Learn how to play, pause, shuffle, and control Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, or other media playback on your iPhone using your Apple Watch.
If you’re an Apple Watch user, then one of the neat things you can do on it is control tunes playing on your iPhone in the Music app or other third-party apps. Once you choose a playlist, album, or song on your iPhone, the rest of the music control can take place on your wrist.
This is really handy if you’re in the middle of a workout or out for a walk wearing earbuds. Leave your iPhone where it is and control your songs from the Apple Watch.
Also see: How to set Apple Watch to automatically launch audio apps
Play songs on your iPhone using your Apple Watch
Open Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, or other music app on your Apple Watch and play a song. It should play on your iPhone. If not, tap the three dots icon or the relevant AirPlay button (if available) in the app and select your iPhone.
Now Playing controls on Apple Watch
When a song is playing on your iPhone, you will see the concerned app name on the top of the Apple Watch screen.
For instance, if you’re listening to music on Spotify on your iPhone, a tiny Spotify icon will appear on your Apple Watch, provided the Spotify app is also installed on your watch. You can tap it to open the companion app and manage your iPhone’s music playback using your Apple Watch.
However, if the companion watch app is not installed or not available or you don’t see it, tap the Now Playing icon from the top.
If it does not appear, open the built-in Now Playing app on your Apple Watch from the app bubble.
The Now Playing app on Apple Watch shows media from Apple Music and third-party apps like Spotify, YouTube, and more that’s playing on your iPhone or your Apple Watch.
You can then use these controls to do the following:
1) Pause and play with the center button.
2) Move to the next or previous track with the forward or back arrows.
3) Control the volume by rotating the Digital Crown.
4) Tap the three dots button to do the following. Most of these options are only visible when you’re listening in the Apple Music app on your iPhone:
- Use AirPlay to send the song to another connected device.
- Access Playing Next.
- Add the song to your library or playlist
- Use shuffle, repeat, or move to a different song.
- Remove, love/unlove, suggest less, and view the album, artist, or playlist.
Play different music on your iPhone
If you want to switch to a different playlist or album in your music library, this takes just a couple of taps.
If the companion app (like Spotify or YouTube Music) is installed on your Apple Watch, open it and look for your library.
Apple Music:
Spotify:
YouTube Music:
If the companion app is not installed, open Now Playing and tap the three dots menu button followed by Playing Next. But it won’t show the queue for all apps.
Tip: If the companion music app is installed on your watch, tapping the song in the Now Playing app will open that music app.
Have you tried taking control of the music playing on your iPhone with your Apple Watch? If so, have you run into any issues you need help with?
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