Using VoiceOver Magic Tap to control iPhone audio on Apple Watch

By Andrey, 30 August, 2022

Forum
watchOS and Apple Watch Apps

Hi! I have iPhone SE 2020 and Apple Watch 7. I've found that I can control my iPhone audio via Apple Watch: to start playing, for example, an audio book on iPhone and then pause/restart it via Watch.
When I start audio on iPhone, I see the "stop", "previous" and "next" buttons on my watchface. It works, but I wonder if I can use the VoiceOver Magic Tap on my Apple Watch to pause/restart audio, like on iPhone. I mean, just to wake my watch up and use the Magic Tap. For me it doesn't work for now, but maybe it can be set up in some way?

Thanks!

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Comments

By Andrey on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

Thanks Oliver! It's very sad. I don't listen to audio direct from watch, too, but I find very convinient to play something on iPhone and control it from watch, not taking iPhone again.

I think it's an accessibility bug, because the Magic Tap should allow to control audio, like in iOS, why not?

By Mlth on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

Hi
Magic tap works from within the now playing app on watch, also for answering and hanging up calls. At least it does for me.
It doesn't on the watch face though

Best
Malthe

By Andrey on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

Yes, I've checked now, it works from within "Playing now", it's better then nothing. To be honest, wearing Apple Watch, I'd like to have more elegant player: it takes quite a long time to wake up the watch and look for the "stop" button than take iPhone and make the Magic Tap. Opening the "Playing now" app is even more time-wasting.
Maybe Apple Watch owners should consider to write to Apple Accessibility to request VoiceOver Magic Tap working on watch face to control audio, but If I'm the only one with such a need, OK, this discussion can be closed...

By Mlth on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

Hi
When stuff is playing, you can double tap the status bar for faster access to now playing

By Holger Fiallo on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

I have not seen podcast on the gesters for watch and accessibility. If you move your rist or make a fist you can make the watch do something. Do not know if it works with VO.

By Andrey on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

I'm not very advanced Apple Watch user, but from what I've seen in the settings, it's just an imitation of some VoiceOver gestures (like swipe or double tap), it doesn't add unique actions. If that's wrong, let me know please. :)

By Holger Fiallo on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

Suppose to be for those who have limited use. If you pinch your fingers you get a reaction and so on. Do not know if they are accessible and never seen a podcast about it here.

By Daniel Angus M… on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

my only recomendation, is to wait until watchOS 8 comes out of beta. for more discussion on your issue, post to the Apple beta releases area of the AppleVis forum. sorry I’m being criptick, but still under NDA.

By Andrey on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 22:45

Daniel, sorry for misunderstanding, but I don't see how Magic tap is related to WatchOS 9 (not 8 BTW) beta. As far as I know there're no any improvements on this in WatchOS 9, at least now...