Apple Watch Series 9 complications are not working after the watchOS 11 update

Just finished two hour call with senior advisor at AppleCare. TLDR: if it doesn’t appear at all, it’s apparently some installation bug; recommend rebooting, both watch and phone. If it appears BUT shows just message “music will appear here, blah blah blah“ (WHICH IS WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME.), turns out this is supposedly a feature, not a bug.

Longer story: I was experiencing the same issue with iPhone 15 and watch 9 do not disturb. Already had restarted the phone and watch, and in fact, wiped them both to factory settings and set up as new device, and saw no change with problem. The advisor, after running lots of diagnostics, screen sharing, etc., was about to escalate to engineering, but decided to try things out on his own watch. Saw exactly the same issue. On the basis of that testing, plus the fact that in the complications list under “now playing“ the only option is that weird “suggestions“ thing,he decided that this is an actual change to how the complication functions. He said something about it’s now operating more like a widget, so you have to actually press it to open up the NowPlaying app to see what’s now playing. I’ve never bothered with widgets on the watch, so I have no idea what he meant by that, but I told him that in any eventI that was a really stupid change, and he told me to put in feedback.

Moreover, we discovered that if you load some music onto your watch and play it from the watch, the complication still will not show what’s actually playing while it’s playing (like that stupid message in the complication says), but the complications appearance will change to show instead of that message, little pictures of album covers with your three most recently played songs. You still have to click on the complication to open the actual nail playing app to see what’s playing, but the message about “music will appear here…“ no longer appears.

Anyhow, I’m still convinced that this is a a design bug, where Apple was trying to add a complication under now playing for “suggestions,” but in the process deleted the regular now playing complication that shows what’s now playing the most useful part of the complication).

Apologies for any weird typos or bizarre structure. I can’t see much, so I’m dictating, and you know all about AutoCorrect…

I’m replying to myself because I can’t figure out how to edit my previous post, but I just discovered that the “now playing“ complication no longer is even listed as available for most watch faces (including the module or watch face) on Apple support list of watch faces and their features:Apple Watch faces and their features - Apple Support

So, seems to me that they actually killed the feature

I have been researching for like 6 months how to fix this Now Playing on apple watch issue but no luck. But today it’s work:

Background:

-Apple watch series 2 on watch os 6

-Iphone 13 pro max on ios 18.

Solution

1. I unpaired the watch with the phone (earse all contents settings)

2. Pair again, when reach the step with the question “do you want to restore from previous data or as a new watch”

CHOOSE AS A NEW WATCH

And it worked!

I have tried all solutions i can find online but didn’t work and THIS worked

Hopefully it will helps!

Maybe my problem is slightly different. I had my complication as Shazam. It worked great. But after updating to WatchOS11 got a message that that it had moved and it no longer worked. After seeing this discussion, I removed the Shazam complication and added the Music Recognition complication. It now works recognizing music that’s played.

Complication just always says “music and podcasts you play will appear here.” Regardless of what is actually playing (or not). Doesn’t display what is actually playing. Tap through and it will go to the correct and functional now playing controls, but the watch face complication is pointless.

I’m also have issues on my ultra 2 os 11.0.1 paired to iPhone13 pro on 18.0.1.

this was not a problem on my series 7 titanium model running 11.0.

specifically on the infograph watch face for me, activity rings and wind complications won’t load. Almost always dim or two dash lines. Other weather. Complications can be slow to load but usually seem to stay updated after a while. It’s the wind and activity that constantly goes out, flickers back and goes out again for hours on end. I’ve done several complete resets to factory settings on both my watch and phone. I’ve set up as new devices as opposed to restoring from iCloud backups.

i should also note that I can’t get shortcuts to sync across iCloud to show up on my watch either so I can’t customize the action button like they advertise as well.

i contacted Apple support chat and they directed me to go to the Apple Store and set up an appointment. I took time out of my day yesterday for the appointment and they told me they can not help with software issues and that I should call support and ask for a senior adviser or engineer to troubleshoot with me. I’m busy today but when I get a chance will call. Very frustrating that the basic functionality advertised on this is not being fulfilled.

hopefully will have good news to report back once I find time to sit on hold and do a call with them.

The Now Playing complication on my watch screen used to let me stop/start/skip ahead/go back music or podcasts in a single click. Since watchOS 11, it just says "music and podcasts you play will appear h..." Literally "h..." That's not even true. I should have looked for this thread first before I stumped two poor Apple support people on this "feature". Not their fault. They gave it their best shot. But this is driving me up the wall. I'm a gardener and need to be able to control what's playing with a single tap. Now when someone asks me a question from 50 feet away I have to yell back "Hold on while I click through this super annoying new watchOS feature to pause my music/podcast so I can hear what you said. Oops I accidentally tapped my calendar because I have work gloves on. Oops I just deleted my doctor appointment. Hold on one more second. Dang I just texted my mom a meme with a naughty word in it." Only partially joking.

Apple people please please please put it back like it was.

Also Apple support suggested I provide feedback: Product Feedback - Apple

It's exasperating but may help us get back what watchOS 11 stole.

I find the music app hard locks shortly after opening it. I did a clean install of WatchOS 11 and did not restore from backup. Serious bug to have been missed by Apple QA team. Very poor.

I’m having similar issues, but with the temperature and my daily schedule, no longer showing on the watch face. When I go to customize the complication, temperature or weather is not even an option. Then out of nowhere, the weather will come back, only to leave again. This is extremely frustrating

December 4. Just upgraded my watch to 11 and my iPhone 15 to iOS 18. Modular watch face with "recently played" in the middle complication. It USED to be "now playing" and I could control the music MY PHONE was playing with my watch. Don't seem to be able to do that anymore. Now when I click this "recently played" complication it starts a whole new session of music from my watch and it's playing stuff I'd never listen to like Jewel. Nothing against jewel but my must frequent music is Deftones, Chevelle, and Alice in Chains---why is it defaulting to JEWEL. Yet another great feature ("now playing") Apple has completely messed up.

Oh my god, literally same situation here. My Apple Watch was my bff for gardening because I could just tap ONCE to pause whatever I’m listening to. Was super convenient, super simple, dare I even say perfect. Now?!!!!! Now I’m going to just throw dirt in my own face and toss myself on the ground like a toddler. And my podcast will still be playing in my ear. This is so annoying and dumb.

Does this make it so you can have the old now playing complication or does it just fix the broken suggested complication that replaced the now playing complication?

@chaufromkingsford so your watch now shows the currently playing song right on the watch face?