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Can Apple Watch play music through its built in speaker?

I do a decent amount of running and this past summer I ran with my phone and just played music out of the built in speaker. It's nice to not have to headphones bouncing around and it feels safer because you can hear traffic and whatnot.

When first announced, I was under the impression that since there was a built in speaker, you would be able to play music stored on the watch through said speaker. I haven't seen any posts about it and now believe it to be untrue.

So can you?

Obviously the quality and loudness would be questionable but still, I feel it would be nice to have the option. Thanks!

Posted on Sep 24, 2016 8:11 PM

Reply
34 replies

Aug 12, 2017 5:05 PM in response to Proverbs3Five

Proverbs3Five wrote:


.. please post if someone has a way so that I can play my synced music from my watch also while running and not have to carry my 2 pound iPhone with me. Thanks!


As I hoped to explain in my previous reply, it is not possible to play music from the synced playlist through the speaker on Apple Watch.


Your watch can instead be paired with Bluetooth headphones for listening to music when you run, without needing to take your iPhone along.


More information and instructions:

Listen to music on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Use Bluetooth accessories with your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Feb 20, 2017 10:40 AM in response to Xavyx's

I WAS able to play music directly through the Apple Watch speakers the first day I got the watch. Sound quality was impressive and I was looking forward to using this feature in my own work outs.


That evening it prompted an update and now I need to pair Bluetooth headphones.


Apple support was unable to give me a reason for this. But IT IS POSSIBLE! I sent feedback into Apple and I hope others are doing he same sovthey add this feature back on the next update.

Apr 7, 2017 3:18 PM in response to Xavyx's

There is one way... I previously had the same idea that you had because of lack of Bluetooth headphones. The way I do it is dowload the song and sync it to my mac. Then I use the MP4 music file and send it to my number (me) through my mac and then open it on my Apple Watch in the messages app. When done correctly the music should come out of the Apple Watchs built in speakers... hope this helped.


-officialianoneill

Jun 17, 2017 8:26 PM in response to Lady Thor

This happened to me too. And because I just got the watch I wasn't sure how to stop the music (I was in a boring work meeting at the time). Took me a few embarrassing seconds to work it out but I did stop it. Since then though I haven't been able to get it to play from the watch speakers again. So, IT IS possible because it happened to me.

Aug 12, 2017 3:56 PM in response to deggie

I too just got a 2nd Gen 38mm watch and was playing Pandora for my kids via the watch's built in speaker. The quality wasn't great, but something. I soon was prompted to do an update and can no longer play music from my watch, it goes through my phone only. So no, Lady Thor is not crazy. I cannot find a solution as of yet but please post if someone has a way so that I can play my synced music from my watch also while running and not have to carry my 2 pound iPhone with me. Thanks!

Can Apple Watch play music through its built in speaker?

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