Now playing icon missing in Watch OS9

Apple removed the Now Playing icon from watchOS 9. Instead, they recommend using the Dock or adding it as a complication to your watch face.

Many people aren't happy about this change--and if you are too, consider sending Apple your feedback: Feedback - Watch - Apple

"In watchOS 8 and earlier, the Now Playing icon appears at the top of the screen when you're listening to audio on your Apple Watch. In watchOS 9 and later, this icon doesn't appear, but the app that's playing audio appears at the top of the Dock." --Status icons and symbols on Apple Watch - Apple Support

There's also this article: https://www.myhealthyapple.com/now-playing-missing-after-watchos-9-upgrade-heres-what-you-can-do/

Hello David_110,

We'd like to clarify what you are experiencing further here.

Use Now Playing on Apple Watch - Apple Support and see if it works in the following ways mentioned in the article:

Open the Now Playing app  on your Apple Watch.

Press the side button, then tap Now Playing in the Dock.

Tap the Now Playing button if you’ve added it to the watch face.

Contact Apple Support if this doesn't work as you expect.

We hope this helps.

Cheers.

Same is happening to me (series 6 and iphone 12 pro max). The small icon does not appear in the upper-middle of the watch face like before on previous OS versions when something is playing. If you stop what you're playing on your iPhone then restart it, most times the 'now playing' app will open on the watch. If 'now playing' is open on the watch and you go back to the watch face or open a different watch app, the small 'now playing' icon will not show up in the upper-middle of the screen when you are on the watch face (like in previous OS versions). This is true even if 'now playing' is in the watch's dock.

Thanks, appreciate this explanation. I wish Apple would have mentioned this. I thought it was a bug.