Apple Watch crashes while streaming music and podcasts

I can pretty consistently get my Apple Watch Series 5 Nike (GPS + CELL) to crash. All I have to do is be out for a walk or run without my iPhone, listening with my AirPods Pro, and say something like, "Hey Siri, play the album [whatever]," choosing an album that's NOT preloaded on my Watch. The Watch will start playing the music but after a few seconds goes silent and I hear the disconnect chime in my AirPods. I look at the Watch and it soon shows me the Apple logo indicating it is rebooting.


When it finishes, the first thing it tells me is that my battery is below 10% and do I want to use Low Power Mode. However, immediately before the Hey Siri request, I have seen it was nowhere near 10%, usually 50% or even more. So that's not the issue (though to me it indicates a problem since the battery charge is inaccurate).


I have been having this problem for a long time, so it's not the watchOS version. I keep watchOS updated and it's almost always the current release version. It is currently at watchOS 8.3.


Last weekend I tried Unpairing and Re-pairing the Watch. I even went so far as to set it up as a new Watch (I had too many apps I wasn't using anyway) but the problem continues.


It's disappointing that I cannot rely on this Watch to do stuff over cellular even though I paid extra for it as well as paying a monthly fee to my carrier as well. In fact, the other weekend I was using it to talk to my mother while I was out on a walk and I warned her that we could get disconnected and if that happened I might not be able to call her back for a while. The Watch crashed and died and didn't even reboot that time so I had to walk home and call her when I got there. There was no warning, no low battery level notice or anything.


Has anyone else had problems while streaming with just their Watch over cellular?

Apple Watch Series 5

Posted on Dec 22, 2021 9:23 AM

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3 replies

Dec 23, 2021 10:05 AM in response to genieen16

I don't feel like this is a charging issue because I can successfully use the Watch on a walk or run as long as I don't try to stream music or podcasts. As long as I listen to something that's downloaded on the Watch, I'm fine. However, I will try using the Apple charger before my next run tomorrow and see what happens. I normally use a third-party charging station for my Watch and iPhone and get it to 100% overnight.

Dec 26, 2021 9:20 AM in response to genieen16

Thanks again for your suggestion. I've have been using the Apple-supplied charger since your post, but yet the Watch crashed twice on my walk after I asked it to play something that had to be streamed. OTOH, I had no problems playing material that was already downloaded on the Watch.


Unfortunately My AppleCare on this Watch is expired, so I think I'd have to pay for something if I contact Apple Support.

Dec 23, 2021 8:48 AM in response to Joe Muscara

Greetings, Joe Muscara!


From your post, it sounds like you are having issues with your Apple Watch unexpectedly powering off and displaying battery issues. We’re glad that you reached out to the Apple Support Communities. We want to try and help you find the answers you need.


To start, when you charge your Apple Watch, do you use the charging cable that came in the box with your Apple Watch? If not, are you using an Apple-branded cable? How long do you leave the Apple Watch on the charger to complete charging?


If you are using an Apple-certified cable and still have the problem, you may want to Contact Apple for support and service. We hope this information helps you out.


Take care!

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Apple Watch crashes while streaming music and podcasts

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