Apple Watch “Cannot play this item”

Question

Level 1

12 points

Apple Watch “Cannot play this item”

It seems like this is an on-going issue, that the Apple Watch Music app can’t start playing music from your iPhone. When attempted, Watch says “Cannot play this item. There was a problem playing this on your iPhone.” It may work for Apple Music subscribers, but for the rest of us with CD rips and digital copy downloads, why has it never worked?

I’ve restarted, reset, updated, etc. etc. to no avail. Controlling music from Now Playing works fine, but choosing a song or album through the Music app always brings up the “Cannot play this item” response.

Apple Watch

Posted on Jul 20, 2021 9:05 PM

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Answer 1

judysings

Community Specialist

Jul 21, 2021 3:23 PM in response to DeeVeeMon

Good afternoon DeeVeeMon,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!

It sounds like you are trying to listen to music directly on your Apple Watch, and we'd like to help.

The resource below will guide you through this:

Add music to Apple Watch - Apple Watch User Guide

"When you add music to your Apple Watch, you can listen to it wherever you go, even when you don’t have your iPhone with you.

Use the Music app on your iPhone to create playlists specifically for music you want to listen to on your Apple Watch—music that motivates you during a workout, for example.

Add music using your iPhone

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap My Watch, then tap Music.
Below Playlists & Albums, tap Add Music.
Select albums and playlists to sync to your Apple Watch.

Music is added when Apple Watch is connected to power and placed near your iPhone."

Enjoy your music!

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Answer 2

DeeVeeMon Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 21, 2021 11:21 PM in response to judysings

The “Now Playing” controls work fine on the Watch. What I’m trying to do is use my Apple Watch to navigate to and play a song or album that is stored on my iPhone. I am able to view and navigate through the music, but when I try to play anything, it gives me the “Cannot play this item” prompt.

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Answer 3

judysings

Community Specialist

Jul 21, 2021 6:03 PM in response to DeeVeeMon

Hi DeeVeeMon,

Sorry about that. For music on the iPhone, you have to open the playlist or album on your iPhone first, and then the Apple Watch can control the "Now Playing" as you describe. That is expected behavior.

Take care.

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Answer 4

DeeVeeMon Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 21, 2021 5:48 PM in response to judysings

Sorry if I wasn’t clear, but the issue is playing music that is stored on the iPhone, not on the Watch.

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Apple Watch “Cannot play this item”

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