How to sync music and playlists to Apple Watch with watchOS 4 & iOS 11
If you exercise with an Apple Watch, you'll want to load some music onto it. Thankfully with watchOS 4, Apple now lets you load multiple playlists and albums onto the wrist-worn device. AppleInsider explains how to do it.
Because the Apple Watch is mostly tethered to the iPhone, most tasks for managing the device are done through the dedicated Watch app on iOS. Music on Apple Watch is no different -- you'll manage the songs loaded directly onto the watch from there.
Why would you want to do this? Loading songs onto the Apple Watch means you can play music to a pair of connected Bluetooth headphones, like Apple's AirPods, without having your iPhone nearby.
This is especially useful with the Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 3 models, both of which feature GPS connectivity for tracking outdoor activities without a connected iPhone.
Loading music onto the Apple Watch is especially crucial, since Apple removed the ability to browse an iPhone's music library via the device. And even if you have an LTE-capable Series 3 model, it won't be able to stream Apple Music until watchOS 4.1 launches later this month.
After you open the Watch app, choose Music, and you'll be able to enable a feature called Heavy Rotation. This features both playlists and albums that the user frequently enjoys on their iPhone.
Beyond that, there is an Add Music that lets users select playlists and albums of their choosing.
It should be noted that all Apple Watch models feature 8 gigabytes of storage except for the LTE-connected Series 3 model, which doubles that to 16 gigabytes. You cannot, in the current state of watchOS, fill up your watch to the brim, however, as Apple caps the amount of music to be synced.
In watchOS 3, Apple gave users a choice of up to 2 gigabytes of music, or 250 total songs. With watchOS 4, that option has mysteriously disappeared, and it's unclear how the system decides how much music is allowed to be synced to the watch.
Finally, music does not instantly sync to the Apple Watch -- the device must be placed on its charger to begin the transfer process, ensuring the battery is not drained from moving files.
Because the Apple Watch is mostly tethered to the iPhone, most tasks for managing the device are done through the dedicated Watch app on iOS. Music on Apple Watch is no different -- you'll manage the songs loaded directly onto the watch from there.
Why would you want to do this? Loading songs onto the Apple Watch means you can play music to a pair of connected Bluetooth headphones, like Apple's AirPods, without having your iPhone nearby.
This is especially useful with the Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 3 models, both of which feature GPS connectivity for tracking outdoor activities without a connected iPhone.
Loading music onto the Apple Watch is especially crucial, since Apple removed the ability to browse an iPhone's music library via the device. And even if you have an LTE-capable Series 3 model, it won't be able to stream Apple Music until watchOS 4.1 launches later this month.
After you open the Watch app, choose Music, and you'll be able to enable a feature called Heavy Rotation. This features both playlists and albums that the user frequently enjoys on their iPhone.
Beyond that, there is an Add Music that lets users select playlists and albums of their choosing.
It should be noted that all Apple Watch models feature 8 gigabytes of storage except for the LTE-connected Series 3 model, which doubles that to 16 gigabytes. You cannot, in the current state of watchOS, fill up your watch to the brim, however, as Apple caps the amount of music to be synced.
In watchOS 3, Apple gave users a choice of up to 2 gigabytes of music, or 250 total songs. With watchOS 4, that option has mysteriously disappeared, and it's unclear how the system decides how much music is allowed to be synced to the watch.
Finally, music does not instantly sync to the Apple Watch -- the device must be placed on its charger to begin the transfer process, ensuring the battery is not drained from moving files.
Comments
I thought that perhaps Spotify and the like would be able to tap into the LTE streaming capabilities of the Series 3 if they so chose. But I dug a little bit deeper and it turns out that the current APIs in watchOS do not allow third-party apps to do audio streaming. We'll probably have a story detailing that in the near future.
I've done it on 3 Apple Watches so far (currently in process on a Series 3 with LTE). What I find mildly frustrating is the lack of a decent progress bar. In the Watch app on the iPhone it simply says "Updating" at the top. Occasionally I see what looks like it may be an orange progress bar, but it comes and goes and never really progresses. On the Apple Watch in the Music app there is a spinning, partial circle for Albums/Playlists, etc., that are waiting and a circular progress bar on the Albums and Playlists that are currently transferring, so at least that's something.
Still, it's a slow process so don't expect to transfer music a few minutes before walking out the door.
I don't find it to be so much a hassle, aside from the slowness of the transfer. Choosing music is quick and straightforward and once it's on the Watch is easy to play/navigate/etc.
Out of curiosity, what is it you hate about Apple Music? I've heard this from a few long-time Spotify users and the only answer I ever get is "I don't like the interface". I kind of get that response but only kind of because I use Siri for most of my Apple Music interactions and rarely go into the app itself. Granted, that may not fit your use case but I'm still curious.
This:
...plus this:
You should try it some time the real way, carrying the clubs on your back.
My heart rate averages 125 during a round with cart. Watch says I'm burning 1,200 active calories, 1,500 total. However, I try harder and suck more than most people. (Resting heart rate is mid-upper 70s.)
I plan to turn on a couple more playlists as I head to bed so it can do its thing while I sleep.
But it I can’t understand the stance Apple has against podcasts on the Watch. I love plowing through a couple of shows during my longer runs.
Just to be clear, I have to load the music to my iPhone, then load it from there to the watch, correct?
Must it be music that I play frequently on my phone, or can I actually choose anything? And can I then remove that music from my phone without it being erased from the watch? Because honestly, if I am going to move to using the watch to play music when walking or biking, I don't need it on my phone anymore.
I don't have a watch yet, but I'm thinking very seriously that this is the year to do so. I suppose I could wait yet another year to see what Apple puts on next year's model, but that seems pointless, since if next year's model is compelling, I'm sure I can find someone who'll want this one.