Auto-Launch Audio Apps is off, but Podcasts app keeps opening on watch

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Level 1

24 points

Auto-Launch Audio Apps is off, but Podcasts app keeps opening on watch

I asked this once before, and it's still happening. This post contains much of the same text, though updated for watchOS 9.5.2. I'm still using an Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm).

Before the watchOS 8 update, I would use Now Playing to control audio playback for Music, Podcasts, Patreon. The only time the Podcasts app would ever open on my watch is if I tapped it by accident.

Now? Podcasts opens even if Now Playing is up and running. I can't figure out how to stop Podcasts from launching, and I'm convinced that its constant loading (and potentially crashing) is what's causing a battery drain on my watch (but that's a story for another post).

If I close Podcasts on my watch, it reopens.
General > Auto-Launch > Auto-Launch Audio Apps is already OFF.
I no longer see the little Now Playing icon at the top of the watch face.

Still a pet peeve, but probably not related to my question: Now Playing also seems to default to controlling what's on the watch. My content is always coming from my phone. There don't seem to be a way to configure settings for Now Playing.

If anyone else is experiencing this, or has any ideas, I would love to hear from you. (I'm pretty sure I already submitted an enhancement request about wanting Now Playing to have its own set of settings.) Thanks!

Apple Watch Series 6

Posted on Jul 4, 2023 12:11 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

medalle2007

Level 1

10 points

Oct 27, 2023 02:55 PM in response to Altanmori

Not only on podcasts. I listened to my prayers on my iPhone when I go for my daily walk and I can’t stop my watch from playing it even if auto-launch is off. It didn’t used to be that way. And I agree with you that everytime there’s an update to correct something, there’s always something that gets messed up. Very frustrating.

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Answer 2

ljstrick

Level 1

11 points

Nov 10, 2023 06:17 AM in response to iampheo

I too have been frustrated by this issue and thought the latest update of 10.1.1 was going to fix it, but no such luck. It was my understanding that Apple was aware of the issue, so please fix it!

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Answer 3

Ali_E1

Community Specialist

Jul 5, 2023 02:12 PM in response to Altanmori

Hello Altanmori,

Thank you for linking to your previous post and clarifying your issue. Now Playing is designed to control audio playback from your Apple Watch, iPhone, or other connected devices. If you have an audio app like Podcasts that is consistently opening, it may be why Now Playing seems to default to your Apple Watch. Otherwise, it should pull the controls from whichever device is playing content.

"If more than one device is available to play audio—an Apple Watch, iPhone, and HomePod for example—the name of the device you currently control appears in the top-left corner.

Tap < to see a list of devices, then tap one to control it."

Use Now Playing on Apple Watch - Apple Support

We suggest investigating the Podcasts app on your iPhone and Apple Watch. This will help you determine why the Podcast app is automatically opening.

Check to see if you are subscribed to or follow any shows that are automatically downloading on your iPhone with the instructions outlined in these articles:

Follow your favorite podcasts on iPhone - Apple Support

Subscribe to a show or channel in Podcasts on iPhone - Apple Support

Turn automatic downloads on or off

1. Go to Settings > Podcasts.

2. Turn Enable When Following (under Automatic Downloads) off or on.

Tip: To automatically download a particular podcast, open the Podcasts app , touch and hold the show’s artwork on the Library screen, tap Settings, then turn on Automatic Downloads.

Change your download settings for Podcasts on iPhone - Apple Support

By default, three episodes of each show you follow are added to your Apple Watch. Check to see if you have any podcasts downloaded that are trying to play.

See downloaded podcasts

1. Open the Podcasts app on your Apple Watch.

2. Tap Library, then tap Downloaded.

Alternatively, please contact Apple Support for more advanced support options. You can connect from the Get Support portal in most countries.

Get Support not working for you? Find the best phone number to call from your country here: Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Regards.

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Answer 4

Altanmori Author

Level 1

24 points

Jul 5, 2023 04:09 PM in response to Ali_E1

Thanks so much for the suggestions.

I don't see an Enable When Following Option under Automatic Downloads, but I do see that Allow over Mobile Data is off, and Automatically Download is off. I follow a lot of podcasts and I didn't check them all but I am pretty sure I haven't changed any from the default because I don't care about saving episodes. The ones I did check showed the default setting.

For downloaded episodes in the iPhone app, I only had three saved episodes in total (which I removed). I did not see a Library > Downloaded option. (I turned off Download When Saving to cover that base.)

In the Watch app, these are the settings for podcasts there:

I'll see if anything changes with those two minor settings changes. Thanks again!

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Answer 5

Mar 15, 2024 11:06 AM in response to Altanmori

The god d*mn option for auto-launching audio apps is even precisely typed what it is "supposed" to do, but even when the f****ng toggle IS OFF, the d*mn music player just pops up again, so basically APPLE ADDED A USELESS TOGGLE THAT DOESN'T DO F****NG S**T, and this is a billion dollar tech company :DDDDDDDDDDD, I mean a second year IT student can make better software than modern tech companies... clowns!

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Answer 6

Altanmori Author

Level 1

24 points

Jul 6, 2023 07:52 AM in response to Ali_E1

Can't edit the previous comment anymore. Just wanted to add that unfortunately, nothing has changed.

What puzzles me is that it used to work the way I would have expected (Now Playing controlling content on the phone) until that upgrade, and then everything seems to want to center on the watch, and reverts to controlling the watch even when nothing is actually playing from the watch. If I close the Podcast app on the watch then change the control of Now Playing to the phone, if I stop listening for a while then start again, it will have reverted to the watch. It's very frustrating.

I'll look into the Support option, but coverage on the watch is expired and spending money on a support case right now is not optimal.

Thanks again for your assistance!

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Answer 7

iampheo

Level 1

4 points

Oct 30, 2023 08:47 AM in response to Altanmori

Hmmm. I have the same issue as medalle2007 - before upgrading to iOS 17 and watchOS 10, my watch would not launch podcasts or audible when I was listening on my phone. After the upgrade, even with auto-launch off, the watch launches audio apps and drains the battery. It is very frustrating!

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Answer 8

Altanmori Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 27, 2023 03:29 PM in response to medalle2007

Your comment just made me realize that since I upgraded to iOS 17 and watchOS 10, I have not noticed the Podcast app opening on the watch anymore! Hmm.

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Auto-Launch Audio Apps is off, but Podcasts app keeps opening on watch

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