topic Re: Can't select songs in iOS (iPhone, iPad)

Can't select songs

user-removed — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 12:47:54 GMT

Plan: Free

Country: Canada

Device: iPhone XR

Operating System: iOS 14.8

My apologies if this has been asked and answered elsewhere, but I couldn't locate it. On my iPhone, if I select an album, I can't click on any songs from that album. That is, none of the listed songs can be selected to play (see attached image). I don't have this issue on my iPad or desktop, just the phone. I've asked others and nobody has encountered this limitation.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Re: Can't select songs

Eni — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 17:54:37 GMT

Hey there @user-removed,

Thanks for reaching out about this here in the Community.

With the free service, only shuffle play is possible and not on-demand.

This is one of the main differences between the free and Premium functions on mobile. You can learn more about the other differences here. In this case, it's expected that when you search for a song you'll get the album/playlist that contains that song and you'd be able to play that whole collection on shuffle.

Hope this info helps. Let us know if you have any more questions.

Re: Can't select songs

user-removed — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 17:00:45 GMT

Thanks very much for the reply, tho it doesn't explain why my iPad and the phones of friends, all using the free option, have a distinctly UI than my phone. On my iPad, I can call up an album and pick which song to listen, but not on my phone, despite both being on the free option. That's the part that's confounding.

Re: Can't select songs

Eni — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 18:02:02 GMT

Hi there @user-removed,

Thanks for getting back in touch.

Keep in mind that the app can vary across devices and types of subscription. As mentioned above, this is a limitation in the mobile app for free users. However, it's possible to play music on demand on the tablet and on the desktop apps.

If you need help with anything else, just let us know 🙂

Re: Can't select songs

user-removed — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 19:26:14 GMT

Thanks again for the response. So, if I understand you, it's just dumb luck that nobody else I know has this limitation on their phones—nobody I've asked has ever seen this kind of limitation, where I can't even see the tracks on an album—even tho they're also on the free plan? It's a curious business model …

Re: Can't select songs

Eni — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:46:01 GMT

Hey @user-removed,

Thanks for getting back to us.

If your friends are able to pick tracks it might be because of the Pick and Play playlists. A Pick and Play playlist lets you select any track from it whenever you want, just like Spotify Premium.

Additionally, we’ve made all the playlists we make just for you on-demand. These include your Discovery Weekly, Daily Mix, and Release Radar playlists. Shuffle only playlists are marked with a blue shuffle symbol. This is not present on Pick and Play playlists.

Cheers!

Re: Can't select songs

31tfetep5rtt3ibrkies — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 20:09:46 GMT

Hi there,

I use a very similar phone (the iPhone XS Max) and I can’t select songs on it as well, but when I go on my 2020 iPad Pro I can select any of them. I think it’s just a “convenience” feature on phones as you carry them around so they suppose you don’t have the time to pick songs.

Re: Can't select songs

AndresM — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 20:36:40 GMT

Hey @31tfetep5rtt3ibrkies,

Thanks for reaching out here and welcome to the Community.

As @Eni mentioned in this post before, the functionalities of the app may vary in different devices (e.g. Windows, iPhone, Android).

Your feedback is important to us and we'll make sure to pass your comments to the team in charge, letting them know this is something you'd like to see in mobile phones too.

Remember the Community is here in case anything else comes up.

Have a great day!

Re: Can't select songs

SpecifyName — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 13:54:01 GMT

yo same phone and problem here, I’m also in Canada.

also doesn’t work on any phone I’ve seen.

Re: Can't select songs

Jeremy — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 14:09:38 GMT

Hi there @SpecifyName,

Thank you for your reply in this thread.

Can you confirm if you're a Premium user or if you're using our free version?

We'll keep an eye out for your reply 🙂

Take care!

Re: Can't select songs

Kissmysunshinnyass — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:27:45 GMT

I have the same problem

Re: Can't select songs

Kissmysunshinnyass — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:29:47 GMT

I’m on free Spotify and I have the same limitations on my phone, iPad , I can choose

Re: Can't select songs

adolfhitler69 — Sun, 21 May 2023 00:14:54 GMT

so i got the same phone as my brother, and i can’t choose specific songs while he can without premium

this is a scam

Re: Can't select songs

Rameenagha — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:38:21 GMT

I'm on tablet, it says to wait till tomorrow to be able to select what songs to play. It's Been doing this for 2 days. Tomorrow doesn't seem to come

Not playing song I clicked on

WW2_Tank_Lover — Wed, 08 May 2024 22:44:39 GMT

I am using web browser version on Apple IPhone 13, and thus shuffle is always on. But for some reason whenever I search up a song and click the „play” button, it doesn’t play said song. Example; I’ll try playing a Black Label Society song and it’ll end up playing Pantera as the first song.

I can't play individual songs

MichalDood420 — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 20:06:13 GMT

If i click an individual song it just shows me the cover and name of the song..

Re: Can't select songs

Simidsz — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:21:15 GMT

It’s unfair on the people who have an ipad and who can select it i don’t carry my ipad around so when i want to pick a song its a struggle im using the free version but ever since i’ve connected my spotify account to my ipad its not letting me chose which songs i play and only lets me pick what songs i want on my ipad i used to be able to pick my own songs i wanted on my phone but now its not letting me because ive signed into my iPad with spotify please sort this problem out!!