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.
I've now contacted Apple Support three separate times over the past month. Each time the agent has seemed surprised at this issue. And the suggested resolution has been to unpair and pair the watch and iphone again, which does not resolve the issue.
As previously mentioned, this is appearing more as an intentional change (and not a "bug") to force users to make purchases of new Apple devices (i.e. watch and phone). Or perhaps as mentioned in this thread, the unintended consequence of losing customers to Garmin and/or Google.
Quick update from Apple just now. They refuse to understand the issue so I advised them to read the comments on the apple community forum. They declined so I suggested they ask an Apple engineer that runs if he or she would be kind enough to replicate the problem we are having. Simply run with earphones and no phone using the workout app. This apparently is ridiculous.
Garmin it is then.
Are voice alerts supposed to work disconnected?
I'm a new Apple Watch user, and I don't know if this is standard behaviour. My series 11 (GPS) stops alerting voice/haptics halfway through custom workouts.
It's odd that it works for the first half though, and it's well and truly disconnected for the whole time.
Prior to 26.02 my watch would tell me (haptic) when I was halfway through a 30 minute indoor rowing exercise. It no longer does that. I’ve tried all the posted solutions but they seem out of date. There’s no where to select the specific exercise in Workout, for example. Thanks
Not sure where the comment went about the person who was saying that support told them they needed to download voice files to the watch starting with watchOS 26 but that makes zero sense because why would notifications during workouts work one day and not the next and randomly stop and start? Is Apple really updating the voice files so often that they're getting removed from the watch but not downloaded again and did they do such a poor job of doing so that it deletes the previous ones before downloading the new ones? Logic says that's 100% not the case.
The fact they have offered me some form of compensation (not yet disclosed) would suggest it won’t function without a WiFi connection or your phone being connected. An AI internet search confirmed as much I have copied and pasted it on this chat. Most disappointing of Apple.
I do not disagree with what you are saying though I'd say no logic applies in this case as Apple clearly did something to create this issue to begin with and has not provided any written guidance/information. I did not bother getting further instructions or explanation as to how to download files as the best option for me was to downgrade to earlier OS. OS26 provides no tangible benefits to continue being stuffed around by Apple. It has been over 1 month and all I have to show for it is wasted time on the phone, creating videos/photos of various things. Now the watch is in the mail on its way to Apple. Fingers crossed.
Yes, I have exactly the same questions. And if that is the case (which I do have strong doubts over), it's not exactly user friendly, which is one of the reasons we went with apple in the first place. 'It just works' Hmmm.
Splendid argument sir! Let us know if it works the we can flood support with downgrade requests. I know for a fact if Apple had been upfront about the changes I would have not upgraded. I wish you the best with your downgrade.
Thanks for that. Unfortunately didn’t help. I get voice alerts in the other exercises just not the running workout
I messed the workout up and didn't notice there was an open Warmup with nothing in it. I will test tomorrow during lunch
Thanks. I will log a call
I have the same problem as you, is there any new progress? How can I fix this problem?
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]
Has this issue been resolved for anyone?
watchOS 26 no alerts in workout-running app
