Choose between Google Cast and Spotify Connect

[misio1]

Plan

Premium

Country

Poland

Device

Pixel 7 Pro / Samsung S22

Operating System

Android 16

My Question or Issue

I've been using spotify to stream to my NAD C338 via spotify connect for couple of years now.

Recently it stopped working - only google cast option is currently available on the newest spotify app.

As a part of troubleshooting I downloaded older spotify APKs and installed on my android phone to see if it helps - it did! The latest version of spotify app which shows spotify connect option to my NAD is 9.0.78.1116, starting from version 9.0.82.1008 the spotify connect is not available, just google cast.

Can the app be fixed so that I have spotify connect option back available on my NAD C338 please?

[pabulous]

Another update today. Still not fixed.

[kieranhightower]

Nobody from Spotify has indicated that they've even accepted this as a defect.  It won't get fixed until that happens. No admins/moderators have commented on this thread for a long time.

Is there a way to get someone from Spotify to actually acknowledge this thread & accept the defect?  Otherwise we're all just shouting into the void...

(It is nice to know I'm not the only one with the issue though - helps my sanity 😀)

[andreiku]

I have the same issue with Android app. Samsung S22+. Only google chromecast is available. After downgraring to 9.0.82.1008 Connect works again.

[sebastian_liebs]

The issue is still present in the latest Android build (9.0.98.1187)

• On local Wi-Fi: only Chromecast is shown
• On mobile hotspot/WiFi: only Spotify Connect appears

[picht]

On page 1 there a moderators replying. Spotify is aware. It seems like they don't want to fix the problem and why should they? People will pay anyway. Sorry for being sarcastic. 

[Sellie1747]

@Dessi, @Yordan, @Vasi, @AlegaR, @Eni:

I’d like to report a reproducible regression in the Spotify Android client affecting devices that support both Spotify Connect and Google Cast (examples: WiiM Pro, WiiM Mini, Yamaha, Denon HEOS, Chromecast-enabled receivers, etc).

This change results in the loss of the lossless Spotify Connect playback path, since Chromecast playback is capped below lossless quality.

---

Summary of the issue

On recent Spotify Android versions (including current builds), when a device supports both Spotify Connect and Chromecast, Spotify:

1. Shows the Spotify Connect version of the device for about 1–2 minutes after opening the app

2. Discovers the Chromecast endpoint afterward

3. Removes the Spotify Connect entry from the device picker

4. Forces the user to cast through Chromecast instead of Connect

This makes lossless Spotify Connect unavailable, even though the device fully supports it.

This behavior does not occur on Spotify for Windows. This platform correctly shows both Spotify Connect and Chromecast endpoints simultaneously.

---

Environment affected

• Platform: Android

• Spotify Android versions affected: any version after 9.0.80.1320

• Devices confirmed:

  • WiiM Pro

  • WiiM Mini

  • Chromecast Audio

  • Chromecast-enabled receivers

  • Yamaha / Denon HEOS devices

  • TV soundbars with both Connect + Cast

• Network: This behavior occurs on clean, single-subnet networks with SSDP and mDNS working correctly.

---

Steps to reproduce

1. Open Spotify on Android with a device that offers both Spotify Connect and Chromecast (example: WiiM Pro).

2. Ensure the device is powered on and on the same LAN.

3. Start Spotify and open the device picker.

   • Expected: Spotify Connect and Chromecast should both be visible.

   • Observed: Spotify Connect appears immediately.

4. Wait about 60–120 seconds.

   • Chromecast endpoint appears.

   • The Spotify Connect endpoint disappears from the list.

5. At this point, Spotify only allows casting via Chromecast, preventing lossless playback on Connect-capable hardware.

---

Verification

To exclude network issues, I performed full diagnostics:

• SSDP querying

• mDNS reflection working

• Spotify Connect advertised properly (_spotify-connect._tcp)

• Chromecast advertised properly (_googlecast._tcp)

• Device reachable on TCP 8008 and 8443

• Verified via tcpdump and avahi-browse that both service types are correctly visible

Downgrading Spotify Android to version 9.0.80.1320 immediately restores correct behavior, with Connect and Chromecast both appearing and remaining available.

This confirms the regression is within the Spotify Android client, not the network or device.

---

Impact

This regression:

• Removes access to lossless playback, since Chromecast is limited

• Breaks expected Spotify Connect functionality

• Creates a confusing UX (devices disappear after initial discovery)

• Is inconsistent with Windows behavior

• Affects multiple hardware vendors

---

Request

Please restore the prior behavior where Spotify Connect and Chromecast both appear in the Android device picker for devices that support both protocols.

Alternatively, provide a user setting in the Android client allowing users to:

• Prefer Spotify Connect

• Prefer Chromecast

• Show both device types

This would restore lossless playback options and align with the behavior of other Spotify clients.

---

Thank you

I hope this helps isolate the issue. If developers need logs, packet captures, or version comparison data, I can provide that as well.

[eejjay]

Yet another update (9.1.0.1147), yet another disappointment. Issue still persist, no streaming possible without the wifi disconnect workaround.

[Phil_Hu]

Same issue. Pixel 7. No Spotify connect option. Rolling back to Version 9.0.80.1320 instantly solved with no additional config on any devices.

Another reminder of why I keep auto update off 🤦

[responsible_rebecca]

Same issue on Samsung S24. Please fix it, Spotify!

[mszczesniak]

Same issue - Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Also - it does not seem to happen on my wife's iPhone 16 Pro.

[pieterv1]

Noticed this a few weeks ago with my WiiM Ultra as streaming device (supporting both Chromecast + Spotify Connect). On my phone (Pixel 6, Android 16) I no longer have the option to choose between CC or connect for this streamer. 

On my old iPad, I get the three-dot menu next to my streamer to change the connection method. 

Simple "solution" is to disable the Chromecast Audio service on the WiiM, but then it is no longer visible in Google Home and can't be controlled with voice commands etc... 

[tesujimath]

I settled on what seems to be the only reasonable solution to this poor response from Spotify. I signed up with Deezer. Expect I'll cancel my Spotify premium soon. Money talks.

[meybod]

I have the same issue. I forced to change to another service if this is not fixed. 

[meybod]

@sellie1747 Great post. Maybe you should make it an separate thread which the people in this thread can like and bump since the problem is so well described which would make it easier for Spotify developers to look into. 

[JC-bougi]

Hi everyone,

I'm having same issue as everyone.

I discovered the issue when trying to enable lossless : I see only Chromecast devices. No Spotify connect.

My devices : 3 wiim pro, one Cambridge exn100 and couple of Chromecast audio. Wiim pro and exn100 are full lossless compatible, have of course the same network configuration, connected by ethernet or wifi mesh. 

I did a full reinstall of Spotify app (current version is 9.1.2.1253)

I tried disabling CC on one wiim pro. It is now visible as Spotify connect device BUT showing as "on other network"

Does it make any sense ?

I do use Roon on exact same network and devices. It has no issue in showing/addressing CC AND RAAT connections for each device.

I assume Spotify is broken or has done a VERY bad job when implementing lossless.

On top of that, I don't see why lossless doesn't work with CC devices while Roon works perfectly fine up to 96/24.

Hey Spotify ! Do something !!!

[puLsEVFX]

For me I can disconnect from WiFi, start music over Spotify connect and connect again to the WiFi.

[picht]

If you have only one chromecast device. Then only spotify connect is available. And I cannot choose for chromecast (no three dots) when turning my other chromecast device which also supports spotify connect

 Then only chromecast is available. So i am still using old version of the app. Its a shame that spotify does not do anything about it. 

[andreiku]

I've been trying to address this with support on their chat, so far no luck... They keep telling me to "reboot my speaker".

[ColoradoSki]

Spotify App Version 9.12.1253, Pixel 10 Pro, Kef LS50 Speakers (RE: Spotify Android app was defaulting to Google Cast and not offering Spotify Connect option for enabling lossless audio)

Thanks all.  I went with the solution suggested of setting up a separate isolated network and moved all my Google Nest speakers to that network. Now my default network has no "Google Cast" speakers visable and Spotify Connect is the only choice to my Kef LS50 speakers, and it shows lossless audio. Like others, this was only android (pixel 10 pro) issue for me, connect did work from windows computer. (If you want to test this solution, turn off all google cast devices on your network, and see if Spotify Connect returns on the device you want to use it on. It only takes one device with google cast to change the default back to google cast, so make sure you get them all. FYI, i was able to leave my Pixel Tablet on my primary network, which does use Google Cast but must be implemented differently than the Nest speakers)