removing "Now Playing" from Apple Watch dock

[AMACL]

Hello experts,

Perhaps another stupid question, but in journalism we used to say there were no stupid questions, only stupid answers. So...

I don't want the "Now Playing" app to be in my Apple Watch dock. But when I swipe up on it to remove it, nothing happens. the only option I see is "Keep in Dock."

If I could remove it altogether that would also be fine, but I understand that's difficult.

Thanks in advance,

Ann

 

[lclev]

Read this article which will explain it better than I can and about halfway down it shows how to remove apps from the dock. It isn't hard just go to the dock and swipe until you find the app you want to remove. Now swipe up on it and an option to remove will show up.

https://www.cydiageeks.com/whats-dock-watchos-3-use-apple-watch.html

Lisa

 

[IWT]

Hi Ann

Now, first off, Lisa knows more than I ever will about the Apple Watch. But it occurred to me that if you are having difficulties, how about doing it from your iPhone - more space, less finicky.

This Link shows both ways - half way down it tells you how to use your iPhone for this purpose. (Manage the Dock from your iPhone): https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206992

Ian

 

[AMACL]

Hi Lisa and Ian, good advice as usual!
In the meantime, I found the way to do this via the iPhone, which I hadn't found before - found on Apple support pages.
" Go to iPhone My watch app> dock> edit > remove/delete Music app> Done "

So simple, it was easy to miss!

Thanks and best
Ann

 

[AMACL]

Unfortunately, after I rebooted both watch and iPhone, IT'S BACK IN THE DOCK ("NOW PLAYING") and I can't get it out using the edit function described in previous messages in this thread. Arrggh!
That is, on the iPhone watch app, Now Playing is indeed listed as not being in the dock.I stocked the dock with 10 apps (the limit) that I really want to be there, or at least that don't bother me. Then there is a "recent" page that indeed has the most recent app I used (watch Settings). And then... "Now Playing", with the option to "keep in dock" but no way to get it out.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks in advance,

Ann

 

[ferrarr]

I found this, https://9to5mac.com/2016/06/20/the-dock-watchos-3-breathes-new-life-into-apple-watch-video/

 

[IWT]

@Ann

Are you saying that you can no longer achieve what you want by using the iPhone, as in the article I posted in #3 above? What happens when you try.

@Bob

Your excellent Link and its video reinforce my view that the Apple Watch is definitely not for me

Ian

 

[lclev]

Ann -

I am not sure what the problem is The dock can be modified through the watch or iphone app. Either way works. To not include an app using the app on the iphone is easiest to use. Open the app and select Dock. Select edit (in the upper left corner) and then select the "-" in front of the app in the top part that you want moved to the "do not include" section.

I did that to get the breathe app to move off the dock. For some reason that was the app that kept popping onto the dock. Since I did that it has stayed off the dock.

If nothing works try a reset on the watch by going on the watch to Settings -> General -> Reset. I had to do that when after the recent update my watch started acting strange. It would light the screen at random times even with Wrist Raise off. That fixed the issue. The watch backs up to the iphone and it will offer to reload everything after the reset. You can choose not to, but either way you will have to setup apple pay again.

Lisa

 

[AMACL]

@Lisa, @Ian,@Bob

Sorry to take so long to reply.

Ian: The "edit" function in the iPhone Watch App Dock page wasn't any help in this case. The "Now Playing" app is NOT in the list of apps in the watch dock, yet there it is.

Bob - thanks for the link, but it didn't give any new solution, or if it did, I missed it.

Lisa:
- On your first solution: as I said above, the Now Playing app was not in the top group, yet it is in the watch Dock and I can't get it out.

- On your "if nothing works" solution: I did a reset on the watch just now. I did choose to reload/sync to backup. Everything was fine when the watch was through reloading, except.... there was "Now Playing" again. It refuses to be removed.
On the iPhone app, there is a feature that supposedly lets you reorder the apps in terms of priority. I tried to push "Now Playing" down to the bottom - no way, Jose! Actually I could not make any change in that list, which in itself is weird.
Maybe I should not have restored the data from the cloud?

So the bottom line is, not resolved.

I have read that "Now Playing" will keep popping up if you listen to anything from iTunes. But I have avoided listening to anything for weeks.
I have also read, I believe, that if one removes the iTunes app from the phone it might help. I will try that. Can always put it back.

Thanks everyone! The hunt continues.

Ann

 

[AMACL]

Update: I checked the iPhone and guess what: I already removed Music from my iPhone. The gremlins are out in full force.

 

[ferrarr]

Re-install the iTunes App on your iPhone, then try to remove the Now Playing App from your Apple Watch?