"Now Playing" feature missing from Apple Watch face

My new Appe watch tries to force me to play music with "apple music app" or listen to audiobooks over "apple books app", or podcast via their "apple podcast app" ... because those are the only recomendations shown where the handy "play now" complication used to appear ... this is ridiculous!

For years I used Audible and Overcast to listen "my stuff" and my Apple watch (v2) offered me the option to pause or play tracks and episodes, to increase the volume on my headphones ...

Now I get myself a new apple watch 10 and iOS 11 and all the handy functions are just gone?! What the f... Apple. Not everyone uses Apple watches just to go jogging listening to Apple Music ... really ...

Yeah, saw that it is the smart stack or I can go to the “Now Playing” app. The problem is I use my watch for fitness and when I was running (or any other time) I could look at my watch to see what was playing. It has been a complication for as long as I can remember and Apple screwed with something that wasn’t broke. In addition, the **** music app constantly crashes. I have an iPhone 14 and updated with the latest software. I have tried reboots, hard reboots, and nothing works. Take something that was working good and the techs break it.

Did you try to remove the complication from the watch face and add it back again?

Or create the same watch face, adding the "Now Playing" complication?

Did you try to force restart the watch by pressing and holding the Digital Crown and the Side button together for about 10sec, until the Apple logo comes back again?

It's in your Smart Stack now rather than being a complication. From your home screen just swipe up or double tap your thumb and forefinger from twice and it should be at the top of the stack while your media is playing.

I'm having the same issue. Updated to WatchOS 11 and the Now Playing complication displays "Music and podcasts you play will appear h..." regardless of whichever audio app is playing something. Music app, podcast app, etc. Removing and adding the complication, restarting, creating a new watch face, none of that fixes the problem, assuming it is a problem and not a new feature that renders the old Now Playing complication useless

Looks like they ruined the old 'Now Playing' complication with 'Suggested.'

Same here, have no idea what the three squares are that replaced the “now playing” complication. Why Apple???

Sure. Tried all that. No chance.

i’m afraid the devs think of this behavior as a feature, not a bug …