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!

[sohail94]

I mean who needs convenience and efficiency anyways.

I used it all the time. It's a huge deterrent for me. #Badmove #youf'dup

[TopherA]

This has to be one of the stupidest decisions I've ever seen a company make. You've taken something that it would appear most of your android user base interact with, removed it without warning, told us we could vote to bring it back, then said that you have no intention of bringing it back right now. How about you listen to the community who pays to use your service instead of pretending you know what we want. 

[Rickycr96]

Queiro que les digas eso a los desarrolladores sino implementan el widget me largo a Apple music queda claro van a Tener un suscriptor menos de años así de simple

[Ubertopher]

Well done Spotify.  You're up to 41 pages (in the space of 24 hours no less) of people complaining about this complete mess of a decision.

[dakurz]

Quero o widget de VOLTA! LOGO! 

[ScoundrelDays]

As others have said: this is a bizarre, retrograde step.

I'm staggered that something like this would've been cleared by anyone at Spotify without considering the entirely predictable realise from the community. In addition to all of the most recent changes (playlists, the recently played section that is now useless) I can only say that this shows a complete lack of regard for end users. As does asking us to vote on it being introduced as a new feature. It's backwards customer service and ridiculously poor community engagement. 

Frankly Spotify are relying on us all being complacent, continual, users trapped by our existing playlists but this is too much. Realistically this makes Spotify a lesser product than nigh on all of its competitors. 

More specifically this change compromises user safety while driving. Apart from all else this should've prevented the removal of this feature. 

This must be reinstated, and quickly, otherwise I'll be off to another provider - one that increases functionality with each update not decreases it without so much as a by or leave, or an apology. 

[CCLCrazyness]

Hi, previously I could tap play on my home screen widget to continue playing the song where I left off the last time. However, now I will have to go into the app to play the music. The purpose of buying an android phone is to customize and have a unique home screen and user experience from others and for me, having all these widgets allowed me to make my home screen appless. Now I will need to have the spotify app sitting on my home screen to allow easier excess to my music. Really disappointed with this removal.

[16yatescou]

What kind of **bleep** poor excuse for the customer service is this? If this **bleep**ing issue isn't resolved I will be taking my business elsewhere. **bleep** you Spotify and all your dumbass decisions on what's "best" for your users. KYS! 

[Robinhototal90]

But I didn't like they have removed... I'm angry with this too...
I wrote THEY (SPOTIFY) said the reason why for removing was issue of new
features, not me.... I didn't agree with their reasons...

[abosey1]

They F*cked up the Volvo version and been more than 2 month and they have not fixed it. Now thay F*cked my phone and the widgets.. I always use the widgets.. 

Feels like you are being like apple and there choses 

[abeltrev]

There are 42 pages of responses - and these are just community members who sought out the Spotify community to comment and represent a larger part of your user base. There is clearly a demand for the widget - myself amongst them - and a desire for it to remain. This is a poor demonstration of knowing your user's use case of and developing with them in mind.

From a UX standpoint, the recommended solution of swiping down on notifications (which many of us do not use b/c we don't want Spotify to send us push notifications on useless information like an artist we follow has a new release or a band is playing nearby) adds unnecessary steps and is not intuitive. In addition, the notification access panel is riddled with issues (e.g. pausing a track through the notification window completely removes the playback panel from the notification window and causes the user to go back into the app to start it manually instead of conveniently on the homescreen). 

I implore you to bring the widget back. 

[Andrew_Lum]

"We're setting this idea to 'Not Right Now', as this isn't something we have any immediate plans to reintroduce. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts."

Don't patronise your customers by asking us to vote for an existing "idea" that you removed for whatever self serving agenda Spotify has as an excuse to throw user interests down the gutter. If you could explain yourselves instead of hiding behind an illusion of choice by "voting" that would be for the best.

[koenbosman]

Are the people in charge of this decision legitimately **bleep**ed? It literally makes zero sense to remove this feature...

[16yatescou]

If this isn't fixed CORRECTLY by the end of the week you can consider me and my husband gone for this community. The only reason I put up with all your**bleep** updates was because I enjoyed the widget. With that gone there is no appeal to your app. SCREW YOU SPOTIFY! 

[WhereMyWidget]

Listen to your customers.

We all love the widget.

[Dragoshade]

Well this is where I regret getting a 12month subscription (need to look into cancelling that part way through). Guess it gives me time to find an actually functinonal app which doesn't remove features for the sake of "improvement". 

[Josh95e]

That was the quickest and easiest way to start up Spotify, pause/play without the bar dissappearing like it does on the notification bar and skip through songs I don't see how removing it was a good idea 

[souza_mi]

Que pena, não gostei de terem tirado o Widget, porque assim eu não precisava abrir o aplicativo no celular, era só dar play na música que estivesse pausada no Widget.

Fora que no menu suspenso ele nem sempre aparece.

[Tyhoffman]

This is how I opened Spotify every time I get in my car. Why get rid of it? It was so useful.

[Clord420]

Everyone who is voicing their complaints on here needs to make sure to add/update playstore reviews.  Dont just cancel your subscription, make sure no one else signs up!