Since updating my cellular Apple Watch 8 to OS 9.2 I am finding that every couple of days the Voiceover speech stops. Randomly with no occurance pattern the watch will do a long vibration and speach will stop. The hapticks still happen when I swipe the screen. I can still turn Voiceover on an off using the accessibility shortcut on the watch but even after doing this the speech does not restart. The watch is then completely inaccessible for me and I have to get sighted assistance to power off then power the watch back on. Once it is powered back on I am able to restart Voiceover and it works correctly again for a couple more days before the same thing happens again. Before I report this bug to Apple, can I check if anyone else is having this problem or if anyone has found a solution? Thanks
Comments
Just had this happen
I got my new watch Sunday and this happened yesterday, even before I updated from watch OS 9, to 9.2. A friend has had the same thing happen and told me to hold down both buttons on the watch together for 10 to 15 seconds. This seems to reset everything, and about 2 minutes later, Voiceover was working again.
I Have the Same Problem
I upgraded from a GPS series 5 watch to a GPS series 8 watch, and have the same problem, where Voiceover will stop talking, though it will still appear to be on, and I'll get haptic feedback, but no speech. My sighted husband says the display doesn't change when I press the crown. I've discovered that I can bring speech back by holding in the crown and side button for 3 seconds to reset it, and it will come back up talking. But it shouldn't be doing this.
No issues
Lucky me so far no issues.
This has also happened to me
The problem described above has also happened to me, and I concur with others that holding down the digital crown and power buttons together for around 15-30 seconds resolves the issue.
Thanks for all the comments so far.
I will log the problem with Apple Accessibility today. Thanks also for advising me how to fix it in the meantime - much appreciated!
Same problem hear with SE2022
I'm having the same issue with my new SE2022. It's kind of reassuring to know this is happening to others, but of course it isn't good :). Next time it does it, I'll try the work-around mentioned here. BTW, how do you report such issues to Apple accessibility? Cheers.
Had this happen multiple times
Had this happen multiple times even before upgrading to 9.2 on my watch series 8 and pisses me off every time Lol. So yeah, not just you at all.
Another way to fix the problem
I have also seen this issue multiple times over the last year or so. Here is what I do to get around the problem. The suggestion below works best if you go into settings and turn off the feature that calls emergency services if you press and hold the side button. Press and hold the side button until you feel a very distinct series of vibrations. I can’t think of anything else quite like it on the watch. Then, flick left a couple times until you know you are at the top left area of the screen. At that point, flick right one time and double tap. Do the same thing, flicking, left a couple times to ensure that you are at the top left of the screen, and flick right one time. Double tap again, and this should power the watch off. This may be a better solution than pressing and holding the crown and side buttons to reset the watch because This is a normal power off sequence. After the watch shuts down, power it up again, and voiceover should come on as expected.
How to report accessibility issues to Apple
You can email details of the problem to ‎accessibility@apple.com You need to advise them of the problem, what if any workaround you have found, how often it happens etc.
yes
Yes, it haven't happened like since Christmas, but yes, before that I had this problem every 4 or 5 days, and the only way of solving it was tu turn off my watch, and to do so, I learned the steps to do so with the help of the bibration from the haptick motor that still functions while voiceover doesn't.