Android Widget Removal

[Staff]

We’re here to let you know that we are retiring the Spotify Widget for Android this week. 

We always take retiring features in Spotify very seriously. We’re pouring our energy into new ways of creating the best experience for our users.

You can still easily access the same playback features as well as information about what is playing through the Spotify playback notification and device lockscreen.

To access the playback controls on Android simply swipe down while you are using Spotify to access the controls.

If you’re interested in learning more about how the app evolves, check out our article about testing and why features change.

We’re also welcome to feedback from our users. The best way to give us feedback to is to write an Idea in our Idea Exchange. 

Thanks!

[machine_gun_joe]

Congratulations, Spotify. The users seem to LOVE this decision! Just scroll through the reactions here and on Reddit. Finally we are not bothered anymore by this crucial core feature that pretty much EVERY other media app has. You really care for your customers and you seem to pay close attention to the community. As everyone knows, getting rid of the widget was a priority for many users for a long time. Thank you so much, I feel appreciated! Oh, and don't bother creating alternatives like integration with third party apps such as Tasker. We just love when you take features away from us. 

[jebede]

One of your worst "improvements" ever. Is maintaining the widget really such a mess that you can't afford the manpower any longer? How about offering the widget to paying users only? Would be another argument for a payed subscription. Or, if you aim on streamlining your main application, why not offer the widget as a separate download?

[Gingerwerewolf]

Im sorry but I would very much like this back - I use it all the time.

I truly do not understand why you would take a feature away.

Surely a better choice is leave it in to allow users to have their own choice.

I used to control it on my front screen all the time.

Please put it back

[dhdoctor]

Well, that was **bleep**ing stupid! Literally used that every day. You guys seem to have a habit of removing useful features. Most notable for me was swiping down to search a playlist, and now this. 

[xariongray]

So, is there a safe way to roll back the version of the app, so I can get the widget back?

[Tribute]

I didn't like your previous update, but I still managed to find my music and use the widget as before so I decided not to raise an issue.

But now you have removed the widget as well...

I am beginning to question why I pay for your services every month.

Please bring it back, the fact that most of the replies to this post telling you to return the widget has more likes than your original post should speak for itself...

Best regards 

Disgruntled Customer 

[mdqmatias]

STUPIDS! Thats is what you are.

Is a useful function that we all uses EVERY **bleep**ING DAY. Are you mind? At less put it back for people that pay the subscription!!!!

Right now im SERIOUSLY thinking to resign my subscription and use YouTube Music, in paying YouTube Premium right now but i won't use YT Music cause i love Spotify, but this widget thing is literally stupid from you... Say bye to an old subscriber!

[walp]

Been using the widget literally everyday on all my Android devices for years, such a nice looking and convenient thing on my desktop. Seems Spotify has gone lame again with an update, which seems to happen more and more to be honest

BTW, the drop-down notification workaround doesn't work as Android would kill that notification after some time anyway. One of the many reasons I was using the widget.

Now be nice for once and bring the **bleep** thing back.

[Sm08]

Either be honest why you removed it and let us decide if we stay with or just put it back. Someone has **bleep** up. 

[leonce]

This is just your WORST DECISION EVER.

Personally, I have been able to rollback to the previous version by restoring a TitaniumBackup archive. This gave me instantly access to the widget again.

I have disabled auto-updates in the Play store and will keep this version forever. Should this version stop working in the future, I would immediately cancel my subscription to Spotify Premium...

I have been a Premium user for 8 years and never thought I would consider cancelling my subscription for such an unbelievable decision 😞

[Vix83]

Come on guys, dont remove something that works until you have something to better it! Like most I use my widget from my home screen every day and now it's gone i have to hunt through my Apps to find it whenever i want my music! Please put the widget back until you have something better to replace it! Thanks

[kneipodromen]

Very sad 😞 More taps now to start playing a song. I feel playing a song should be a core feature that's well supported. There are a lot of features ooutside the critical path of playing a song that should be cut before this one, in my opinion. 

[jesterinou]

That was the feature that was missing on ios and that iphone users were craving for. We used it everyday, that is so much easier when you are driving... Please give us back the widget, or we will consider go to another service which has it.

[Ultramane]

This is unbelievably stupid. Why are you actively trying to make this app harder to use? I'm about to quit after 7 years of use over these dumb updates 

[Timmaaah]

Well good thing that google play still has a widget, because thats where i'll be moving my subscription. Thanks for the many years, however I used this feature daily as my main way of interacting with the application.

[Darkmage4]

ARE YOU SERIOUS!?? I USE the widget every single day! It's become the most important part of my music listening! I DON'T WANT THE APP open all the time or to bring down my notification or go to the lock screen. I DON'T even use my lock screen on my Note 9. I have an AOD which I don't change from the clock! I have finger print scanner on, so I don't even use the lock screen. 

What is spotify thinking!? You're just ruining yourself lately... Changing the UI, REMOVING AN IMPORTANT FEATURE! THE WIDGET! 

I've had spotify Premium for over 3 years now, count it 5 years now because of a different account. So, you're really just going to remove something that EVERYONE uses!? This is just dumb... I spent 600 dollars on this now garbage app, and garbage service. Now I have a big empty void and I don't know how to get to the app properly like I used to! I have 512GB of Music downloaded from ALL of my playlists, and then some. I've been a loyal customer. But, 10 dollars can go to another service I think. Because this is rediculous. Maybe Pandora would like my service? I haven't used them in years, but maybe they would appreciate more people to go to them instead!? 

[Sorel_IX]

I'm not following the logic here. As many others: i'm very dissapointed.

[Naf623]

What a completely stupid idea. Now I have to open the app every time I want to start my music, because your "replacement" solution IS NOT PERSISTENT.

The next update had better have a widget again, or all of my family's subscriptions will be cancelled.

[Markymos]

Please bring this back it was used by me every day!

[SirNicolas]

Wow, this got to be one of the worst devisions I've seen. For the first time in 2 years I considered removing spotify. Everything I do with the app relies on this feature.