Car View missing

[jordypeatpeat]

Plan

Premium

Country

New Zealand

Device

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

Operating System

Android 11 

My Question or Issue

As of today the 'Car Mode' is missing from my settings. I have it on all the time for driving before and after work, but when I started playing music this morning it defaulted to the main play view with no sign of the setting.

Is this feature removed or is it a bug? Does anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!

[jordypeatpeat]

Hey @jordypeatpeat,

Thanks for posting here.

We can confirm that we're retiring the car view feature. This however doesn't mean we don't want to improve on how our users listen to Spotify while driving. On the contrary, we're actively exploring a variety of new ways to deliver the best in-car listening experience. Think of retiring car-view as something that needs to happen in an effort to make way for new innovations coming down the track.

Please bear with us for the time being. While we work backstage on improving the experience, one alternative would be to listen hands-free via Google Assistant. This feature also works with Google Maps so you can navigate while listening to Spotify. In order to do that, you can link your accounts and say ‘Hey Google, play Spotify’.

If available to you, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both have Spotify integrations that you can link to your phone and a specifically designed for a driving environment.

We hope you understand. Stay tuned for further developments!

All the best and safe driving.

[Maksim1337]

A mod said the feature is back on the table. More votes, higher chance of being reviewed.
Upvote here - https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/Android-Other-Bring-back-the-car-view/idc-p/5332338#M239...

[Markjharvey]

Here's hoping.....

[gt2847c]

I voted...  If the number of folks that were posting here would vote on request, maybe they'll consider it...  Please vote!

[gasolinehorsey]

Thanks for the update Ver but no I really don't understand.

I had a nice simple dark screen that told me what song was playing and had minimum functionality which made playing Spotify whilst driving safe and simple.

Now I have fully lit album covers and scrolling lyrics.

Why would anybody remove a feature that people used with no real explanation just a vague promise of something new?

Just leave the original feature in-situ and replace it when the new one's ready.

I feel like I'm missing something here as this makes no sense to me.

[Markjharvey]

I totally agree, and finding it really frustrating dealing with Customer
Support. I think every email exchange involves a new (unusual) name in
their team. It looks suspiciously/obviously randomly generated by a
computer. Responses usually look standardised and advise use of the
standard screen, or use Google Assistant. I've asked for exactly the same
as you, ie bring Car View back until a viable alternative is available. It
is a ridiculous situation! They won't even admit that it is about Car Thing
(I hate that name it only confirms that they haven't got a clue...). Car
Thing is only available in the US.......

Come on Spotify, show us you are listening. Bring back Car View.....I dont
want Car Thing......I already have a smart phone......

[Jura_]

Please, vote here 

[kosmologe]

Bring Car View back until a viable substitute is available.

[Angrycarviewfan]

We all know this pre-prepared answer is **bleep**, mate. I know it, you know it, but you must write it. OK.

To retire Car Mode was irresponsible to many many users. Car Mode was great and increased the safety. I was using it in the car at anytime I was driving. It was the reason to get the premium. I did not sit in my old car for some period so I was shocked when I found out it's gone....

You pricks did not even remove the setting instructions from the website..... It is still there. But no replacement for the service I've paid for. Nothing. Zero. And your ridiculous explanation and no REAL reaction to thousands of complains shows how you treat your users and misuse the market advantage of big player.

I'm not going to pay a cent for my multiple account any more. I am testing 3 other replacements now. Enjoy further fall of the shares value. This is probably the only lesson Spotify understands.... 

And yes. You guess right. It really made me upset. 

[pzhbfhr]

We are probably not going to get any answer soon. Now that they are all frozen with fear because of the whole Joe Rogan travesty. 

Can anybody recommend alternatives? Not only music but also with a good selection of podcasts?

[Jura_]

We got to 50 votes. Next step: 180 votes (AKA neverending story)

vote here 

[bukowski23]

do you realize that 50 votes are nothing to them. we need to get a lot more votes. let's go guys!

[Markjharvey]

This is getting ridiculous. We should have had a vote for Car View's
removal in the first place based on an understanding of what would replace
it, not the other way around. Spotify are useless. Please, Spotify,
reinstall Car View until an alternative is actually available.

[Maksim1337]

Vote here ↓

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/Android-Other-Bring-back-the-car-view/idi-p/5329622#M150...

[Orlos_]

Removal of this feature is one of the worst decisions ever made. It's ridiculous that Spotify is against driver safety, forcing us to look at the phone for much longer, because we need to unblock the screen every time and use the UI that isn't optimized for driving. Pathetic.

[catedesmonica]

I don't believe spotify cares about safety. It's all about $$$$'s

[bobbobbobbins]

So I decided to end my Spotify sub.  Moved to Amazon music in January.  Not the best app in the world, certainly could do with some work.  But I'll live with it.  Car view is present.  Integrates with Waze app.

It's cheaper than Spotify too if you have Prime.  Think I lost about 1% of my tracks from a ~3000 track playlist transfer, but this is to be expected with tracks being removed from most services now and then due to licensing changes.

No regrets really

[Maksim1337]

Might be a solution, if Spotify keeps refusing to acknowledge that this is a tremendous hazard.

[Jura_]

https://pocketnow.com/spotify-redesigned-car-mode 

[bukowski23]

hope so!!!

[djwMEDIA]

Please bring back car mode asap. 

Do I need to find an old version of the app to use this now? Absolute joke