Guide: Listening to Music on Apple Watch, Everything You Need to Know

Many people enjoy listening to music while running, but how does this work on the Apple Watch? iPhoned explains.

Listen to music on the Apple Watch

The Apple Watch makes it possible to leave your iPhone at home when you go for a run. This is due to the built-in GPS (from Series 2), which keeps track of exactly what distance you travel.

In addition, it is possible to put music on the watch, which gives you that extra push while running. All you need for this are wireless earbuds, which connect to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth.

Step 1: Pair Bluetooth headphones

You can only play music on the Apple Watch if you have paired Bluetooth headphones. The music does not come from the Watch speakers, but from your headset. To connect a device via bluetooth, complete the following steps:

1. Put the bluetooth device into pairing mode (see the device’s instructions if you don’t know how to do this). Usually you have to press a button;
2. On the Apple Watch, go to ‘Settings’ and select ‘Bluetooth’;
3. The smartwatch will now search for available devices to pair. Once found, tap the desired accessory;
4. Enter a passcode if prompted. Your headset is now paired with the Apple Watch.

Can’t quite figure it out? Read the article below for more information.

Also read: How to connect a Bluetooth headset with your iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch

Step 2: Create playlist or save local music

You must have music stored offline to transfer it to Apple Watch with the Music app. A subscription to Apple Music is useful, but you can also transfer other local music.

As long as the music is locally on your iPhone in the Music app, you can upload it to the Apple Watch. Do you have a subscription to Spotify? Then see what you have to do under Step 5. In the step-by-step plan below, you can see how to create a playlist with songs or albums that you want to listen to. Then we explain how to sync this with the Apple Watch.

1. Go to the Music app on your iPhone;
2. Tap on ‘Library> Playlists> New Playlist’;
3. Give the list a name and ‘Add music’;
4. Choose ‘Done’ when you have all the numbers in it.

Step 3: Put music on Apple Watch

Now that you’ve created a playlist, it’s time to put it on the Apple Watch. For that you have to synchronize the songs. This works as follows:

1. Connect the Apple Watch to the charger and make sure it is charged;
2. Go to the Watch app on your iPhone;
3. In the ‘My Watch’ tab, select ‘Music’;
4. Tap on ‘Synced Music’;
5. You will now see the playlist you have created, tap it to sync;
6. You can see the pairing progress in this app, do not use the watch until the sync is complete.

Step 4: Listen to music on the Apple Watch

Now that everything is synchronized, you can listen to music via your smartwatch. To do this, go to the Music app on the Apple Watch. Then press firmly on the screen, choose ‘Source’ and then Apple Watch. Then choose ‘Playlists’ and listen. The music remains on when you navigate through the Watch or open a running app, for example.

You can also make this playlist start immediately when you start a workout. This is how you do this:

1. Go to the Watch app on your iPhone;
2. Scroll down to ‘Workout’;
3. Choose ‘Workout playlist’
4. Select the playlist you want to listen to while exercising.

To delete music from your Apple Watch, go to the Watch app on the iPhone, choose the ‘My Watch’ tab and then ‘Music> Synced music> None’. Put the smartwatch on the charger and the music will be erased.

Also read: The 5 best running apps for the iPhone and Apple Watch

Step 5: Listen Spotify on the Apple Watch

After a long wait, Spotify has finally released a watchOS app. This one is quite limited, but the main function, listening to music, is there. You can install the app by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and opening ‘My Watch’. Here you will find the option to download the Spotify app.

From the watch you can choose which device to play music on, heart songs so they appear in your favorites, and see your recently played playlists and tracks. There is also Shuffle button, which is strangely not on the home screen, but above the list of recently played music.

Read more about the Apple Watch

• WhatsApp on the Apple Watch: this is how you send apps from your wrist (10-4)
• Which Apple Watch do I have? This is how you check it in 4 steps (22-2)
• Concept: How watchOS 8 can get widgets and new apps (19-1)
• Lost your Apple Watch? This is how you can find it (22-12-2020)
• Download: watchOS 7.2 and macOS 11.1 available now (15-12-2020)