Apple Music stops playing after one song on Apple Watch

Problem solved for me ! I found the sustainable solution. I think the conflict is linked to Apple Music session open in browser version. You must disconnect from all browsers playing Apple Music web player with your account as you can’t play on more than one device.

I leaved my computer at work with Apple Music web player version open with my account connected and music paused. Then I had this problem when listening to my music using Apple Watch. Next song not playing. When I unlocked my iPhone, Music displayed the message that I can’t listen to music on more than one device with my subscription. After each song I think there is a conflict with other device connected to your Apple Music account. Disconnect from web browser playing before listening with your Apple Watch.

Tell me if it works please.

Same here—it looks like this issue has been ongoing for quite some time across all Apple Watches (both Wi-Fi and cellular). My Ultra 3 connects seamlessly via Bluetooth with my car audio and can make/receive calls even when I leave my iPhone at home. However, connecting AirPods 2 to the Music app on the Ultra 3 is non-existent.

I contacted Apple Support and spoke several times with a Senior Support Specialist. After multiple rounds of troubleshooting—resetting my iPhone, Watch, and AirPods—they finally acknowledged that this is a known issue and confirmed that a future software update will be required to fix the bug.

Possible workaround. Deleted Apple Music from my iPhone and then reinstalled it. Changed «Song transition» to AutoMix under Settings > Music. Finally turned off voice feedbacks in the Workout app on my Apple Watch Ultra 1. Let both iPhone and Apple Watch charge over night close to each other (sync). Playing songs from my playlists on Apple Watch now have worked fine some days. The songs are playing continuously without having to restart the watch every time I start a workout (I am mainly listening to music while working out). I am not sure if had to all the changes I did for it to work, but I am happy it works as a temporary solution. I call it a workaround, because it should not be necessary to do what I did and hope Apple will fix the core problem.

Ran into this issue today. No amount of futzing in the menus would make it work properly. Restarted my Apple Watch 8, and it worked.

Same issue with AW7 26.1. The only workaround is to restart your watch before you want to use offline music, then it works for one or two days. it’s really annoying.

Offline podcasts are broken too btw. If you pause, the progress is lost. Also after playing whole podcast, it’s not marked as already played and not removed from watch.

I think same happens with music, watch looses the progress of the song and does not play another since it doesn’t know the current one is over….

The only other place I use Apple Music is app in Tesla car.

Same here. Restart the watch worked.

[Edited by Moderator]

Apple removed my reply because it mentioned unreleased software. Maybe I can word it differently I forgot that after it broke I turned on the B option. When the next update is general release, you'll be good.

Same here! I'm on 26.1 with Ultra 1. This worked flawlessly for these last 3 years. But for the last several weeks music playlists just stop after one song. (Yes, the music is downloaded AND I have cellular too, so shouldn't be an issue at all and hasn't been for years.) The only fix is to restart the watch. But it keeps happening!! I don't appreciate having to restart my watch after the first song on a run. Do I need to add to my routine - "restart watch" every other day? I guess I'm glad we have that option. But would love an actual fix, thanks!

Same issue - restart fixes problem but only for a day or two then it stops auto forwarding songs. Very annoying.

I’m having the same problem. Definitely Watch OS 26 issue. I loaded developer betas on everything but the Watch because it’s so important, then the public release destroyed the functionality. Playlist from Watch is a primary function and they apparently screwed it up.

Yep. I have this issue occasionally but not all the time. I have a cellular watch series 7 without an active mobile plan. I leave my phone at home. Start workout where my running playlist plays automatically and it will play the first track and then not move on to the next.

it doesn’t do this every time.

I also do not get Siri announcements anymore regarding my split pace or if it’s a custom interval run Siri no longer lets me know when to work or rest.

the watch literally was 10x better before this update and I wish I just never did it. 4 years I’ve had the same watch and phone and not had issues. This update has killed it for me.

Having the same problem with my Apple Watch Ultra 1 after upgrade to OS 26. I mostly play music during workouts with the Apple workout app running with feedbacks during the training session. Playing music works fine the first time right after a restart but the problem occurs again next time I workout. I manually need press the “forward” button in the player to go to the next song. Not sure if using the training app with feedbacks running in parallel with listening to music may have something to do with it?

Having the same problem with my Apple Watch Ultra 1 after upgrade to OS 26. I mostly play music playlists during workouts with the Apple workout app running with feedbacks during the training session. Playing music works fine the first time right after a restart of the watch but the problem occurs again next time I workout. I manually need to press the “forward” button in the player to go to the next song. Not sure if using the training app with feedbacks running in parallel with listening to music may have something to do with it?

Also it happens on both Airpods and external Bluetooth. When mountain biking I use a jbl go and now after every single song I have to wake the watch and tap next.

This same thing is happening to me on my Ultra 1. I restarted the watch a week ago, and it seemed to "fix" it, but when out for a run today it started doing the same thing again. As others have said, very annoying when you are mid-run and it worked perfectly until WatchOS 26.