Playback and controls malfunctioning since latest app update

[rwvanv]

Description:

I use Spotify very much, both on my mobile and in the office. Since the Android app received an updated - installed on my Samsung N9005 Note 3 last weekend, I run into the same issues every day, every few minutes. The Windows (7) application has no issues, only the Android app is buggy since the latest update (the one bringing a.o. a new home page including last played lists)

Symptoms;

When playing a self-made playlist on my mobile, at a certain point (but always within 15 minutes), it doesn't respond anymore to pressing any of the control buttons (next, pause, etc.) from the car audio or device lock screen. When accessing the app itself manually, the song view says 'Loading....'. Then after it takes several tries/seconds before the device returns to the home screen.

Also, I've run into sitations in which I couldn't stop the app, and the music just kept on playing.

Over the past 1 or 2 months, the amount of 'gaps' during music playback (buffering issues?) has increased, which was annoying, but this is really killing it now...

What are the steps you took to get to the error/issue?

(We need to know what you are doing so we can do the exact same to try and get the same error)

1. Open Spotify on Android

2. Select a random playlist (owner makes no difference, neither does 'offline available')

3. Play it

What I expected to happen

When I initiated playback of the list, I expected it to keep working

Did you restart your device when troubleshooting in section B?

Yes

Did you read the connection troubleshooting tips?

Yes

Your device

Samsung SM-N9005 Galaxy Note 3 LTE

Device’s Operating System

Android 4.4.2

What type of account do you have?

Premium

(FYI for the below points: Android devices tend to refer to the internal memory as "SD Card" and the SD card you inserted yourself as "External SD Card")

Space left on your device

15.50 GB

Space left on your SD card (if applicable)

4.73 GB

Is your device rooted?

No

Are you using a custom ROM, if so which one, exactly?

No

Did you set your external SD card as storage location?

For Spotify tracks? No

Did you manually install an older version before installing the latest version from the Play Store?

No

Do you have the same issue when switching between WiFi/Mobile Data (If applicable)?

Yes

My mobile Spotify version

2.0.0.702

My desktop Spotify version (if applicable)

0.9.15.27.g87efe634

My mobile provider and country

KPN Mobile, Netherlands

My username

115483781 / Rob van Vliet

Do you have a Spotify (non-Facebook) login?

Thought so, just don't know anymore what it was exactly.

Are you logging in with Facebook or with your Spotify login details?

Facebook login

Do you have any screenshots you can attach to more clearly explain your issue?

No. 

[ChadKaplowski]

You might want to check this thread where the problem has been discussed, and possibly resolved

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Help-Android/Bizzare-problem-with-playing-spotify-music-online-offl...

[rwvanv]

Hi ChadKaplowski,

Thanks for sharing that link. Unfortunately this didn't solve it (yet). Still after a couple of minutes of playback (both via mobile 4G or WiFi), the music starts to get hickups and stop in the end. I guess this means that it's probably device related? 😞 I'm using a Galaxy Note 3, which packs more than enough processing power and memory to be able to work properly, and am using the best network there is in the Netherlands, so that shouldn't be it either...

Think I'll have to format my device and hope for the best, or do you know of any alternative solutions?

[Daniel]

I'd wait until after the next update to the Spotify app. There seem to be a few bugs in the last update which I'm experiencing as well.

I'm hoping there will be an update soon to smooth it all out again.

If needed you could always revert back to 2.1.0.903 and see if the issues have gone.

[rwvanv]

Reverting to 2.1.0.903 didn't fix it. Perhaps I need to revert back to the version before that one, the one in which we couldn't yet control music playback on other devices...?

Where did you actually find this older version's APK download link?

[Daniel]

---

@rwvanv wrote:

Reverting to 2.1.0.903 didn't fix it. Perhaps I need to revert back to the version before that one, the one in which we couldn't yet control music playback on other devices...?

Where did you actually find this older version's APK download link?

---

The last 10 or so I extracted personally from the updates received through Google Play... prior to that the apk's were sourced from the Internet

[rwvanv]

I tried a full factory reset last week, that didn't fix it. I'm getting the feeling that it might be due to a firmware update by Samsung, messing up my processing memory capabilities or so? Really annoying. I used to use Spotify every single day, and now I just can't, really. Seriously hate it like this, gets really frustrating that no Spotify support agent or so is taking time to respond to customer complaints like this one themselves anymore...

[alejandro_bugge]

i have the same issue with a moto G 2014, so its not a samsung update problem. the app is freezing and NEED an update. it is not our phones, or SD, or connection, or if you live in the city or a mountain, it is the app what needs a FIX. if you wanted a pic of what we see when it freezes here is a link of what i see https://community.spotify.com/t5/Help-Android/Spotify-stops-playing-songs-and-freeze/td-p/1111548.

SO PLEASE, DO SOMETHING.

thanks.

[ChadKaplowski]

Given the fact we were reporting successful resolutions 2 months ago and the thread has been dormant until today, you might consider a new thread?

[alejandro_bugge]

as you can see above, i created new threads with the description with NO answer. also, i have seen at least 3 more post with the same issue with no other answer that the useless "format SD and reinstal and blablabla" that does nothing.
its been a week now and we have no fix for something some of us are paying and we cant enjoy ... so please, at least i expect an admin to give a proper answer. i dont want any kind of refound or money back, i just want to listen some music. thanks.

[rwvanv]

Hi Alejandro, others who are interested,

You shouldn't be expecting anything from the Spotify team it seams. They just figured out they're too big to care about their customers now. But also, they really won't be fixing the issue anyway, now that there seems to be an alternative solution. Which, you ask? Well, let me first state that yesterday I was pleasantly surprised, no relieved, no I still can't believe it but it's true, I must be dreaming, that I could finally enjoy some time using Spotify on my mobile again for over 30 minutes!!! Without any issue. Until then, this was in no way possible except for on a PC. Apparently installing the Android 5.0 Lollipop update on my Galaxy Note 3 fixed it. I most certainly hope it will fix it for you too. Looks like Spotify decided to drop support for older versions or so, because it was close to being the only app that didn't require an update after installing the new ROM I received over-the-air...