Spotify no longer working properly on Android Auto

[j-4526nwi3_q]

Hello,

Up until about a week ago, I used to be able to listen to podcasts in my car through Android Auto with no problems. I would download episodes of podcasts for off-line listening, and I would be able to listen to podcasts while driving off-line. I would be able to control spotify through the console in the car, as in selecting an episode, pressing play. Now I can't do that. I press play and nothing happens, can't select an episode.

Not sure why this is happening all of a sudden.

Plan

Free

Device

Samsung S24

Operating System

Android

[Ivelina]

Hey @j-4526nwi3_q,

Thanks for posting this thread in the Community!

In case you've not done any troubleshooting so far, to start make sure that you're using the newest Spotify version and software versions on your devices. Additionally, you can give the app on your phone a clean reinstall as it helps with different performance issues. You can take a look at the steps here.

Keep in mind that your downloaded content will be removed after the reinstall and you'd have to re-download the podcast episodes (make sure you've got a stable internet connection). 

It'd be great if you could also test in case the same behavior happens if you're instead streaming the podcast episodes and not trying to play them downloaded.

Keep us posted 🙂

[j-4526nwi3_q]

Clean reinstall has seemed to work!

Hopefully won't have any more issues

[jhinny9]

Hello, I am having the same problem but the "clean install" solution did not resolve it.  Please help! Also, I do not have the issue if I am streaming vs playing from downloaded.  Thank you!

[MihailY]

Thanks for joining the thread, @jhinny9.

Does the same behavior occur with music too or is it just podcasts? It's worth checking if the podcasts have video: there's an option in the app's settings to download podcasts as audio-only, could you check if activating it helps alleviate the issue?

Also, are you activating Offline mode in the app's settings or simply disabling your internet connection when connecting to the car? Try both ways and see if they work differently.

Keep us posted.

[jhinny9]

It only occurs with podcasts from "my episodes", not music. I have my settings set to audio-only. And yes, offline mode is activated. It doesn't seem to have a problem if I am not in offline mode, but that's hard to test because I don't have any service when I'm driving.

[MihailY]

Hey @j-4526nwi3_q,

Thanks for your response.

I've checked on my end and indeed, I wasn't able to start anything downloaded in Your Episodes from the car, it showed a "Getting your selection..." message, but wouldn't load. It did however work when I started the episode from the phone and I could use the controls in the car to skip back/forward. Are you seeing the same behavior?

If yes, please send me your device model, OS version and Spotify version along with the model of the car or the infotainment system if it's an aftermarket one. If not, then please share a video of how things look on your end.

Cheers,

[jhinny9]

Hello, yes you got it exactly right! That is the behavior I'm seeing.

Device Model: Galaxy Z Flip5

Android version: 14

Spotify Version: 9.0.20.604 (just updated, haven't tried this version yet)

Car Model: 2019 VW Golf

[MihailY]

Hey @jhinny9,

Thanks for confirming.

I've forwarded this to the relevant team, I'll keep you posted in this thread.

Appreciate your time and effort in reporting this!