Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Any direct way to control music playback?

M

mrklaw

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jan 29, 2008
2,751
1,026
the one thing I'd like is to be able to blindly control my music playback. When the now playing app is active the crown controls volume which is very handy.

I just found out if you double click the crown it immediately launches the last app you used - but it doesn't seem to work with 'now playing'

Is there any direct or quick way to do this? It seems like music control would be one of the most used features but they don't have a play/pause complication, don't have a now playing complication, and can't even switch directly to now playing?
 
Which version of Watch OS are you on? On watchOS 3 there is a music complication that can be added to many of the faces (but not all faces, and not in all positions). I believe tapping on the complication takes you to music controls.
 
Night Spring said:
Which version of Watch OS are you on? On watchOS 3 there is a music complication that can be added to many of the faces (but not all faces, and not in all positions). I believe tapping on the complication takes you to music controls.
Click to expand...

WatchOS3. I think he music complication is only Apple Music. There is a now playing app screen I can keep in the dock (or that appears whenever you're playing a music app on iPhone) which works with Spotify, pocket casts etc, but you can't seem to get there from the music complication
 
I wish there was a simple play/pause complication for Overcast (and music) akin to the start/stop button on the chronograph face.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrklaw
yegon said:
I wish there was a simple play/pause complication for Overcast (and music) akin to the start/stop button on the chronograph face.
Click to expand...


I'd also like the option to turn off time travel and use the Digital Crown to control volume even when I'm just on the watch face.
 
mrklaw said:
the one thing I'd like is to be able to blindly control my music playback. When the now playing app is active the crown controls volume which is very handy.

I just found out if you double click the crown it immediately launches the last app you used - but it doesn't seem to work with 'now playing'
Click to expand...

It works with Apple Music though.
[doublepost=1475319898][/doublepost]
mrklaw said:
I'd also like the option to turn off time travel and use the Digital Crown to control volume even when I'm just on the watch face.
Click to expand...

Or you can long press the crown and tell SIRI to lower the volume. You can also tell her to skip song or love a song even when in watch face.
 
Last edited:
matrix07 said:
It works with Apple Music though.
[doublepost=1475319898][/doublepost]

Or you can long press the crown and tell SIRI to lower the volume. You can also tell her to skip song or love a song even when in watch face.
Click to expand...

Sure, it works with Apple Music, as does the complication. But I don't use Apple Music (usually listening to podcasts) and I don't want Apple to add features that only benefit their apps. And I'm not talking to Siri when I'm on the noisy tube or walking along the street when is when I need it :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: yegon
mrklaw said:
I'd also like the option to turn off time travel and use the Digital Crown to control volume even when I'm just on the watch face.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I never use time travel so that would be a good option.

Also, I agree with your other post, using Siri for certain basic functions is absolutely untenable for a lot of situations. Was on an empty train earlier, tried sending a text with watch, useless. Simply did not work due to ambient noise. Equally, doing something in a new and trendy way that takes more steps and is exponentially slower due to unreliability, is a step back, not a step forward.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrklaw
Time travel is turned off by default on my watch. I'm not sure if this is specific to the series 2 watch or that this is something from watchOS 3. Anyway, you can turn off time travel in the watch app on the iPhone; it's in the Clock settings.
 
mrklaw said:
WatchOS3. I think he music complication is only Apple Music. There is a now playing app screen I can keep in the dock (or that appears whenever you're playing a music app on iPhone) which works with Spotify, pocket casts etc, but you can't seem to get there from the music complication
Click to expand...

I think I read somewhere that third party music apps can be controlled by the Remote app. Not sure if it's true because I don't use third party music apps so can't try this out.
 
The Remote app only controls iTunes libraries (sadly, only the ones on OS X, not the ones on iOS) and Apple TVs.
 
Yes just like your reply which has got nothing to do with my reply. I wasn't talking about the "Now playing" app, I was talking about the "Remote" app (as mentioned by Night Sping) which does something entirely different as I've explained in my previous reply. Do read the thread from top to bottom.
 
dyn said:
The Remote app only controls iTunes libraries (sadly, only the ones on OS X, not the ones on iOS) and Apple TVs.
Click to expand...

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Now I have a way to use a watch to lower volume on my MBA.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back