Can't pause songs + notification won't pop up

[Alyssie]

Plan

Premium

Country

USA

Device

Motorola One 5g Ace

Operating System

Android 10

My Question or Issue

Over the past week, my Spotify app hasn't worked properly. When I start a song, the bar at the bottom that allows me to skip, pause, access lyrics, etc won't pop up. The music will start, but I can't control it. If I try to pause it using my earbuds, it will pause for a second then start playing again. The notification that allows me to skip and pause doesn't show up either. I can listen to music, but it will randomly stop. 

After I sign out and back in again it will work for a little while, but start glitching again.

I've tried:

-closing the app, clearing it from my recents and reopening

-signing out and back in 

-clearing cache

- deleting and reinstalling the app

-restarting my phone

-performing a clean reinstall

How can I fix this?

[Ver]

Hey @Alyssie,

Thanks for posting here.

The troubleshooting steps that you've tried so far are very good. We'd like to add a few more.

In case you're using any battery optimization or power saving apps, you can deactivate them for Spotify.

Just to double-check - does this happen only when you connect your phone to the earbuds?

In case this happens only when you use the earbuds, it's a good idea to try reconnecting them. Are there any changes?
 

Keep us posted.

[ewilah]

I have the exact same issue on my Samsung Galaxy S21 ultra. Pretty sure it started after the latest update I installed on April 5, my current Spotify version is 8.7.20.1261. The player in the app randomly disappears just as described, music keeps playing, and the only way to turn off music is to close Spotify app completely. 

[Cleverbird]

I'm having the exact same issue as of maybe a week or so now. No play controls at all. Even tried a full reinstall. The only way it'll work for me is if I kill the app completely and start it up again, that'll make it work for one "session" after which it'll go back to not showing any controls. Pretty frustrating.

Samsung Galaxy S7

[ecedgington]

I am having the exact same issue with my Samsung S21 Ultra. I have done the entire list of reboots in the first post of this chat thread. I just now checked the unrestricted data use in my settings for the Spotify app. This is super frustrating because I have to stop the program entirely. Not sure what else to do.

[Shep3605]

Seems to be a relatively new bug. Any updates Spotify?

[Edinburghboy]

I have the exact same problem!! Since the last update as well. I am so glad I found this forum! Spotify are you updating this??

[Shanermuls]

Same issue as the rest here.

Also have noticed for a while that the notification bar no longer has a kill/trash icon to close the app from notification drawer or whatever it's called.

[Zatosa1]

Same Problem here on Samsung S20 (Android 12,OneUi 4.1 )and Spotify Version 8.7.20.1261.
It seems to happen, when spotify was in Background for a few Hours.

[Coffeeshock]

Oneplus 8 Pro, same issue exactly - started after updating to version 8.7.20.1261. This makes the app virtually unusable unfortunately, even after phone/app restarts and reconnecting headphones.

[slippedmydisco]

This solution did not work for me either. Problem happened with recent update. Reinstalled Spotify and problem still there. 

[PauloMadoni]

I have the same issue on a Samsung SE20 The only way to stop playing is to close my phone down, so not an issue i can live with for long Spotify

[Sophiealicewisdom]

I've got the same problem on my Samsung a12 as of a week or so. Paying premium for an unusable app. No control bar and it will randomly stop half way through tracks.  but if I want to stop a track myself I need to turn my phone off!

[Yordan]

Hey folks,

Thanks for your inputs so far.

This should have been taken care of in version 8.7.22, so check if the update has been released for you. Those of you who are already on it, could you confirm that all looks good on your end? 

Cheers!

[Klektic]

I am on a Motorolla 5g ace like the OP. I am on the latest update 8.7.22.1125 Having this issue as well. Not sure if stopping the app works I've been restarting my phone to get it to stop.

Just had it happen when connected to my car instead of my earbuds. Was playing music through bluetooth with no song information on my dash.

[Kiril]

Hey there @Klektic,

Thanks for your post here.

We're sorry to hear that the issue is still occurring for you after the latest updates. We’ve let the right folks know and they will continue with the investigation. Please keep an eye on this thread, as at the moment we're not able to provide you with a timeframe for a reply. For the time being keeping the app updated at all times is the best way to go.
 

Hope it gets sorted out soon. If you need anything else, the Community is here for you.

[Smulberg]

Just here to report same issue as previous users, also on the latest 8.7.22.1125. 

The ability to play/pause spotify is lost, and the current song at the bottom is not visible.

To add some details previously not mentioned, in case this is helpful:

If the bug occurs when listening to spotify, and I give my headphones the command to pause, what instead happens is the podcast starts playing *at the same time*. This is typically not possible, as starting a podcast will pause any music, and vice versa. 

[Klektic]

Thanks Kiril. Totally understand the lack of a timeframe.

Appreciate getting a confirmation and an actual reply though!

[gonzalostereo]

tengo el mismo error.

comprendo, que están trabajando en ello. pero necesitamos un tiempo de solución.

para algo pago una suscripción premium familiar. sino se soluciona la doy de baja.

[Agroamoeba]

This is an ongoing issue that thousands of customers have been complaining about on another thread. They say they've fixed the bug but they haven't. It makes spotify close to unusable so I wish they'd hurry up and actually fix it since it used to work just fine