Level 1

14 points

iPhone12/AppleWatch/AirPods/WorkoutApp/AudiobookApp Issue

Using an Apple Watch (Series 6), Apple AirPods Pro, and an iPhone 12, I walk using the Workout App with the playback of an mp3 using Audiobooks. During the walk, the Workout app generates various audio notifications, such as Ring Closed, or the number of minutes per mile. However, the behavior of these audio notifications happens in one of three ways: 1) I hear the Workout App audio notification coming from the watch itself; 2) the Audiobook App pauses, I hear the Workout App audio notification from my AirPods, but then I hear nothing and I have to manually restart the Audiobook App playback; and 3) the Audiobook App pauses, I hear the Workout App audio notification from my AirPods, then when the notification ends, the Audiobook App continues. Obviously, (3) is what I want. But what I get from day to day is sometimes (1), sometimes (2), and sometimes (3), in no particular order or pattern that I can discern. I do nothing in the way of changing settings to the phone or the apps between these three behaviors.

So, given that this is all Apple hardware and software that is supposed to work seamlessly together, for god’s sake, can someone please explain to me what is happening and why? In particular, can someone please explain how I can always get behavior (3)?

Thanks for your help!

Posted on Dec 6, 2021 3:52 PM

Top-ranking reply

sswitzer1952

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Feb 26, 2022 1:32 PM

An update to this issue.

Not willing to give up, I decided to upload one of my PlayLists from my iPhone 13 Pro, to my Apple Watch S7, something I haven't done before. I then went for a walk to test it out. I put in my Air Pods Pro, Started the Music App on my Watch, and then started an Out Door Walk on the Watch Workout App. The issue was solved. When I reached 1 KM, the music volume lowered, the workout App beeped and announced "1 KM, time 13 min 23 sec. The music volume returned, and this continued with every successive KM. It seems that to get workouts and music to co-operate, the music must be on the Watch. My workout was 74 mins and used approx %10 battery charge

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35 replies

Feb 1, 2022 7:39 AM in response to Ectophile

Actually, I have been experiencing this problem since the previous iOS update, using a Watch S4 and my iPhone X, and it still persists with the current updates to my current watch and phone. I am so glad that you like Runkeeper. An issue I encountered with the app is that Runkeeper must be connected to GPS. I encountered an issue where it stopped announcements and stopped tracking progress. It took me a day or two to figure out that it was because it wasn't connected to GPS. A reboot of the iPhone fixed the issue. Hopefully, with a future update to the app, they will include gym workouts as well.

To your other issue, I haven't experienced any pauses or interruptions while streaming media with the latest update.

Feb 1, 2022 7:55 PM in response to sswitzer1952

You are correct. The random audio pauses began after updating to 15.2.1, or maybe it was after 15.2. I also noticed when using the Runkeeper App that the very intrusive and annoying random audiobook pauses had almost entirely stopped. But I was also simultaneously running the Apple Exercise App and Runkeeper together to keep up with the Apple badge awards, and to have weather data included. I'll have to try observing Runkeeper just by itself. Also, for my fast walking purposes, I think that the 5-minute pace and distance notifications are too frequent, and will check the settings to see if I can change that to 10 or 15 minute intervals.

I used to do program coding on large mainframe IBM computers, many years ago before any PCs were available. From that experience I learned that coding errors are inevitable. But I don't understand why Apple doesn't more extensively beta test their IOS and firmware updates before they are officially released.

The ethos of the Apple culture is the fanatic pursuit of perfection, which Steve Jobs established, and which drives the brand's appeal, and justifies a higher price-point margin for their products. It is very discouraging and disappointing to see that level of care apparently deteriorate.

We all make errors, but we try to correct them sooner rather than later. I hope that Apple returns to that same priority schedule.

Until then, and even beyond, it's very good that we are able to help each other here.

soloIMac Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 3, 2022 3:45 PM in response to Ectophile

Upgraded phone to 15.3, updated watch to 8.4.1. No improvement whatsoever.

Apple phone, Apple watch, Apple ear buds, Apple apps, 1000’s of engineers, same **** problem. I am quite underwhelmed by Apple's engineering support.

Feb 3, 2022 5:54 PM in response to soloIMac

Indeed!!! I agree that the lack of responsiveness by Apple to resolve these two (2) high impact issues of (A) frequent and random pauses disrupting the flow of music, audiobooks, and other media, and (B) lack of audio notifications for activity speed, lap times, distance, and ring closures on Apple's own flagship Activities App is appalling!!!

Apple Support, if you read these community messages, please tell all of us who have been impacted, disappointed, and annoyed by these important issues why they have not been resolved after repeated requests to Apple Support, and multiple posts here and when they will be repaired.

For a Company that prides itself in Quality and Excellence, it appears that Apple has lost sight of its goals.

Kindly do not delay any further and fix these two issues immediately. Thanks.

soloIMac Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 12, 2022 1:46 PM in response to soloIMac

Upgraded to iOS 15.3.1 on the Apple iPhone, and updated to 8.4.2 on the Apple Watch. No improvement whatsoever.

If they are working on this issue, as has been previously reported in this posting, then they are either not working on it very hard, are not very good at their jobs, or they are flat out lying and simply do not care.

Feb 17, 2022 12:17 PM in response to barryerb

I have found that when my audio pauses in the car (carplay) the car sees this as a voice command. The microphone icon appears on my dash, and when it goes away the audio sometimes resumes or sometimes I have to hit play

soloIMac Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 28, 2022 3:34 PM in response to sswitzer1952

Oh, this is just ridiculous! We, the customers, are working hard to find “solutions” and "workarounds" by trying this and trying that, while Apple, with its army of product managers, test engineers, developers and the like do absolutely nothing?! What on Earth is going on here?! We can’t even get them to respond. It’s now three months since I reported this issue here, and I’m sure others must have reported this long before I did, and yet we still can’t get any support on this?!

I appreciate all who are still trying to find answers, but I don’t want to have to jump through all these hoops just to hear notifications from supposedly integrated products all made from the same company. This is nothing short of pathetic.

soloIMac Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 16, 2022 3:59 PM in response to Ectophile

Thanks Ectophile, but no luck for me. I upgraded to my iPhone 12 to 15.4 and my Apple Watch to 8.5, and walked using Books to playback an mp3 book (from the iPhone) to my Airpods, and used the Workout app (Outdoor Walk). It still didn't work. I heard no announcements in my Airpods from the Workout app at all. It did however pause playback and "read" a few text messages I received on Messages, then resumed playback. I have already seen that happen once upon a time, then stop working, so I'm not sure this is related to the updates or not. In any case, the Workout app announcements still do not pause/announce/resume to my Airpods for me, as before.

soloIMac Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 17, 2022 4:40 PM in response to sswitzer1952

After reading sswitzer1952’s comment, I tried starting the Book app on the iPhone from the Apple Watch. I also verified the AirPods were paired to the Apple Watch. I wanted to see if Apple-Watch-only control made any difference. I then started Workout and went for a walk.

Per usual, I heard nothing from the Workout app in the AirPods. In fact, things are now worse. I discovered that when I felt the Apple Watch vibrate and display “Ring Closed", that not only does the Apple Watch no longer announce “Ring Closed” from the Apple Watch itself (never mind the AirPods), but it also no longer even vibrates and displays the “Minutes per Hour”! I think this happened the last time as well, but I wasn’t paying attention, only noting nothing was sent from Workout app to the AirPods. This is incredible. Apple actually managed to make things worse!

As to sswitzer1952’s question of understanding Apple Support (or lack thereof): maybe it’s arrogance, maybe it’s laziness, perhaps it’s ignorance or indifference, or maybe it’s just plain old incompetence. I can’t say. I can say it is about the worse customer support response I think I have ever experienced. I am certainly reconsidering all my future purchases. After all, if Apple’s various products don’t work well together, as they claim they do, then why should I even bother with them at all? I might as well explore their competitors and see if there isn’t a better way.

soloIMac Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 20, 2022 8:16 PM in response to soloIMac

Twice my comments have been censored, so I will say this:

I am still having this same issue with my Apple Watch and my Apple Airpods and the Apple Watch app Workout whereby I do not hear the Workout announcements in my Apple Airpods. This does seem to work when I receive a text message in the Messages app. There is something clearly wrong here. I have tried after three updates of the iPhone and the Apple Watch. No change.

So can the Apple Support Communities please contact Apple Support to express concern over their complete lack of attention to this issue? I know I can do this, but as you can clearly see from this thread, many have and it has gone nowhere.

[Edited by Moderator]

Mar 23, 2022 4:27 AM in response to soloIMac

Background Information

Hello soloMac and others on this topic,

I read your complete message in your email file. Compliments and Kudos for expressing the very heart of this issue.

I've done further research on this issue, and posted these in the attached file.

Hope this helps all of us.

Cheers & Good Luck.

soloIMac Author

Level 1

14 points

May 19, 2022 3:32 PM in response to FrancWest

Yep, same here. DOES NOT WORK! In fact it is worse. Now I don't hear anything coming from the Apple Watch Workout App either! Only a vibration. The only thing I hear in my Airpods is when something arrives in Messages. How long will this take to be addressed?!!

Runner48

Level 1

8 points

Feb 7, 2022 5:36 PM in response to soloIMac

Same issue as everyone here. Very frustrating. I just wanted to add my voice.

barryerb

Level 1

12 points

Feb 12, 2022 1:55 PM in response to soloIMac

Agreed; I updated and no change whatsoever; frustrating

Mar 16, 2022 4:03 PM in response to soloIMac

Same here, unfortunately. Sigh!

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iPhone12/AppleWatch/AirPods/WorkoutApp/AudiobookApp Issue