Spotify isn’t playing nice with Galaxy smartphones
The Internet is rife with reports from Spotify customers claiming they’re unable to control audio playback from the lockscreen on their Galaxy smartphone, leaving them with no choice but to dive into the application whenever they want to skip or pause a track, which is frustrating to say the least.
It seems the bug is baked into the latest version of Spotify for Android; the controls were working fine for us until we installed the most recent build so we could research the reports, and now they’re not working at all — be it from the lockscreen or notification shade, even when the handset is unlocked.
Keen to find out whether it’s a more widespread issue, we tested out the lockscreen controls on a Huawei P30 Pro and they worked just fine — though there are some reports from owners of devices from other manufacturers, like LG and Huawei, claiming the feature isn’t quite working as intended.
Still, the bulk of the reports we uncovered originate from Galaxy owners, including those with a Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S10. And that makes sense seeing as Samsung bundles Spotify on the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10+ out of the box, offering customers a free Premium subscription.
Here’s how to (temporarily) fix the issue
Now here’s the good news. After tinkering with our Galaxy S10 for an hour or so, we found a way to restore lockscreen control for Spotify:
- Open Settings.
- Search and select Optimize battery usage.
- Tap the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner, then change the option from Apps not optimized to All.
- Scroll down to Spotify, then disable battery optimization by swiping the toggle to Off.
- Restart your handset.
Spotify told SamMobile that it’s aware of the bug and is working on an update that will restore control, without requiring users to take the aforementioned steps. Until then, be sure to let us know whether the workaround fixed the issue on your device by leaving a comment down below.
- Model: SM-G973F
- Dimensions: 70.4 x 149.9 x 7.8mm
- Display: 6.1"(157.5mm) Super AMOLED
- CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
- Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide
- Model: SM-G970F
- Dimensions: 69.9 x 142.2 x 7.9mm
- Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
- CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
- Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F1.5/F2.4 (77°) & 16MP, CMOS F2.2 (123°)Ultra Wide
- Model: SM-G975F
- Dimensions: 74.1 x 157.6 x 7.8mm
- Display: 6.4"(162.5mm) Super AMOLED
- CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
- Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide
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My Spotify stops after 4 or 5 seconds when connected to Bluetooth in the car. I’ve tried updating, reinstalling, disconnecting BT, turning off car mode – everything ! It is driving me insane!
using Pay version, but free apk, and no problems with S9+
Received new version of Spotiy today (8.5.4.768). This version solves the problem. (Samsung S9)
Play Music FTW!
Yesterday I found this bug on my S10e, too.
Just a few minutes ago I got an update for Spotify and now it works perfect. Seems they fixed it.
This was the issue fot me a month or so ago. Also it stopped playing after the screen went off and the controls on my cars steering wheel couldn’t control the songs either. Went on for a couple of months but It’s fine now.
Works perfectly fine on my Exynos Note 9.
I’m totally up to date, latest Spotify. I’ve just tried it now with latest Android patch and latest Spotify version and it works fine on my Exynos Note9 and wife’s S9 plus. We have the paid for account. Would it be happening only on the ad supported version or do some have the problem with the paid version? Maybe Spotify disabled it on the free one.
No problem with my Note 9 Snapdragon version.
Same here with Exynos Note9 and wife’s Exynos S9 plus. Both working fine.
Didn’t work for me. S10+ nordic
I didnt have the issue on my Note 9 until I got the RTM version of Pie. It worked fine through the beta updates, etc. I found the above fix a few weeks ago and it works for me.
This mess with spotify starts in android Pie update…
I don’t use Spotify anymore. It was ‘eating’ my battery like crazy. 2% per hour (I am listening music at work – 9 hours). I have a Premium subscription (part of my contract with Vodafone).
That’s huge battery drain. We use the premium version too, just normal battery drain, no major impact on battery. Try reinstalling, it could have been caused by stored cache or something like that.
Working fine on my Galaxy S10+ Exynos. No issues.
Works fine with galaxy buds touchpad controls without disabling battery optimizations
I don’t use Spotify.
This works indeed. Like a temporary fix. Thank u