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!

[user-removed]

Absolute nonsense. That's the only way I used to launch Spotify.

Notice the 'used to'?

Looks like I'll be using Spotify only on the desktop until this gets reverted.

[Joseph34]

I hear you I literally looked and its **bleep**ing gone like wth i dont want to pull the noti screen down or go in the **bleep**ing app everytime to change or pause a song like wth I hold my sensor for 1 sec opens my phone I press next on the widget and bam so now tell me how it's better with out it. Because apple doesnt support it you take it away from android who the **bleep** cares apple**bleep** and if you own one**bleep** too deal with it 

[-wpld_t5oy0cg]

Man, this is the best news I've had since my granddad died.... SMH!

[Joseph34]

Right I'd just hit the widget and bam shes open

[AvelinoP]

Solved! Go to Solution?!?!?! How is this solved?!?! If widget doesnt come back by the end of the week consider me unsubsribed. Literally just got told by so many of my friends about this and all are looking for alternative music apps. Spotify digging themselves a hole here. So baffled as to who would've thought this was a good idea?

[TheUndead]

This is a ridiculous idea, simply because it's a basic media player feature, a part of minimal functionality of a product, and it should be regarded as such.

[Supermelly]

I want my widget BACKKKK!!! First you don't add on Fitbit and now taking off my widget. Do you want me to go away?

[Sthilairerenaud]

Wow nice move guys, you could probably have asked your customers about it first no? You dont give a **bleep** huh? If the widget isnt back by the end of August im cancelling my subscription to Spotify Premium...

[Joseph34]

They gotta fire the guy who came up with idea

[JoeyJeep]

Without the widget, Spotify is almost useless to me. This is easily one of the most audacious and ignorant moves they could have made. Great move making me think about using your competitors instead of you. 

[scraggarax]

Last month it was moving us all to playlists from liked songs. Now removing a widget that people use. I still don't understand why the decision was made for this... Was it to save space? I don't get it.

[dickw5000]

Really? Vote for this "idea"? This was an awesome feature, it's how I access my music, always. Spotify deletes the feature, as an improvement? And then wants us to vote for it's return as a new idea? What sort of customer service is this? 

I am so disappointed. Folks go to the Google Play store and rate the app. Badly. 1 or 2 stars? And tell other users what Spotify thinks of their customers, premium customers.

[krisis70]

Why do you remove it? It was very useful.I use it always, please reintroduce it.

I had to remove it and install an old version😣

[Lauren22]

This is awful!!!!! We love the widgit. Bring it back.

[Ubertopher]

Thanks for that suggestion.

@Spotify, you now have a new app review on the Android Play Store.  A word of advice: don't pîss off your paying customers.

[M1nac]

Spotify,  I used this feature every single day.  It took one click to get back to what I was listening to, even if it was hours later.  It was right on my homescreen and easy yo account.  One of the reasons I use android is for the added features of widgets.  

What business sense does it make to remove functionality that most users use daily? Please bring it back. 

[jeroen_xxx]

Yeah, you can download an apk for a previous version (and disable auto updates).

[Palmer74]

New update uninstalled.  Older versions apk installed.   Hello widget!  Welcome back!

[TheAni]

I feel like my girlfriend just packed up and left overnight 😭. Please. COME BACK WIDGET !!

[lajusa]

This decision is just absurd and the workaround is even more. I hope someone gets fired for this brilliant idea.