for a battery swap to a Genius Bar today - gonna raise this and see what they say. I am assuming the same as every tech expert I’ve spoken to - “no idea, sorry”.

A side issue - the Nike Running Club app - well, that needs me to try and synch the watch 5/6/7 times after every run before the phone picks up the run. Not sure if that’s a similar problem but it feels like it.

Simply not good enough.

Aug 24, 2020 1:04 PM in response to Dooney.

Yes! I had tried it when it first launched and it didn't really work (possibly user error) but then I saw a long explanation of it on a Reddit thread and so far today it has worked perfectly! The biggest issue with all of these apps so far has been consistency so we'll see, but it's super promising so far.

Aug 27, 2020 5:14 AM in response to Dooney.

Thanks for the tip. I just downloaded Outcast after fighting with my $500 watch for 4 months. This is really absurd. I have the cellular option - and the Apple podcasts still don't download to my watch. I have turned off Bluetooth to try to force the updates via wifi -- but nope. Doesn't work. C'mon Apple. You've got a $2 TRILLION dollar valuation and you can't fix this?

jk2468

Level 1

4 points

Aug 28, 2020 10:30 AM in response to Dooney.

I tried outcast...worked the first time and now have the same problem...can only get (randomly) 1 episode if any at all to download to the watch....like many others...bought this watch for running...at this point, it's a defective product and I just want a refund

Aug 30, 2020 9:08 PM in response to MikeOxhuge

Apple Watch S4 GPS & iPhone XS Max

Add another to the list!!

Have had this problem since I opened the box late Dec 2019. In Jan 2020 I set everything up to download a few podcasts the night before a bike ride. Woke up to go on a 25 mi ride to the sound of the wind.

Have tried literally every single option/temp fix on this thread since your original post, over the last 9 months. Besides one... and I am not sure why. But just downloaded Overcast. Wish me luck in the morning. Not getting my hopes up.

Overall, I am in the exact same boat with you. At this point is more comical than anything else. Kept wishing with every watch and phone update it would get resolved but here we are... Let’s hope it gets fixed in iOS 14 and WatchOS 7.

Side note- would be nice to download Spotify playlists as well. Pretty sure this is a Spotify issue if I remember correctly?

Sep 1, 2020 4:23 AM in response to MikeOxhuge

I have been struggling with this issue ever since I bought the watch, a couple of years ago. Truly frustrating. Nothing I have tried works and I have tried every possible combination of settings. Time to switch to Samsung?

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Podcasts not updating on watch