Apple Watch redirects to iPhone when selected as playback device

[Maria]

We’ve been receiving reports from users that when they try to select their Apple Watch as the device to play on, it keeps redirecting them back to the iPhone.

[loboej]

Plan: Premium DUO

Country: USA

Device: Apple Watch Ultra 2 & iPhone 16 Pro

Operating System: watchOS 26.2 and iOS 26.2

I'm having a similar issue to the above thread and this is NEW issue to my device as of ~Dec 20th 2025. Prior to that, I had no issues with what I describe below. 

When my phone is NOT present, the spotify app on my watch will not play music either through headphone or the watch speaker. I'm able to browse songs and playlists on my watch but nothing happens when I click on a song/playlist, it simply doesn't play. The only other thing I've noticed is that the watch icon in the play screen of the spotify app is a dull green color, not like the brighter green color when my phone is present. 

When my phone is present, the watch app works ok, including playing music, but is only acting like a remote control for the phone. In this circumstance, from the watch app I cannot select my watch from the list of devices. When I select my watch from the list of sources, it tries to connect to the watch for about 5 seconds and then just defaults back to the iPhone. Also, in the spotify app on my phone, my watch doesn't show up in the list of airplay devices despite it showing as connected in the bluetooth menu on my phone. 

I've tried the following:

1. Force quit of the watch and iphone spotify app.

2. Clean uninstall of the watch and iphone spotify app.

3. Reinstall latest version of the watch and iphone spotify app.

4. Updated watch and iphone to latest OS.

5. Reset network settings on my iphone.

6. Full reset of my watch back to factory settings (inc unpairing and repairing with my phone)

Apple Music works fine from my watch and plays with and without my phone present. And given how this is a new issue that just started happening on my watch, this seems to be a issue with the Spotify app, not my watch/phone. Pls help, I don't want to switch to Apple Music but there's not much of a point in not having a smart watch that isn't capable of playing music....

[hod152]

I'm trying to stream Spotify directly to my Apple Watch SE (Cellular), but playback does not work.

While I can control Spotify on my iPhone from the watch, I’m unable to listen to music directly from the watch.

I've already tried reinstalling Spotify and login again on both devices, with no success.
All devices and apps are fully up to date (latest iPhone 16, Apple Watch SE, and Spotify versions).

The primary reason I purchased the Apple Watch was to run with music without carrying my iPhone, and this functionality is currently unusable. Based on online reports, this appears to be a recurring issue.

I’d appreciate an urgent fix or clear guidance on how to resolve this.

[chadimhoff76]

I am having the exact same problem. Apple music works and all other apps work also!!! So frustrating. Iphone 16 pro and apple watch ultra 3. 

[chadimhoff76]

I also completed all steps listed, uninstalled reinstalled app on both devices, added all permissions, removed and added headphones, changed the type of headphones, and made sure all devices are running the current software... Phone and watch.... so frustrating... 

[jnboivin]

Same issue here. Il think about just changing my premium subscription for AppleMusic…

[pinkypig]

I have the same issue on my Series 11 Apple Watch. Seems like it is spotify issue rather than device. Would really appreciate Spotify do something on this. If this still doesnt work, would consider to cancel Spotfiy subscription to Apple Music if this is the only solution 😞

[KyleKiwi]

Same as above issues. Started yesterday on my AWU3.

Have tried all the debugging steps. Spotify will work from my phone only with pre-downloaded songs - Streaming was working previously.

The watch is not available as a playback option through the Spotify application on my iPhone - however I can use my watch to change songs via the watch app.

Reset my data usage - Spotify on my watch is not using any data and refuses to do so even over wifi.

Currently setting my watch as the playback device on the watch app only works when in a downloaded playlist. Attempting to play a non downloaded song will on the watch with cause the app to flash a grey watch icon then change playback to phone, or revert to a song is has downloaded.

Apple music and all other apps will still use data.

[Maria]

Hey folks,

This is currently being investigated by our tech teams. We'll keep you posted in this thread if we have any news to share, so feel free to Subscribe from the 3 dot menu to stay tuned.

Cheers!

[Maria]

Hey everyone,

We have great news from our team - this is now fixed! Just make sure to restart the app on both devices.

Cheers 💚

[loboej]

Thank you for the quick responses! This now works for me!

happy holidays