iOS. Spotify lock screen widget was replaced and works completely different

[quovadis0]

Plan

Premium

Device

(iPhone 14 pro)

Operating System

(iOS 17.6.1)

My Question or Issue

Spotify widget used to open the home page of the app. But today it was changed and now it just starts one of your recent playlists. Previous widget is no longer available and I cannot get it back. Updated to the last version.

[Kikibrubaker]

I mean, I don’t know what to do but I have the same problem! I used the old widget so much that it is just habit to click on it when I want to go to Spotify, but now it just plays a different song. So annoying, I wish the old one would come back

[Mees59]

Very true, it’s really annoying when you’re already listening to something, and you press that button out of muscle memory.

[dotty_b]

Plan

Premium

Country

UK

Device 

iPhone 14 Pro

Operating System

iOS 17.5.1

My Question or Issue

Hi, I have gotten a pop-up in-app recommendation yesterday asking me to try out the new widget feature. Without really reading it, I click yes. Now however, when I click on the Lock Screen widget it automatically starts playing a playlist instead of just opening Spotify like it did before.

I’ve checked all of the app settings, lockscreen and widget settings but couldn’t find an option to turn it back to normal.

Could someone please advise me?

Also this new widget has a little play head logo inside the Spotify logo in the widget which wasn’t there before (see attachment).

Thank you.

[Whitneysaunderss]

How do we fix this?? Spotify should’ve left it ALONE!

[Dessi]

Hi folks,

Thanks for reaching out and flagging this!

We’re always testing possible improvements, so you or someone else may see something new or get a limited feature temporarily. Make sure to always keep your app up-to-date in order to not miss on any changes.

Also, thanks for your feedback on this, we appreciate it! We'll make sure it reaches the internal teams at Spotify responsible for the change, so they can take it into consideration in order to provide the best user experience possible.

Take care ✌️

[duck-_-]

So when will I be able to turn it back?

[Heyzeuspee]

Please revert

[Spotytops]

Please revert this change or give an option to use the old functionality. This new widget is useless,

[endermaan]

Thank you Spotify for continuously worsening the user experience 

[Matilde3]

The iOS lock screen widget used to lead staight to spotify when clicked. I used this feature daily to put on music. Now it starts playing random songs. That's super annoying, so I deleted it from my lock screen.

Is there any way the old widget can be added back as an option? Plenty of other apps have multiple widgets. It's okay with me if this annoying one exists as well, but why does the other one have to be gone completely?

[Dcwiggs]

Ya this makes the widget useless for me now. I can see the vision in shuffling playlists, which is cool, but would work way better as a Home Screen widget not the lock screen widget. Was my direct access to opening Spotify and now it’s gone. 

[andersjonsson]

In the new version the widget for iOS is changed to one that directly plays recommended music. Could you bring back the regular widget that was just a link to open Spotify alongside with this new widget? The new widget does not fit my listening profile as I hardly ever use the recommended playlists. 

[Si_Opposite_Lock]

The new update where it automatically plays when opening from a widget, whose idea was that?! If you’re going to do something that big of a change, at least give us the option to turn it off!

[arissayasmin3]

Spotify recently released an update that when you click on the widget, it opens the app and automatically plays the song you last listened to. For me, I did not like the idea. I prefer that when I click the widget, it opens the app, and lets me browse which song I want to listen to. I don't want to listen to my last played song. Maybe they should make an option for those who want to automatically play the song and for those who don't (me!)

[arissayasmin3]

Tbh I don't like it when songs automatically play the songs, but that's just me I guess.

[NorthernLaw]

Wow this "update" is horrendous. REVERT THIS ASAP SPOTIFY

Every day Spotify does something that makes me want to switch to Apple Music. This is a dealbreaker for me, so I'll give it until my wrapped comes out and then starting in the new year unless they show some form of listening to the community, I'm going to Apple Music for sure.

I will however add that this Widget update is a decent idea, it's just removing the original widget that opens the app is an incredibly stupid idea. Spotify team I am doing you a huge favor so here is your work done for you with widget ideas (Pro tip: You can have more than one widget per app)

1. Widget same as the old one that opens the Spotify app

2. Widget same as the new one

3. Customizable one that auto starts playing any playlist of your choosing that is within your library. It will play how you last had it. So say I was listening to my Summer playlist and had it on shuffle, upon clicking the widget on my summer playlist it will auto play a random song from that playlist in the shuffle format.

[feikodeboer]

Current flow is quite annoying! 
I don't want to start random music when I click on this Widget, I would just like to open Spotify.

Also, why does it play a random from recently played? 
I've already listened to it recently.

Maybe at least have your shuffle setting in-app depend on if you are going to play something random or what is/ was last on.
I'll be looking forward to an update that brings a change to this.

[Reddicopithicus]

the new Lock Screen Spotify widget is a huge downgrade from the old one.

 When I clicked it before it would open my phone and launch Spotify. Now it doesn’t open Spotify it just switches the playlist I’m listening to. 

It is engraved in my brain to click the widget to open Spotify, so I constantly switch playlists on accident. 
I am sure I’m not the only one experiencing this issue.

Please add the old one back or alternatively, make 2 widgets, one that opens the app and one that switches playlists.

[-Karma-]

I agree. Now it plays a random songs. Removed that useless widget from my lockscreen. I specifically had added it so it opens the app…

Who at Spotify thinks it was a good idea to change the action to play a random song?