Since updating to WatchOS 26 I no longer receive any alerts (i.e. pace, heart rate zone and splits) - only beeps, no voice alerts. I do not use headphones/iphone while running. On previous watchOS this worked fine. Alerts are received in other exercises in the Workout app (e.g. Walking and Yoga). Series 6 watch. Yes it is old but it worked fine before the update.
Apple Watch Series 6
alexskunz wrote:
…The Watch with OS26 doesn't speak when it isn't connected to an iPhone. The interesting thing is that the iPhone does NOT need to have a network connection — I had mine in my pocket, in airplane mode, and the Watch still gave me Voice Feedback. This is in line with the observations from MajorLeagueSoccer that their Watch with "cellular" doesn't actually have a cellular connection, but does provide Voice Feedback as well….
I want to confirm and add a little to this. I’ve tried most of the other proposed solution here with zero success. In short: If I run with just the watch, I get no Voice Feedback from the Workout app. If I take my iPhone with me on the run, I get Voice Feedback. I have a S6 Cellular watch and have never activated cellular service. So the bug exists on Cellular devices too.
I’m using an Series 6 Stainless Cellular watch, AirPods Pro 2 and an iPhone 15 Pro Max. All have current software levels.
Today, based on alexskunz‘s post I took the phone, but shut off Cellular Data. I had not tried this before. The watch and phone were connected with Bluetooth. This time, Voice Feedback worked like a charm.
I’ll write this up in a feedback post. Hopefully Apple will fix this.
Prior to 26.02 my watch would tell me (haptic) when I was halfway through a 30 minute indoor rowing exercise. It no longer does that. I’ve tried all the posted solutions but they seem out of date. There’s no where to select the specific exercise in Workout, for example. Thanks
Not sure where the comment went about the person who was saying that support told them they needed to download voice files to the watch starting with watchOS 26 but that makes zero sense because why would notifications during workouts work one day and not the next and randomly stop and start? Is Apple really updating the voice files so often that they're getting removed from the watch but not downloaded again and did they do such a poor job of doing so that it deletes the previous ones before downloading the new ones? Logic says that's 100% not the case.
The fact they have offered me some form of compensation (not yet disclosed) would suggest it won’t function without a WiFi connection or your phone being connected. An AI internet search confirmed as much I have copied and pasted it on this chat. Most disappointing of Apple.
I do not disagree with what you are saying though I'd say no logic applies in this case as Apple clearly did something to create this issue to begin with and has not provided any written guidance/information. I did not bother getting further instructions or explanation as to how to download files as the best option for me was to downgrade to earlier OS. OS26 provides no tangible benefits to continue being stuffed around by Apple. It has been over 1 month and all I have to show for it is wasted time on the phone, creating videos/photos of various things. Now the watch is in the mail on its way to Apple. Fingers crossed.
Yes, I have exactly the same questions. And if that is the case (which I do have strong doubts over), it's not exactly user friendly, which is one of the reasons we went with apple in the first place. 'It just works' Hmmm.
Splendid argument sir! Let us know if it works the we can flood support with downgrade requests. I know for a fact if Apple had been upfront about the changes I would have not upgraded. I wish you the best with your downgrade.
Lostcausethefirst wrote:
I have been offered compensation from Apple but they have not clarified amount or type. It seems it will no longer work as pre 26 offline.
I found this,
How do you get compensation? How old was your watch? Hopefully downgrading to earlier watchOS will fix it for me but they have had the watch for nearly 2 weeks now and still in process
Just to make sure I'm understanding what you're saying here correctly: you ARE able to receive voice feedback alerts from your Apple Watch 11 Cellular model without having the cellular function turned on, all while running Watch OS 26 and 26.1? Or are you saying that you used to receive these alerts but no longer do with the new Watch OS?
Yes, I AM able to receive voice feedback when wearing headphones, in the workout app, while on a run, with an Apple Watch 11 gps+cellular, but the cellular is turned off and I don’t pay for cellular service for the watch, on iOS 26.1, and I am miles away from my phone and WiFi (because I’m running), so I am nowhere near any network connection for my watch.
Good information to know. I don't have a cellular watch so I can't do any sort of testing to see if there is any difference using one with the cellular function turned off. Out of curiosity, have you tried to see if voice feedback works for you out of the watch speaker on a run without headphones?
I have not tried that. I run with headphones almost 100% of the time, and usually my watch is on vibrate only. Maybe I’ll try it and let you know. Did the watch used to give voice feedback through the speaker before iOS 26?
MajorLeagueSoccer wrote:
I have not tried that. I run with headphones almost 100% of the time, and usually my watch is on vibrate only. Maybe I’ll try it and let you know. Did the watch used to give voice feedback through the speaker before iOS 26?
Yes. Prior to Watch OS 26, I would always receive voice feedback through the speaker when on runs. I never run with headphones but perhaps I'll do some tests wearing headphones to see if that changes anything.
Issue: Voice alerts coming from the watch (not via earbuds) no longer occur during outdoor running workouts when iPhone is not nearby nor is watch connected to cellular.
Does the voice alert download resolve it?
That’s exactly what I found. I know it’s not helpful as a fix to the Apple Watch but when I ran out of patience I bought a Garmin Fenix 8 and it works perfectly, music transfers straight from iTunes, audible splits at whatever distance you want and much more besides.
Sorry Apple but this is your doing.
Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still experiencing the same issue after updating to iOS 26.2 and WatchOS 26.2. Having reported this issue to Apple since September, I'm not optimistic that it's still being worked on.
watchOS 26 no alerts in workout-running app
