Completely agree. Especially on AWU, with the action button you used to be able to open the workout app, easily change the workout type and then start the workout with a second pus. I don't understand how this has passed Beta phase feedback for IOS 26.
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watchOS 26.4 Now Available With Workout Update and New Emoji
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nsayer
macrumors 65816
Welp, 26.4 has broken TimeMachine to my Synology NAS. I’ve spent a half hour troubleshooting this with Grok and nothing works. It claims there’s an authentication error. Thanks, Apple.
EDIT: NM, I figured it out. It's a very, very complicated situation that likely only applies to weirdos like me. The fact that the complaint was authentication was a red herring. For that I can still say, "Thanks, Apple."
EDIT: NM, I figured it out. It's a very, very complicated situation that likely only applies to weirdos like me. The fact that the complaint was authentication was a red herring. For that I can still say, "Thanks, Apple."
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Will Co
macrumors 6502a
Not again. This happened a while back and from memory a similar error. I seem to remember putting an exception in the macOS Firewall for TimeMachine was a temporary workaround last time. It’s late o’clock in the UK so I’ll test my Synology NAS in the morning.
surfzen21
macrumors 65816
My biggest issue is they removed spoken metrics and splits from WOS26 for watches that aren't connected to cellular.
I have an ultra and its always read out my metrics which is important to me during runs. It partially worked in 26 but all subsequent updates it seems to have been removed.
I was also affected by the playlist bug where it would just randomly stop playing the next track until you rebooted the watch. This became a weekly event for .1 and .2 updates and less so in .3
Apple seems to have partially confirmed that the changes to spoken metrics and splits was intentional although some in the forums say it still works on their cellular model even thought they don't have a cellular plan.
It only works if my phone is also with me. Kind of ridiculous. I switched to the Nike running app and that reads out metrics but lacks many of the metrics that Apples includes in the fitness app metrics like power, cadence, vertical oscillation, stride length and ground contact time.
theeaglesfan005
macrumors member
Anyone else experiencing long time to do the update?
Same thing happened with iOS 26.3 on my Apple Watch Ultra and eventually bricked it and I had to factory reset it
It’s been 6 hours and the update still hasn’t finished for me yet
Same thing happened with iOS 26.3 on my Apple Watch Ultra and eventually bricked it and I had to factory reset it
It’s been 6 hours and the update still hasn’t finished for me yet
Mine took about 2 hours. Much longer than normal. Let it keep running and see what happens.
theeaglesfan005
macrumors member
Doing a factory reset like I had to when updating to 26.3
Wtf is Apple doing with these updates
David Hensley
macrumors newbie
HOORAY! I installed watchOS26.4 on my Ultra (not provisioned for cellular) and went for a run without my iPhone. Siri called out my splits!
HOORAY! Before I'd installed watchOS26, Siri called out my splits during runs and walks. watchOS26 broke this--after I installed watchOS26, Siri didn't call out my splits during runs and walks. I raised numerous bug reports via the Beta program, called Apple Support, and complained to Apple. The bug reports went unanswered, and the first guy at Apple Support replied with, "What are splits?". The second Apple Support person was no more helpful. I'd given up after about eight months.
HOORAY! It appears that Apple has fixed this, and the watch does not require an internet connection for Siri to call out splits during a run!
HOORAY! Before I'd installed watchOS26, Siri called out my splits during runs and walks. watchOS26 broke this--after I installed watchOS26, Siri didn't call out my splits during runs and walks. I raised numerous bug reports via the Beta program, called Apple Support, and complained to Apple. The bug reports went unanswered, and the first guy at Apple Support replied with, "What are splits?". The second Apple Support person was no more helpful. I'd given up after about eight months.
HOORAY! It appears that Apple has fixed this, and the watch does not require an internet connection for Siri to call out splits during a run!
Yes to all of those.
This morning I tried again and found the reason: the Watch does not mention anything, but on my iPhone I saw 'preparing update' which was taking a very long time. I successfully upgraded to 26.4
Apparently, even when you start an update on the watch, the iPhone still has a role.
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Camel993
macrumors member
Will Co
macrumors 6502a
Yeah - I checked my TimeMachine - Synology NAS just now and it's working OK after the 26.4 update.
surfzen21
macrumors 65816
I can confirm the same for me.
Decided to test it with a walk and set the splits to read every .10 miles. Left my phone in the car. Siri read all the splits like it used to before WatchOS26.
I hope it says this way!!!!!
I’m confused by the difficulties you’re experiencing. When I’m finished with my workout and I stop it on the watch I press the X button on the metrics results screen and it takes me back to the list of workouts. When I want to start a new one I either launch the app with the action button or use the Smart Stack and it starts without issue. As for the Apple ID prompt I’ve never been prompted for that. Battery life has been great for me.
Speaking of hidden optimization, I’ve noticed that signing into the Fitness app on the Apple TV now takes only a second from pressing the “Connect” button on the watch to seeing all the workouts. Before it used to take ten seconds on the “Confirm with Apple Watch” screen. I don’t know if this was improved because of tvOS 26.4 or watchOS 26.4 but it’s a welcome change.
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repoman016
macrumors 6502
When I start a new workout, I have to press back twice to get to the select workout screen. It's like automatically taking me to metric data which doesn't exist because the workout hasn't started. I also end my workouts by pressing the X and then x'ing out of the data screen after that. It doesn't happen every single time, but has happened enough to make me hate using it and question the frustrating change. The apple ID thing has happened only twice, but still drained a 65% battery in less than 60 minutes.
Oh wow I’m so sorry you’re experiencing all that. I feel like there’s something buggy or corrupted going on with your particular watch. What troubleshooting steps have you taken? Reset to factory default and seeing if that resolves?
Black_Mage
macrumors 6502
DocMultimedia
macrumors 68030
The "must sign in thing" would bother me at least once a week. It didn't drain, but it stayed on top of my workout screen as I was running. I know I'm signed in to everything. Frustrating. Hopefully that is fixed (won't update till I'm done traveling this month).
repoman016
macrumors 6502
I have updated it to 26.4 and TBD on a workout but it already feels snappier. Appreciate the concern 🙂