Personal Audio Files always opened by Spotify (w/out Permission) & Crashes

[Squashua]

Premium/UK/Galaxy A50

Hi All,

I have been using Spotify on my phone for many years. I also use my phone to play personal audio files (i.e music I'm working on and have saved in my downloads).

Recently none of my downloaded audio files (excluding files recorded directly into a voice note app) are opening, and instead Spotify attempts to open them, and fails, sometimes crashing Spotify in the process.

Normally after selecting an audio file, the in-built audio player would open up, a simple play/pause button and timestamp. Now the Spotify logo appears, the app opens on the main screen, and nothing else happens (except sometimes it crashes).

I have reinstalled & cleared the cache. I don't allow Spotify to access my local files.

Any ideas?

Thanks, J

[Squashua]

This appears to be an issue with the My Files app on Samsung phones not properly using (or giving the option to use) the built in media player when an alternative media player such as Spotify is installed. In the Galaxy Store or Play Store you can install the Samsung Music app which fixes the issue and allows audio files to play in the My Files app without even leaving the app once you set Samsung Music to the default, just as they would if Spotify wasn't installed at all. I know a lot of people are upset about having to install an app to fix this issue, but technically the Samsung Music app is already pre-installed on Samsung phones, although a bare bones version of it. Installing the full version of the app or uninstalling Spotify are the only solutions. From my understanding, Spotify can't fix this issue because it's being caused by Samsung's default apps settings not working correctly. I tested if this issue persists having only VLC installed instead of only Spotify, and sure enough the same problem is present. The only difference is that VLC pops up asking for permission to view the local files where Spotify doesn't. Still though, good luck with a lawsuit over something like that. Installing Samsung Music along with VLC fixes the issue just as it does with Spotify. I hope this information helps someone.

[Leen73]

This topic was started somewhere else and against all odds marked as "solved", which is absolutely NOT.

I want to open a personal voice recorded file.

I have the settings in Spotify NOT to enter my storage and NOT to load my local files. 

When I open a voice file, it AUTOMATICALLY opens up with Spotify.

This is very very serious. This is really something that is worth a big claim.

It makes me very very angry and upset.

They are really just automatically opening up my personal content when I said explicitely NO. I dont even get the question "do you want to change your settings and permission for Spotify", it just opens up, UN-believable and SCANDALOUS.

Fix it, or we have to make a claim, I am for real.

[Leen73]

This is NOT SOLVED.

[Leen73]

Spotify is opening personal content while NO permission, and not even ASKING to change the settings first!!!

Please help and explain!! This is really a matter of privacy that is violated heavily!!!

[mellow_yellow]

THANK YOU! I'm getting sick of hearing "you have to install a dedicated music player app to set as default". Um, NO. I never had to use that before because my phone has a build in mp3 player that works just fine when Spotify is not installed. I shouldn't have to install another separate app to keep Spotify out of my private files! FIX IT!!!

[mellow_yellow]

This is NOT solved! See all the replies!

[Laces1]

It's happening to me too and it's not okay you are just saying to download yet another app as all of our phones were opening audio files just fine. I never gave Spotify access to my audio files. It's a streaming service and shouldn't be opening anything in my phone. Figure this out or I will be canceling my subscription. 

[Leen73]

Same here: fix it or me and my family will cancel our subscriptions and spread the word everywhere about what is happening here:  Privacy is violated heavily: if someone sues Spotify for this, I guarantee you they win. 

I have a MP3 player, it works fine. I do NOT have to install another app. Spotify has to STAY OUT of my personal files. 

I gave them the following setting "NO PERMISSION TO STORAGE". 

And also "No browsing through local files".

And they DO, AUTOMATICALLY.

I am dead serious: fix it or we cancel our subscriptions and we will spread the word about this very very serious privacy violation EVERYWHERE. It's very serious and scandalous.

[RevengeRaptor]

Boosting this thread because I want this to be PROPERLY solved. This is an issue that only started happening recently, and I've had this phone for years now. Disabling permissions in Spotify doesn't change it. I shouldn't have to download alternative apps when Spotify shouldn't be the one sifting through my audio files in the first place, that's just weird. Please fix this one soon guys.

[kd_ca]

Issue Resolved by installing Samsung Music App.

Phone is Samsung J7 from 2018.   It came bundled with "Google Play Music" App that cannot be uninstalled or Opened.

After installing Samsung Music App, when I click on a mp3 file, OS asks me if I want to open with Spotify or Samsung Music. OS does not give me the option to select which app is the default. I have to do this every time.

I suspect the uninstallable & bundled Google Play Music App has something to do with default app mp3 file associations.

[gjap802]

Guess what solves the problem? Uninstalling the app. And since it is installed, I cant use it which means I am canceling my subscription (and trying another service like Apple music). So dumb. Good job, Spotify!!

[Afevis]

Absolutely need this fixed, its trying to play formats that Spotify doesn't even support, so I straight up can't hear the sounds unless I uninstall the app. 😐

[ksilovich]

this is not fixxed.  only way i found to solve this is to uninstall the app. 

[ksilovich]

Just started to happen to me.  Only solution was to uninstall spotify. Then it started to work as it used to. 

You need to fix this.  You don't have permissions to access these files. 

[Relebohile]

Started happening today, without the crashing... Could be because the store local files doesn't seem to be going off. I tried to switch the local file access off then play file from my phone files, file plays on Spotify with the local files thing on automatically. And I have 3 audio players... second time I type this so I hope it makes sense cos ? these unexpected errors and verifying I'm not a robot so many times are really annoying. 

[Topaz2]

Isn't there another option for stopping Spotify from playing music files? I've been playing music files on my phone's music player since Google Play Music was discontinued. Never had any problems till recently and I can't play any of the music files without Spotify popping up; especially since it's not a default player.

[Novy]

Hey folks, 

Thanks for your messages. 

Keep in mind that Spotify will be set as the default player if there are no other audio apps on your phone, so we'd recommend selecting which one to use on your device settings.

Hope this helps. If anything else comes up, the Community will be here.

[Leen73]

This is not true: I DO have a voicerecorder that also can play the recordings. When I give Spotify NO PERMISSION to enter local files and Spotify simply ignores this, there is something illegal happening.

Fix it!!!

[Aiosis]

This is still happening, and the only way I can see to resolve it is to uninstall Spotify altogether. I've had the same Samsung S10 for years and I have a lot of audio files, mainly in the form of downloaded notification sounds, and I can't open any of them. They've always just opened a little basic mp3 player at the bottom of the screen. But now no matter how many permissions I get rid of both in Spotify and all throughout my settings, anywhere I can, it still just opens Spotify. And it doesn't even play my audio either. This is ridiculous. Spotify is doing something shady for sure. Get out of our personal files. 

[Leen73]

Indeed, maybe we can sue them?

I am thinking about it, because it is really a case that we would win.

Its indeed really shady and its a flagrant illegal criminal act. They know this very well.

Maybe we can exchange mail addresses to sue Spotify?

I am going to talk to my lawyer about it, next week.

[Aiosis]

Update here after you talk with your lawyer to let us know what happens. Because downloading a new app altogether is not a solution, especially since uninstalling Spotify seems to be a solution that works. Spotify isn't even worth it unless you're paying for it, and I'm not paying money for them to be acting shady.