Podcast App on Apple Watch stops playing after a minute or so.

I'm having an issue where I'll start playing a podcast from the watch (without my phone nearby) and it will play for anywhere from like 30 seconds to a minute or two and then stop playing. If I hit that play button it will start playing again for another minute or so, but never more than that.


I tried downloading the podcasts to the watch ahead of time to make sure it wasn't a cellular problem.


I tried completely restoring the watch thinking maybe there was just some weird software issue happening, but it didn't help.


Music from the music app will play fine. I think I also tried Audible and it was fine. Only the podcast app seems to have this issue. This would seem to indicate it's not a global issue of something triggering a pause of playback.


I'm not sure what else to try. I've searched online and can't seem to find anyone else with this problem. It seems odd to have so specific an issue that survives a restore that isn't more widespread.


I don't want to have to use a third party podcast app, but I'm not sure what else to do at this point.


This is on a Series 6 on the latest watchOS. It's worked fine for years up until a few months ago.

Apple Watch Series 6, watchOS 11

Posted on Jun 17, 2025 6:36 AM

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Jun 21, 2025 12:39 AM in response to wafflelad

Hey @wafflelad -


I sympathize with your frustration/consternation at discovering you apparently have your own personal bug. I have that talent as well!!


I have different bugs when I use the podcast app on my watch, but they’re equally problematic insofar as they render the app unusable. Even though my bugs are not identical to yours, they do rhyme. And they did appear around the same time yours did. For that reason, the workaround I have been using may also work for you.


For some reason, I have had much better luck when I use a different native app. See attached screenshot. It might be called Now Playing.(?) At least, that’s the header when I open it. It basically let’s me select from different inputs, and then offers some basic operational controls. Of note, the input type I’ve been successfully using is iPhone Airplay.



It’s not a perfect replacement, but as a temporary workaround until the podcast app is repaired in a WatchOS update (hopefully soon), this has been fairly functional alternative for me.


Let me know if it helps!



Fwiw: In reality, our ‘personal bugs’ are probably just uncommon ones. I’ve learned from experience that, yes, those do exist. Just out of curiosity, what model iphone are you using?



Edit: I just saw your followup re: the Nike app. That’s so weird! 😆

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Jun 21, 2025 5:22 AM in response to lukairure46

Thanks for the input! I believe the Now Playing app is just a window into what's playing on your phone so you can see and control it via the watch. The problem here is that I'm having this issue when out on runs without my phone. I'll try it, though, in case I'm wrong and it will actually let you also play things on the watch.


I don't want to stop using the Nike app as I've been using it for years (since it was on iPods and paired with a thing you put in your shoe) and I like having my whole history there, but I might just have to switch to the built in workouts for now, or not listen to podcasts (or constantly restart them).


I'm hoping an update to the app eventually fixes this. Last year I was having a different issue with it that seems to finally be resolved. It had been rock solid for years, so I don't know why there's so many issues lately.

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Podcast App on Apple Watch stops playing after a minute or so.

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