Fix Volvo Spotify app (Google play app) not updating playlists with music

[Cheesecakeftw]

The app does not update the playlist when adding music. The list can be updated by name, but the list does not update when adding more music to it at all.
Reinstalling the app via built in Google Play in the Volvo car does not help at all.

[MihailY]

Hey @Cheesecakeftw,

Thanks for posting in the Community.

In order to investigate this further, can you please provide a bit more info like for example:

• Your phone's OS and Spotify app version.
• Has this issue been present since your started using your car's infotainment system or it appeared recently?
• Is this happening with a specific playlist or all of them?
• Does the playlist update on different devices besides your car and your phone?

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

[Cheesecakeftw]

Hi,

The app version on my iPhone 13 Pro with iOS 16.1 is

8.7.68.568

Just to be clear, the app does work well on my phone, but not in my car.

The Spotify app version on my Volvo built in Android infotainment system is 4.3.2.0

The issue has been present since the first time using Spotify in the car.

This is happening to all of the playlists.

The playlists updates correctly between my PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone and Android phone, but not in the car app as stated above.

[Lyubka]

Hey @Cheesecakeftw,

Thanks for providing the requested details.

We'd recommend logging out and then logging back in two times in a row on your car (if possible). It sounds a bit odd, but this might force a sync between your account and your car's system.

On another note, could you send over a video or some screenshots where we can take a better look at this behavior?

We'll be on the lookout for your reply!

[Cheesecakeftw]

 

Hi,

I cannot attach more than one image because of limitations of sizes and max attachments here on the forum.

So you can check the images over here

https://share.icloud.com/photos/063W8iY4TQ7hxWcyHoto9nbSQ

Some images (in Swedish) of Spotify in my car and some screenshots from my phone, where you clearly can see that there are songs missing.

I have tried logging out and in on Spotify in car, but it did not help. Tried it twice and the third time also tried re-installing the app from the play store in car.

[MihailY]

Hey @Cheesecakeftw,

Thanks for getting back to us.

Is it possible to try again using a different internet connection? This will help us narrow down the possible cause of the issue,

Keep us posted.

[Cheesecakeftw]

Hi,
I tried connecting to my phone via the cars internal Wifi, and same problem occurs.
I don't know if it is also related to this problem? https://community.spotify.com/t5/Android/Android-car-app-won-t-play-songs-from-search-results/m-p/54...

[Lyubka]

Hey @Cheesecakeftw,

Thank you for keeping in touch and for the info you shared.

We'd like to know if you're able to play a specific song from the search results. 

This will help us identify whether it's related to our Ongoing issue and we can relay the info you've provided to our tech team. 

Let us know how you get on! We'll be here in case you have any further questions about this.

[J-PP]

I Have the same issue. The app on the car shows only 350 songs Max. on a playlist.

[AlejaR · Accepted solution]

Hey @J-PP,

Thanks for your reply and for the info shared.

In this case, Could you share with us the troubleshooting you’ve already done? This way we can suggest any other alternatives for you to try and we'll avoid repeating any steps.

On another note, would you mind sending us a video recording of this behavior? 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.

Lastly, just to confirm, has the app always been behaving like this or does it start to happen after a specific event such as an OS update? Please send us the details about it.
 

Keep us in the loop!

[Hug5]

Having the same issue on my brand new volvo xc60. Latest android and latest version of spotify. New songs not adding to playlist, getting playlist and songs not always working, have to go restart the app to work. I can write an essay about how much is wrong with this app and what can be better. Have starting to use my phone spotify app instead. Please fix and I am willing to work with u to fix and test.

[Hug5]

This thread should not be marked as solved with solution. This app has many issues updating playlists is just one of them. Volvo can't not be happy with this bad experience with Spotify and have I let them know about this thread. No response and no solution. 

[1259870332]

Jumping into this thread to say that I have a new 2024 XC60 and am seeing the same issue. If I add songs to playlists, those songs appear on my mobile device and the desktop version of Spotify, but they do not sync to the Volvo app.

[1259870332]

This is not a solution.

[1259870332]

Replying to my own post to share the workaround I found. Things that did NOT work - logging out and back in multiple times in a row, full uninstall and reinstall of the app in the Volvo, disconnecting and reconnecting WiFi in the Volvo, changing the name of the playlist to prompt a sync. The last one was interesting because the Volvo did register the name change but not the most recent songs.

What eventually worked was just creating a new playlist and copying all the same songs into it. That new playlist is acting as desired - new songs appearing as I add them

Interestingly, the buggy playlist does update when I remove songs. I also saw someone above ask if it's a song limit issue - mine only has around 160, to their 350, and the last 5-10 songs on mine don't appear.

Best guess I have is that this defect affects old playlists but not new ones. I have not checked all my playlists yet, but the affected one is very old (10+ years.) It seems like it is displaying all the songs that were in the playlist before I got the Volvo (and therefore before Spotify was ever connected to Android Automotive - this car is my first time using it.)

Recommendation to Spotify is to look specifically at older playlists, and see if there's an issue with the Android Automotive app pulling down new additions after the account is initially linked.

[J-PP]

Thank you for your advice. Will definitely give it a try. And the explanation you gave kind of sounds logical. 

[KennyXray]

No still not working for many volvo owners

[garmania]

this worked for me: I had to reboot it. Ie. Hold down the home button until the screen turns off. When it finally reboots and Spotify is started again, it will "load content" again and refresh. 

[Cliffy1]

Further to this thread, I am getting the same issue with incomplete playlists in an XC90. I’ve tried soft reset (hold button down on screen till system shuts off) hard reset (press rearscreen heater button till entire system including GPS and navigation reboots) oh and completely deleting the spotify app and reloading from scratch. I only get about 190 tracks of a 750 track playlist to play. 
Did anyone have any other suggestions to try to fix this at all?

[ramartin1]

I rebooted the center display multiple times on my 2024 Volvo XC90 and Spotify still will not work.