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
I have a similar issue. Alerts are not voiced in ANY workout types (so not only running).
What I realized is that the alerts don’t work if the watch is offline, but will work if the watch is connected with the Internet. My watch is Wi-Fi only and I don’t take my phone on my runs, so it’s always offline during workouts.
The issue happens even if the watch disconnects mid workout. It’ll start playing alerts and stop as soon as the watch loses connection.
Here is how I was able to reproduce the problem and my devices:
As I said, my watch doesn’t have cellular connection and taking my phone with me is not a viable workaround.
I tried changing the settings mentioned in this thread to no avail.
testing
Sry how do you download the voice files to the watch?
I spoke with support this morning about downgrading my watch and phone back to 18. Since I do not have a back up prior to the 26 fiasco I cannot downgrade to 18. If you do then could solve your problem. He did me that 26 is designed to require an internet or phone connection for the voice feedback to function. He also stated that 26.1 should be out by the end of the week to fix any bugs or add back any removed features. I could not get a firm answer if the voice feedback would be a part of that update. The whole reason I bought a watch is so I did not have to carry a brick while I was running. Not cool Apple!!
UPDATE: After a number of calls with a support person (and engineering via that support person), they confirmed verbally that to get voice feedback when not connected to an iPhone/internet, you need to download the voice files to the watch (I think I did this prior to updating to OS26 but had not done this in OS26 as I was not aware this was needed) AND your watch needs to be connected to headphones to play the voice alerts (although the voice alerts play from the watch when the phone is connected). The support person confirmed that this change is by design - naturally I voiced my irrigation and lack of clear communication by Apple that they had made this decision for me.
I did not test this as I do not use headphones when exercising so I am having my watch downgraded to the previous OS. For me that is a good solution as there are many 'features' in watch OS26 that are not helpful including updated scrolling and selecting exercises from within the workout app, the so-called glass buttons, rings do not synchronise with workout minutes (can do 2hrs of walking in workout app and rings register a few minutes), etc.
If I hadn't become so 'addicted' to tap to pay (and other tap functions) on the watch, I'd be switching to a Garmin.
Hope others have more luck.
jwprichard wrote:
I tried to have my watch downgraded a few weeks ago and was told they could not do that. How did you accomplish this?
It helped that I had a helpful support agent (who spoke English!). I pointed out that the advertising for my watch when it was released, clearly demonstrated that an active internet connection wasn't needed, not required to use headphones nor was it necessary to carry my phone with me at all times to get feedback when working out. Further if apple was upfront and pointed out this change, which apparently was intentional, I would have chosen to not upgrade the watch (OS26 is an entirely useless UG on series 6 IMO). I don't feel like I needed to argue with the agent, she immediately facilitated the downgrade. Only just sent the watch off so maybe too early to count my chickens. lol
In case this helps others experiencing this issue, I've spent numerous hours with Apple support on this and finally received an official response from their engineering team:
"Workout Voice Feedback was removed on Watch OS 26 for GPS models of Apple Watch. This feature is still available on cellular models of Apple Watch as it now requires a network connection for the feature to operate. This feature applies to normal voice feedback during workouts. It is now expected that if the iPhone and GPS models of the Apple Watch are not within range of each other during the workout, that the voice feedback function will not work."
The Apple Support representative submitted my feedback in hopes to bring this feature back but as far as he could tell, it is not something that is currently being worked on. I'm not feeling particularly optimistic that we're going to see this feature return to our GPS-only watches anytime soon.
1a. my watch 11 came with watchOS 26 and immediately had me install 26.1 before I could use it. So with the watch 11 I only have used it with 26.1
2. If you were on a previous version, did you get the voice feedback then on the 11?
2a. With the watch 11 I was never on a previous version.
3. If the Watch 11 came with 26, did you restore a backup from the 7 to it or set it up new?
3a. I restored a backup of my gps only 7 onto my gps+cellular 11. However my gps only 7 had WatchOS 26.1 already on it when I did the transfer.
4. Did you experience the problem and troubleshoot it in any way? If so, what did you do?
4a. funny enough, because I installed a backup from the 7 gps only onto my 11 gps+cellular model, the cellular options and eSIM options didn’t show up in the cellular settings under the watch. So I had to erase the backup and start fresh again on my 11 gps+cellular to have the cellular options show up in case I ever want to pay for that.
the first time I ran on the 11 after installing the 7 gps only backup the audio queues did not happen, but then the second time I ran they did happen. Both times I ran without my phone.
then I erased the watch and installed a fresh watchos copy without using the backup, and the audio queues have worked each run. Again cellular has been turned off.
this whole process has been baffling. But was solved for me by buying the Apple Watch 11 gps+cellular even though I don’t use the cellular.
however, in my opinion they should still fix the feature on older watches so people don’t have to buy new ones just to have a feature that they already had. I just happened to be upgrading anyway so it wasn’t a problem for me to upgrade.
First: I'm experiencing the same thing, and I am completely dismayed by this change. Getting Voice Feedback without having to haul the phone around was the whole reason to get an Apple Watch as my fitness tracker (listening to music via AirPods was just an added benefit).
I have tried everything that is mentioned in this whole lengthy thread (downloading the speech files via Accessibility setting, adjusting the notifications to "all" instead of "Urgent", Siri settings, etc.) without any improvement.
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.
Which would also mean that the statement "Workout Voice Feedback was removed on Watch OS 26 for GPS models of Apple Watch. This feature is still available on cellular models of Apple Watch as it now requires a network connection for the feature to operate. This feature applies to normal voice feedback during workouts. It is now expected that if the iPhone and GPS models of the Apple Watch are not within range of each other during the workout, that the voice feedback function will not work." is wrong.
Because clearly, the device does not need a network connection. It only needs the presence of a connection.
Which makes me hopeful that this is just a bug. That Apple would be taking the feature that makes the Watch useful as a fitness tracker away via an update doesn't seem right — every US$30 noname tracker from China that can be found on Amazon does this.
Why no one has caught this bug during beta testing is a mystery and does not shine a good light on the processes of the v26 updates. (which does not surprise me the least, after everything that I'm seeing on macOS 26 and iOS 26.)
Cheers,
Alex.
Hi Kairaja,
For this to work, do you start a workout on the watch using the Apple Workouts (in particular a running workout) via Apple Fitness or do you start a workout on the watch using the WorkOutDoors app?
Thanks,
Kris
Hi,
Yes—I started the workout in the WorkOutDoors app. I prefer it because it allows much more screen customization than the Fitness app. After the workout ends, all of the data still syncs and appears in the Fitness app in the usual “Apple” format.
One note about voice feedback: there are a lot of options. I recommend adjusting them gradually to find the right balance. If everything is enabled, the watch can end up talking almost nonstop, announcing every metric it’s tracking. The app is incredibly customizable, so is you can tweak it to your preference it is powerful what it can do! I used ChatGPT to get started on what settings to change where :)
I hope you are correct but I have been told explicitly by 2 support people that you either need an active internet connection OR use connected headsets after downloading voice files. If that isn’t the case then they were lying nor is this listed in any bug lists by Apple trust I have seen
Sorry for the delay in answering your question. I had a 2024 se2 Apple Watch and after the update I no longer got audible splits. I have been in the hands of at least 8 senior engineers who promised to own the problem but they all seemed to go incommunicado once they realised it couldn’t be fixed.
I was sent some AirPod 4’s and heard nothing back since then.
I gave up and bought a Garmin Fenix 8 which does everything you could wish for and has a 16 day battery life between charging. I’ve even downloaded my iTunes music straight to it without the need of conversion software.
I did download the voice files and I tried with my AirPods Pro. My Watch only gives me Voice Feedback, either through the AirPods or the tiny speaker in the Watch, when my iPhone is nearby. Even when the iPhone itself is in airplane mode and has no internet. It's the mere presence of the phone.
My phone is a 14 Pro where "Workout Buddy" isn't supported (not that I'd ever wanted to be cheered on by a machine anyway...) so it can't be the requirement for an Apple "Intelligence" capable phone either. My Watch does give me Voice Feedback (again, Airpods or the device itself) when my lowly old phone is nearby.
It all stops to work as soon as the phone isn't nearby anymore.
I don't know how this stuff works here and whether a thread with 250 "Me-Toos" raises a flag at Apple, but I think this is just users discussing among users? Either way, heading over to Feedback - Watch - Apple and reporting this problem would seem like a good additional step. :)
Alex.
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.
I applied the latest available update for both Apple Watch and iPhone and tried several workouts.
Everything remains the same. None of the workouts had the sound alerts.
[Edited by Moderator]
watchOS 26 no alerts in workout-running app
