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[Android 11] Playback keeps pausing/skipping when screen is off on Android 11

Submitted by on ‎2020-09-11 08:06 PM
Status: Won't Fix

Plan

Premium

Country

United States

Device

Google Pixel 4a

Operating System

Android 11

 

My Question or Issue

Since updating to Android 11 yesterday, Spotify audio playback stutters horribly when the device display is locked. Restarts/reinstalls do not fix the issue.

Hey everyone,

 

We appreciate your reporting this and providing us with the relevant info.

 

Based on the reports we have received and the investigation conducted, it seems like this is affecting many other apps besides Spotify. 

 

From the information we were able to gather, since many other apps are not behaving as expected, this is most likely an issue outside of our control. We suggest to install new Android updates as soon as they become available for the newest fixes to your OS.

 

Please note, that this issue is specifically for Android 11 and has been investigated by our teams as such. For anyone experiencing similar symptoms on other OS versions, it's best to post in a separate thread so we can look into what's happening separately. We'd also recommend checking this support site article in case that's what you're experiencing.

 

For more info about what the different Ongoing Issues statuses mean, check this Spotify Answer.

 

Thank you!

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Comments
MrFishSWE
Newbie
2020-10-16 05:01 PM

Samsung S20 Ultra

Android 10

Spotify version 8.5.80.1037

0 Likes
daniscross
Newbie
2020-10-18 04:18 PM

Pixel 3a - Android 11
Spotify 8.5.80.1037

Playback stutters and frequently pauses once the screen switches off. Resumes when screen is unlocked. Doesn't matter if listening via wired or bluetooth headphones. Turned off battery optimisation, made no difference.

Spotmeister
Visitor
2020-10-19 09:21 PM

Pixel 3a - Android 11
Spotify 8.5.80.1037

Playback stutter is irregular and I've observed it also with unlocked screen. The track is not paused during stuttering and content is 'lost'. Sometimes it works for half an hour, sometimes more is lost to stutter than played. Clean reinstall of spotify and playing around with battery optimisation settings has not worked. This error started right after the upgrade to Android 11 and was not observed before.

DJMattB241
Casual Listener
2020-10-20 05:41 PM

Same issue here. Pixel 3a, upgraded to Android 11, and with one bluetooth device (not the other one oddly), music stops a little while after the screen turns off. Turning the screen back on makes the music start back up instantly.

 

I actually don't think this is a Spotify issue, as I've managed to get this to happen with my separate podcast app too. But I think Spotify probably has the most weight to throw around with Google, so this may still be the best place to start. At least they've acknowledged it as an issue.

 
sbauschl
Newbie
2020-10-20 05:45 PM

@DJMattB241 Does the default Google play music, YouTube, or YouTube music break at all? In my finding they all work. My guess is that other app is just broken the same way Spotify is. 

0 Likes
daniscross
Newbie
2020-10-21 03:55 PM

Just received version 8.5.81.991 on my Pixel 3a (Android 11) and the stuttering continues once the screen goes off, regardless of playback through phone speaker, or wired or bluetooth headphones. As soon the screen comes on, the stuttering stops.

 

Battery optimisation disabled for Spotify app. Cleared app's cache, reinstalled... done everything possible. I hope this is fixed soon as paying for a service I can barely use at the moment!

TeamWideBody
Casual Listener
2020-10-21 05:06 PM
Pixel 3AAndroid 11 Build Number RP1A.201005.004Spotify 8.5.81.991
Thought I had it by DISABLING  Unrestricted data usage.
Still no joy.
The only thing that seems to reliably work is to plug the phone into a USB port or charge it.
I have tried.  Disabling ALL battery optimizations.  Uninstalled and reinstalled Spotify.
Force stopping, stoping bluetooth, restarting bluetooth and then Spotify helps for a bit.
How can we join the Spotify Beta?  (I am already on the Android Beta)

-Craig
0 Likes
DJMattB241
Casual Listener
2020-10-21 05:30 PM

@sbauschlToday I dusted off my YouTube Music app and listened to it all morning. It took a long time (~45 min?) but then started doing exactly the same thing. The music stops, and once I turn the screen back on, it starts up right away.

 

So now I've got three apps that are doing it:

  • Spotify
  • PocketCasts
  • Youtube Music

What's wild is, it only does it when connected to my bluetooth *speaker*. When I've got it connected to my bluetooth *headphones* it never seems to happen at all.

 

Absolutely baffled, and I do not envy any programmer being tasked with narrowing this one down.

 
0 Likes
Slimeyboi
Visitor
2020-10-22 12:59 AM

Samsung note 9

Android 10

Spotify version: 8.5.81.991

Plan: Free

 

This has been an issue for me for a long time, I have uninstalled and reinstalled the app twice as well as restarted my phone. This issue only affects Spotify. 

0 Likes
sbauschl
Newbie
2020-10-22 01:01 AM

The newest Beta version fixes the issue. Everyone not on the beta, just wait until the official update

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