Trying to play music on your Apple Watch 4 but the Music app just won’t cooperate? Whether it’s not opening, not syncing with your iPhone, or refusing to play anything, the issue can be frustrating—especially during a workout or while you’re on the go. Here’s a full list of practical fixes to get the Music app back up and running on your Apple Watch 4.
1. Close the Music App on Your Apple Watch
Sometimes the app just glitches. Closing it out can fix minor hiccups.
To close the Music app:
- Press the Side button to show your open apps.
- Swipe left on the Music app and tap Remove.
Or force close the app:
- Press and hold the Side button until the power screen appears.
- Then press and hold the Digital Crown until the app disappears.
After that, reopen the Music app and see if it responds.
2. Restart or Force Restart Your Apple Watch
Random system errors can cause app malfunctions. A simple reboot can help.
To restart your Apple Watch:
- Hold the Side button until the Power Off slider appears.
- Slide to turn off, then press the Side button again to turn it back on.
If it’s frozen:
- Hold both the Side button and Digital Crown until the Apple logo appears.
3. Check Your Internet Connection
Streaming music requires a stable connection.
Try these:
- Toggle Wi-Fi off and on in Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Reboot your router if your internet seems spotty.
- Try the Airplane Mode trick: toggle it on, wait 10 seconds, then turn it off again.
If you’re trying to listen offline, make sure the songs were downloaded to your Apple Watch ahead of time.
4. Update Your Apple Watch and Apps
Outdated software can cause unexpected bugs.
To enable automatic app updates:
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app > My Watch > General.
- Toggle on Automatic App Install.
To update watchOS:
- Go to the Watch app > My Watch > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.
Restart both your iPhone and Apple Watch after updating.
5. Delete and Reinstall the Music App
Corrupted app data could be the culprit. Deleting and reinstalling the Music app might do the trick.
To delete the Music app:
- On your iPhone, tap and hold the Music app until it jiggles.
- Tap the X or Remove App, then confirm deletion.
To reinstall it:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Search for Apple Music.
- Tap the Download icon to reinstall.
This will also restore the app to your Apple Watch once synced.
6. Free Up Storage and Check Battery
If your watch is low on space or battery, Music playback may be impacted.
- Go to the Watch app > General > About to check storage.
- Delete old apps or unused music if you’re running low.
Also make sure your Apple Watch is charged above 20%, especially if downloading or streaming music.
7. Reset Network Settings (Optional on iPhone)
If you’re experiencing persistent connectivity issues that affect Music sync or streaming, reset the network settings on your iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Note: This will delete saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth pairings.
8. Contact Apple or Try an Alternative Music App
If the Music app still won’t work after all these fixes, it could be a deeper iOS or hardware issue. Contact Apple Support or book a Genius Bar appointment.
Alternatively, try these popular third-party music apps that support Apple Watch:
- Spotify
- Pandora
- Deezer
- Overcast (for podcasts)
- Shazam