[Android] Bluetooth controls don't work if Google Assistant is asked to play a song

[charlessanders]

Following on from a previous thread which is now flagged incorrectly as fixed, I am raising this issue once again so as to get it flagged and worked on. This was the previous thread...

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Ongoing-Issues/Bluetooth-controls-don-t-work-if-Google-Assistant-is...

This was at no time fixed for me and there are several other parties raising the problem once again. Hence the new thread.

Specifically, if the Google Assistant is used to change track or play a requested song, thereafter Bluetooth Controls, which worked perfectly up to and immediately prior to the Google Assistant instruction, cease to work.

Please prioritise and fix.

I do not know whether this is a problem with Apple devices. I am experiencing the issue on Android on both Samsung Galaxy S8 and S20 devices.

[Rnorouzi]

Happening to me on pixel 4xl. Spotify version 8.6.36.1070. 

[keiranwdigital]

Happening to me on a Huawei P30 and my car Bluetooth, really irritating!

[keiranwdigital]

As per the last thread I've just checked on "Spotify for Android version 8.5.96" and the issue is fixed on my phone. It's definitely something they have done since then. 

[ty81_v-57dqwo]

I have same latest version on Samsung Note 10. Same issue,... I'm soon switching to another app as can't use Spotify while driving. Super annoyed!!

[CarlosE]

Hey folks, 

Thanks for reaching out to the Community!

We can confirm that this was fixed for most users at that time, but since you're still experiencing this, we can try some troubleshooting steps. There's a newer version of the app than the one mentioned above, so make sure to update the app to run the latest version.

If this doesn't make any difference, it's worth running a clean reinstall of the app by following these steps. This can be helpful to get rid of any cached files that might be causing trouble.

Keep us posted on how it goes.

[keiranwdigital]

Please re-read our posts. 

You said that the issue was fixed in version 8.5.96 in the thread linked above. 

I was running the latest version of Spotify (I checked when I hit this issue) and the issue occurred. I also ran a clean install so that doesn't fix it either. 

Upon reading the post above I went digging to find an apk with the version 8.5.96, this does not have this issue. 

The means that somewhere between 8.5.96 and the latest version you have made a code change that has re-introduced this issue. 

[CarlosE]

Hey @keiranwdigital,

Thanks for your reply.

The version I meant was the one @Rnorouzi mentioned above (8.6.36), which isn't the latest one. To confirm, can you let us know the Spotify version you're currently running, the Android version of your phone, and if it only happens with the Bluetooth controls on your car or in any other devices?

Keep us in the loop.

[keiranwdigital]

Hi Carlos

Thanks for your response, the version I was using before rolling back so it works in my car was 8.6.36, I drive quite a lot so that's more important to me. 

Steps to recreate

1. Ask Google assistant to play a Spotify album
2. Attempt to change the track by Bluetooth 
3. The track won't change

Steps to prove it is directly linked to Google Assistant

1. Open Spotify and start an album
2. Attempt to change track by Bluetooth 
3. The track changes

I don't have a set of standard Bluetooth headphones (not alexa ones) so I can't test it for you. Others have reported that the issue exists though on all Bluetooth devices. Of course, this is something I'd expect you being the developers of a multi platform app could test with very very little effort.

Phone is Huawei P30 on Android 10 but as above the issue exists on several devices.

[ty81_v-57dqwo]

I'm on Note 10 android 11 and latest Spotify version.

Same. Bluetooth receiver controls or smartwatch media controls stop working after asking Google Assistant to change music on Spotify.

However works fine if open YouTube Music or any other media app.

Same with Sony Bluetooth headphones at home, after asking Google Assistant to play something on Spotify the bleutooth controls stop working.

[charlessanders]

With all my apps up to date I still have the problem. Here is a trail of the proof steps taken to check this morning:

1. Reboot phone to reset everything

2. Manually open Spotify, play a track. Use Bluetooth controls to pause, skip etc successfully

3. Open the Google Assistant App, go to Settings -> Voice -> Voice Match ->Hey Google = set to OFF.

4. Hit the Microphone option in the Google Assistant App and ask to play something on Spotify

5. Spotify plays it, and the Bluetooth Controls continue working to pause, skip etc successfully

6. Open the Google Assistant App, go to Settings -> Voice -> Voice Match ->Hey Google = set to ON.

7. Use 'Hey Google' to play a track

8. Spotify plays it, but the Bluetooth controls no longer work with Spotify

[keiranwdigital]

Sounds like the issue could be with the "Hey Google" bit then? Thanks for checking that because I didn't think of it. Still, that's exactly the functionality I need to use in the car

[Jeremy]

Hi there @keiranwdigital,

Thank you for your replies in this thread.

Can you perform a clean reinstall of the app? This will make sure there's no old cache files causing this.

On another note, does this work from a different device?

We'll keep an eye out for your replies.

Take care!

[Rnorouzi]

Hello,

I've tried the re-install and it did not work. It happens in my car, with my bluetooth headphones as well. They only app that has this problem is Spotify. Google music works fine.

[keiranwdigital]

Hi, I already did this when I was initially troubleshooting the issue. Please stop reading from a script and investigate the issue. We've provided steps to recreate it, have you actually attempted to recreate it? 

[Eni]

Hi @Rnorouzi and @keiranwdigital, 

Thanks for getting back in touch.

We've passed this info to the right team to be looked into. We'll keep you posted on any updates on the matter here, as soon as there are any.

If you have any questions, the Community is always here for you. 

[LesTrg]

I have performed a complete reinstall, including deleting storage and cache - still does not work. Even deleted the phone's cache partition and reset all phone settings without success. Only solution is to go back to earlier version of Spotify.

[juanjoferlo]

Same issue. Same steps to recreate it:

Samsung A50 

Spotify v8.6.36.1070

"Ok Google, play X song"

Play/pause/skip controls on my bike  stop working, only volume and receive call.

Also do controls in a smartwatch MiBand 4.

And the same thing happens with lock screen controls in the Phone. 

Since then Spotify drains phone battery in the background, althought yet not using it.

[Jeremy]

Hi there @juanjoferlo,

Thank you for your reply and for the specific information you've provided.

We've now passed this on to the right team.

Cheers!

[jon92828]

I'm seeing this issue too, it started 1 or 2 weeks ago. Force stop of Spotify fixes it temporarily, until you use Google Assistant again. Has this bug been passed to the developers yet? It's an easy repro.