Shuffle phone music playlist from watch?

[essential]

Apple Watch Series 4
iPhone XS Max

I'm new to the Apple Watch experience, still learning all the things I can do. I don't have any music synced to my watch, it's all on my phone. Typically when I run I start a shuffled playlist from my phone and I'm good to go. Yesterday I decided during the run to change playlists and figured I'd do it from the watch because my phone isn't as easily accessible. From the watch it's easy to select the playlist from the phone and start it, but there's no way to shuffle that I can find, it just plays the songs in order.

I did some web searches before posting and it says to force touch the screen while a track is playing and you're presented with 4 options, "shuffle, repeat, source, and airplay". However, when I do this, the only option I'm presented with is Airplay. Is there no way to shuffle music that's on your phone from the watch? Is shuffle only an option if the music is synced to the watch itself? This seems like such a basic thing I feel like I must be missing something.

Thanks.

 

[Itinj24]

Apple Watch Series 4
iPhone XS Max

I'm new to the Apple Watch experience, still learning all the things I can do. I don't have any music synced to my watch, it's all on my phone. Typically when I run I start a shuffled playlist from my phone and I'm good to go. Yesterday I decided during the run to change playlists and figured I'd do it from the watch because my phone isn't as easily accessible. From the watch it's easy to select the playlist from the phone and start it, but there's no way to shuffle that I can find, it just plays the songs in order.

I did some web searches before posting and it says to force touch the screen while a track is playing and you're presented with 4 options, "shuffle, repeat, source, and airplay". However, when I do this, the only option I'm presented with is Airplay. Is there no way to shuffle music that's on your phone from the watch? Is shuffle only an option if the music is synced to the watch itself? This seems like such a basic thing I feel like I must be missing something.

Thanks.

I know at least Siri can do this

 

[perezr10]

Hmm, in watchOS 6 it’s there.

 

[essential]

yes perezr10, i get that same screen when i'm on the songs menu, but i'm trying to shuffle a playlist. when i select the playlist from the watch, it starts playing in order, there is no list of songs, way to pick a specific song, or a shuffle all at the top.

 

[mistame]

yes perezr10, i get that same screen when i'm on the songs menu, but i'm trying to shuffle a playlist. when i select the playlist from the watch, it starts playing in order, there is no list of songs, way to pick a specific song, or a shuffle all at the top.

This is a little annoying and confusing, but when you can't view the list of songs on the playlist your playing, it means your in "On iPhone" mode, i.e. your watch is simply a play/pause/skip remote control for your phone. You're probably seeing something like this:

You want to be in "library" mode, which is where you start and control music from the watch. Go into the music app to the top-level menu which should show "On iPhone, Now playing, and Library":

Choose "Library". From there you can browse your library and select a playlist. The playlist will begin playing, and from there, hit the list button in the bottom left corner and you should be given the option to enable shuffle.

 

[essential]

Thanks for the reply mistame, but that's the main issue as I said in my original post, I'm trying to shuffle a playlist that's sourced from my phone, none of the music is on my watch. Everything you posted is true, but when I select "Library" it just says "no music" which is correct since it's all on my phone.

It must not be possible, but I don't get why. If I go to "Music App --> On iPhone --> Songs" I get a list of all the songs on my phone in alphabetical order by song title, with a "Shuffle All" at the top of the list, just like perezr10 posted in a screenshot. I can pick any particular song to play, or shuffle them all. I don't understand why playlists don't work the same way. When you pick a playlist it just starts playing the first song and continues in order. You should be given a list of songs with a "shuffle all" at the top just like if you select your song list. It can't be a limitation of the Watch since it works exactly as it should with the Songs list, but I can't imagine why Apple would make it different for playlists.

 

[mistame]

Thanks for the reply mistame, but that's the main issue as I said in my original post, I'm trying to shuffle a playlist that's sourced from my phone, none of the music is on my watch.

Right, that's what I'm talking about too. I have no music on my watch. After a little more digging though, the good news is it's possible to do what you want...but the bad news is you need to be subscribed to Apple Music. When subscribed to Apple Music, "Library" will show your iCloud music library, and you get the functionality I described. From Apple's support page:

"If you're an Apple Music subscriber, your Apple Watch Series 3 and later can automatically access your music library. Open the Music app on your Apple Watch and scroll up, then tap Library. You can also use Siri to play any song in the Apple Music catalog and listen to custom stations in the Radio app.​

If you're not an Apple Music subscriber, you can enjoy some music on your Apple Watch. Learn how to add albums and playlists to your watch."​