Bluetooth controls do not work since last update

[aouko]

Everything was working well until last update of Spotify, in my car using Bluetooth only not Android Auto, I cannot control (change songs) using the car control.

It does work of I go on the app settings, Connect to a Device and enable the check box to allow multiple people or device interactions to change songs.

Phone is a Pixel 6 Pro, latest update

Current version : 8.8.22.510

[AlejaR]

Hey @aouko,

Thanks for posting in the Community and welcome.

For starters, just to confirm, have you already tried some troubleshooting steps on your side? If you haven't yet, we'd suggest starting with a clean reinstallation of the app on your mobile device to check if you see any difference. To do it, you can follow the steps you find in this article.

On another note, would you mind checking if this is happening if you connect your mobile device via AUX or USB cable to your car? That'll help us to isolate what's exactly happening on your side.

Lastly, just to clarify, can you describe to us how the audio in you car is built? Would you mind sending us a video recording of what's exactly happening? You can attach the video in your next reply in mp4 format, or you can also upload it to YouTube or Google drive and make it public, so we can watch it.

Keep us in the loop!

[aouko]

Hello AlejaR,

Already tried to uninstall and reinstall, even did the update that came out
in the last 2 days ( 1 per day).

I haven't taken a video but to resume what happens.

Music will play and I can control from the phone directly but I cannot
change songs or stop/play from the car control on the steering wheel unless
I go in settings device and allow Multiple control like said in my original
email.

Best,

[Old-Big]

Same issue here, I'm on Pixel 7 Pro with Mini Cooper JCW Clubman MY2021

[Vasil]

Hey @Old-Big,

Thank you for letting us know!

Have you tried the troubleshooting steps mentioned by @AlejaR?
We'd also like to verify if this is happening only via Bluetooth or if you connect your mobile device via AUX or USB cable to your car as well (if possible).

We'll be on the lookout for your response 🙂

[Evangelinexx]

I’m having the same issue, my car controls no longer work since the Spotify update, this has happened both with a USB cable and with Bluetooth connection when both used to work before, other apps still work with the in car controls so I know it’s just Spotify with the issue 

[Joan]

Hi @Evangelinexx,

Thanks for the info. Could you please provide us the following:

• The exact makes, models and OS/Firmware versions of all your affected devices
• The exact Spotify Versions you use.
• A video of the behaviour

With this information, we’d be happy to investigate.

Keep us posted.

[ainfigree]

I have the same issue with Spotify version 8.8.56.538 and Android 13 on a Pixel 6 Pro, connected via Bluetooth to a Mini Cooper Electric. 

Observed behaviour:

Phone connects to car, music starts playing

Scroll using navigation dial or steering wheel buttons to select a new track

Nothing changes - original track keeps playing

Expected behaviour (YouTube Music does this):

The newly selected track starts playing.

This used to work, but stopped working a few months ago for me. I believe but cannot confirm it was the same time I got a smartwatch (Google Pixel) which has audio controls of its own. My smartwatch controls do still work while Spotify is connected to my car.

I have done a clean reinstall when I first encountered the issue but will do one again just to be sure. I do not see an option like aouko describes to allow control via multiple devices - that sounds exactly like what's going on for me.

[AlejaR]

Hey @ainfigree,

Thanks for your reply and for the info shared.

In this case, since you mentioned you think this started to happen when you got your smartwatch, would you mind unlinking your watch from your mobile device to check if you notice any difference? It'd be awesome if you could check if this behavior persists on your car after that.

If yes, you can also send us a video recording of what's happening on your side. You can attach the video in your next reply in mp4 format, or you can also upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and make it public, so we can visualize it.
 

Keep us in the loop!

[bcase8]

Same issue on 2016 bmw x1, pixel 7, Spotify ver 8.8.58.473. all same troubleshooting has been done. YouTube music works correctly. 

[Eni]

Hey @bcase8, 

Thanks for getting in touch about this and welcome to the Community. 

Could you let us know which troubleshooting steps you've already tried? That way we can avoid repeating any steps.

On another note, could you let us know if this is happening only via Bluetooth or if you connect your phone via AUX or USB cable to your car as well?

Keep us posted. 

[bcase8]

I have reinstalled the Spotify app and updated to the newest version. I rebooted the phone and also forgot the Bluetooth connection on both the phone and car and paired them again. The car does not support audio with USB so I can comment on that and pixel 7 does not have aux port so not that either. The issue occurs when trying to navigate and select a song from the cars menu it used to let select a song and play it from the bmw car menu but now I can see the playlist and songs but when I click nothing happens. I am still able to select skip track in the bmw menu and go to the next song but can't select songs from the playlist like I could previously in March of 2023. Also mini Cooper is owned by bmw so it's possible this is specific to bmw/mini Coops. This was not an issue before the big spotify app redesign update.

[Joan]

Hi @bcase8,

Thanks for the thorough reply. Could you send us a video of the behaviour as mentioned previously? As @AlejaR said, you can attach the video in your next reply in mp4 format, or you can also upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and make it public, so we can visualize it.

Keep us posted.

[bcase8]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AXd3x45457I6iXkKFFm3oPCxlqOzoF4i/view?usp=drivesdk

[Vasil]

Hey @bcase8,

Thank you for the recording!

Seems like everybody who's reporting this issue is using a Pixel phone for the pairing. Do you have any way of testing if using a different mobile device would yield different results? 

We'll be on the lookout for your reply 🙂 

[ainfigree]

Late update but hope this is helpful!

Neither of the following steps affects the problem:

• Smart watch is paired to phone, but not currently connected - Bluetooth track controls still do not work
• Smart watch is completely un-paired from phone ("forget") - Bluetooth track controls still do not work
• Un-pair/"Forget" every bluetooth device that has any kind of headphone/media connection - guess what? No effect 😞

I did a quick video - https://photos.app.goo.gl/5Z7aGCVDCgWrREJL9

While I show "select a song from playlist" on the video, I can confirm that the forward/backward skip track buttons on the steering wheel have the same effect. The only things that work to change tracks are: manually pressing the controls in the Spotify app on the phone; using the media control mode in my Pixel smart watch.

I do not have another Android device but I will attempt to see if an iOS device over bluetooth has the same issue. I suspect not, though. Apple CarPlay works fine, but I assume that's a totally different software stack.

If it's helpful I can see if I can get any device logs or diagnostics from my phone. I'm happy to talk directly to an engineer to troubleshoot, I am a software engineer and have possible avenues of escalation on the Android side if need be.

[AlejaR]

Hey @ainfigree,

Thanks for keeping us in the loop and for the detailed info you shared.

Unfortunately, we couldn't see the video you kindly sent us. If possible, you can attach the video in your next reply in mp4 format, or you can also upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and make it public, so we can visualize it.

On another note, would you mind sending us the exact Spotify version you're currently running on your mobile device? We'd suggest both the app and your mobile device OS are up-to-date.

Lastly, we'd recommend making sure the MINI Connected app is installed and up-to-date as well. Having the MINI Connected app installed on your Android device is required to establish the connection to your MINI. You can read more about it here.

We'll keep an eye on your response! 

[Jpfb6si]

Was this ever resolved ? I'm having the same issue, just updated to Spotify version 8.8.76.667 . 2013 Honda civic. Bluetooth steering wheel controls to skip tracks and repeat were working fine since 2013. Stopped after this update. Using a pixel 7A with Android 14. I have already troubleshooted, cleared all devices off my car, I cleared my car off my phone as well, reconnected still nothing. 

[bcase8]

I just updated my pixel 7 to Android 14 and my Spotify is version 8.8.78.587. Mine is working correctly now. I would go to Android 14 and see if that helps.

[Jpfb6si]

I am on Android 14, I just solved it though, uninstalled Spotify and reinstalled it, at startup it asked if I wanted to allow other devices permission to control Spotify, I wonder why it didn't ask that after I updated it originally. But thanks !