Podcast Video Freezing

[nVizzle]

Plan

Premium

Country

USA

Device

iPhone X

Operating System

iOS 15.6.1

When playing a video podcast, the video freezes after a few seconds and never starts playing again. This has been happening for weeks now. Any help?

[nVizzle]

Hey folks,

Thanks for reaching out the Community.

Note: If you're new to this thread and you noticed this behavior recently, be aware, we’ll need every single detail in the following list, so our tech team can investigate further. If perhaps you already posted, but you didn't send all this info, no worries, please reply again with the remaining details, along with the Spotify version you have currently running.

We understand we’ve asked for several details, so let us gather them all in the following list:

• The exact Spotify version you're running.
• The make/ model and OS of the affected device.
• Is this happening with all video podcasts?
• What happens if you download the podcast for offline listening - does it play fine?
• When did you first notice this issue?
• Have you activated the data saver in your app settings?
• Did you activate the option to download only audio for podcasts with video?
• If you skip ahead by 3 seconds, the video launches or it continues to freeze?
• When and what time you tried to download and play the video podcast (please include the date as well as the time zone).
• Screenshots with the storage available in your device.

We really appreciate your cooperation on this matter.

Keep us in the loop, we’ll always be here!

[Vasil]

Hey @nVizzle,

Thank you for reaching out to the Community!

Does this happen across all your devices or on the iPhone only?
Could you also send us a link to this specific podcast or does this occur with any podcast?
We'll be on the lookout for your response 🙂
Cheers!

[nVizzle]

I believe it’s just on my iPhone. I rarely use the app on PC but it does not appear to happen there. It seems to be any podcast but this is the latest one I’m listening to for reference: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0x06wc62I4GraUnUDopw2o?si=EbcWWy9OR0ixy6DslsylJA

[OscarDC]

Hey @nVizzle,

Thank you for keeping in contact.

Since this is happening just on one device, we'd first recommend performing a clean reinstall of the app. This is often an overlooked step, but it can be helpful in getting rid of any corrupted files that might be causing issues.

If the issue persists, would you mind checking if it happens with other podcasts different than the Lex Fridman Podcast?

Lastly, in case the issue keeps happening after this, include in your next response the Spotify version you're currently running to continue investigating.

We'll be on the lookout.

[nVizzle]

Hello,

I uninstalled the app, reinstalled, and re-downloaded the podcasts but they’re still freezing. Yes, this seems to be all video podcasts. Spotify version is 8.7.58.409.

[Eni]

Hey there @nVizzle, 

Thanks for getting back to us and letting us know. 

Would you mind trying with a different internet connection to check if the issue persists?

Also, could you ask a friend or a relative to log in to their account on your phone to see if the same happens with a different account?

We'll be on the lookout.

[HamSir]

Hi,

This happens to me as well on my iPhone. This seems to have started occurring within the last 2-3 app version releases.

[Jeremy]

Hi there @HamSir,

Thank you for your reply in this thread. We're sorry to see that you're having issues with your podcast videos.

To start with, can you let us know if you followed all of the troubleshooting steps that's been provided here?

We'll be on the lookout for your reply.

Take care 🙂

[Sodomazus]

Hi,

I got the same thing for a couple of weeks already.

Tried all troubleshooting ways that were mentioned here and nothing helped.

Video still freezes while sound continues to play.

[Samthemani]

Same problem for me. Try to watch joe Rogan. Video plays for 3 seconds and then freezes. Sound plays normally. iPhone 

[nVizzle]

Hello, the connection doesn’t matter. Happens on wifi and cellular.

[Alex]

Hi folks,

Thanks for the replies.

Can you let us know the following info:

• Device model and OS version
• Spotify version
• Is this happening with all video podcasts?
• What happens if you download the podcast for offline listening - does it play fine?
• When did you first notice this issue?

Looking forward to your posts.

[aymen_belazi]

Hi Alex,

Please see below responses:

• Device model and OS version: iPhone 11 Pro
• Spotify version:   - 8.7.60.434
• Is this happening with all video podcasts?    
      - I only download Joe rogan videos at the moment. I didn’t try the others. 
• What happens if you download the podcast for offline listening - does it play fine?          

No, the same thing happens. It plays for 3-5 seconds then freezes.

• When did you first notice this issue?   - Around 2-3 weeks ago 

I cleared the cache, logged out, and deleted the app. I reinstalled it and the same problem is happening. I also tried watch the downloaded video in offline mode, but the issue remains. 

thanks,

[Sodomazus]

Hey

1. iPhone 12 Pro Max / iOS 15.5

2. 8.7.62.409
3. Happens with all downloaded podcasts

4. if played through Wi-Fi it plays fine. For me it freezes only with downloaded podcasts.

5. Month/ month and a half.

So somehow I figured out that starting playing it through Wi-Fi and then disconnecting phone from Ethernet helps. 
Another way to start it without Ethernet is to close the app, open it again, play any downloaded song and then start a podcast only from downloaded podcasts folder. (Although it is not working every time, so I have to repeat the same algorithm until it plays normally)

Peace✌️

[nVizzle]

Mine still freezes most of the time even after following the recommendations (clearing cache, reinstalling, etc).

[aymen_belazi]

Hi,

Yes apparently as mentioned earlier, it works for me when I play my downloaded video podcasts only when connected to WiFi. But otherwise, I can’t watch any downloads without wifi.

Thanks,

[AlejaR]

Hey folks,

Thanks for your replies in this thread and for the info shared 🙂

We've gone ahead and passed this info the our tech team. Rest assured this is being investigated at this moment.

Remember, if you noticed this inconvenience, please send to us the info asked by @Alex above, so this way we can send those details to the right team.

If anything else comes up, the Community will always be here for you.
 

Cheers!

[lhutsal]

Happens to me as well

• Device model and OS version 
  iPhone Xs 15.6.1
• Spotify version 
  8.7.62.409
• Is this happening with all video podcasts?
  All downloaded podcasts. Podcasts streamed via Wi-Fi/cellular work fine
• What happens if you download the podcast for offline listening - does it play fine?
  Only happens for downloaded podcasts
• When did you first notice this issue? Around two months ago 

[gmyers395]

Same problem. 

• Device model and OS version
  iPhone 8, iOS 15.6.1
• Spotify version
  8.7.62.409
• Is this happening with all video podcasts?
  Happens with all video podcasts
• What happens if you download the podcast for offline listening - does it play fine?
  Only happens when downloaded
• When did you first notice this issue?
  At least a month ago

[Dian]

Hey there,

Thanks for posting in the Community and sharing the requested information.

It is important to make sure you have no data saving settings turned on. Could you also double check if you're downloading the video as well and not only the audio part of the podcast? This is a setting in the app. If you're downloading the video part as well, could you try skipping past the 3-5 seconds mark to find out if the podcast is playing with the video afterwards?

Also, just in case, make sure to run the latest version of the app.

Let us know how that went,

Cheers!