Apple Watch workout notification keeps pausing music

Both my iPhone SE and watch are up to date. This is not limited to the watch. This morning I was streaming music from phone to Airpods, and whenever there was an audible update from the Workout app (“one mile completed, pace is…,”), or the Activity App (“ring has closed”), the music pauses. I then need to go to phone, what’s playing, and press play. I had to do it about 8 times during run this morning. If the source of the music is the iWatch, I need to press play from the iWatch screen.

On other apps where Siri interrupts, it seems like the music volume goes down, SirI speaks, then the music volume increases to where it was.

This seems to be a development oversight (software defect/bug), that should be addressed. If you are running or cycling, it can be unsafe to have to constantly push buttons on your watch/phone.

Did anyone try turning off the 'Voice Feedback' mode?

https://macreports.com/sound-keeps-pausing-when-exercising-fix/

I feel like this announcement has something to do where it mutes my sound, and I hear an almost non-audible voice say something (probably Siri) but afterwards the music doesn't pick up again and I need to disconnect my AirPods and reconnect them again.

Exactly. Broken feature. I just submitted feedback for a fix (https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html) Definitely not the way this feature is intended to work. Should announce as a voice over while continuing to hear the music in the background, and not pausing.

[Edited by Moderator]

did try so many things:

1) re-pair watch and airpods

2) using my older watch as test-dummy

3) clean install iOS 15.2 on the IPhone

4) clean install watchOs

5) changing AirPods (through the repair program; so I was able to test different firmwares)

nothing has solved the issue for me.

It appears that I only get Siri feedback when

1) i have not plugged in my AirPods and have the Apple Watch not muted

2) i have started music or podcast playback but paused playback afterwards before I reach the km-mark

In terms of point 2), I then have to unpause the music on the phone or the watch. it is not working via the AirPods.

This Problem persists since iOS 15.2 (at least) and I think watchOS 8.3

Running iOS 15.3RC since this morning and it still does not work.

Apple support did download several log files from my watch and phone and forwarded it to the software developer team. still no response.

Yeah they are so full of it. It’s got nothing to do with Spotify. I got Apple to admit it’s a widespread problem via phone call that they are allegedly working on. Apple support brushes it off but when I shell out $2K on my Apple products and can’t use them to listen to music; it’s a bad look for them.

This also seems to happen when using other apps that provide progress announcements (not just Spotify).

I am getting back into running, and am using the 'Couch to 5k' app. Every time Siri announces my kilometre pace, it pauses the Couch to 5k app. This is annoying, as I have to dig out my phone each time to restart the app, and the timings get messed up.

I do not believe this is a problem with the third-party apps.

Same thing happening to me. Disappointing to see Apple just palming they issue off

I have exactly the same problem!!! Every time I get a fitness ring update, or notification on my workout my music stops playing while I’m in my workout. I am using Apple series 6 with AirPods with an iPhone XR while streaming music from Amazon Music in my phone. Every update notification and the music stops playing. It happens so much that I just stopped using it. Incredibly frustrating!!

For me this only started happening with the most recent (November 2021) Apple Watch update. The music (Spotify, Sirius) pauses when there is a workout notification, phone call, etc and has to be restarted from my phone. It is extremely annoying. Does anyone have a fix?

I too have this issue but it seems a little more "severe" than yours which is unfortunate. I have an Apple Series 7 Cellular Watch and an iPhone 12 Pro.

When working out with my watch, phone, and headphones (Powerbeats Pro and AirPods Pro) and i hit a milestone (exercise ring close, movement ring closed, mile marker achieved, etc) the milestone will be announced on my phone and then my music service is TOTALLY unpaired from my phone. When i hit resume music, it comes through my phone and not my headphones. Imagine running outside and having to reconnect to bluetooth and then Spotify and then airplay to the right device.

So frustrating and i have no solutions but to stop using the watch when working out. Really hope Apple gets their **** in order because this is an expensive problem to have when all these pricey devices are not working with each other (even though they insist they always will).

Not trying to be a jerk here, but turning off the broken feature is not the same as fixing it- I prefer the callouts to see if I am falling behind in pace.

I have not found a fix. Since the latest update, the watch no longer announces ANY status updates through my Airbuds if I am streaming any music. They are announced on the watch itself…. Which you will not hear since you have Airbuds in.

That is exactly what is happening to me. It just started doing that. I am using Amazon Music. Perhaps I’ll remove that app from my watch and run music straight from my phone to my AirPods . Do you think that would work?

For me this happens with any streaming source. Even if the streaming app is not installed in the watch. For example, the SiriusXM app is installed on my phone. I stream that to my apple EarPods, and since the latest iWatch update, no workout status updates are sent to the EarPods. Only when I am playing music that is stored on the iWatch, or my iPhone, will status messages be played. Status messages are no longer played when listening to any streaming music providers.

This is different than the original issue, which would pause the streaming music, announce the update, then NOT CONTINUE the screaming music.

Same issue started following a recent update on the watch I believe. I have Iwatch SE with cellular data and listen on air pods. I normally don't take my Iphone with me but the interruption occurs with or without it requiring me to re-press play on my device. An option to turn off the mile pace notifications would be awesome.