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Smart Shuffle keeps turning itself on

Hey folks!

 

Some of you have reported that Smart Shuffle is automatically turning itself on again after being switched off. This is now being looked into.

Note: The Smart Shuffle feature works on a playlist-by-playlist basis. If you turn it off on one playlist, it doesn't mean that it is turned off for all playlists.

We'll keep you posted 🙂

Under investigation.

In order for us to have a better look into this, please provide us with the following details:

  • Your device + its OS version;
  • Your Spotify app version;
  • A screen recording of the issue;
  • Does this happen across devices or on a single device? E.g. if turned off on one device, does it re-appear on the same device, a different one or across all of them?
  • Does this happen when using the Connect feature or when playing normally?
  • What are the steps to reproduce the issue on your end?

Many thanks! We'll keep you posted 🙂

Top Answer
Vasil
Moderator

Hey folks!

 

Thank you for the patience while we're trying to identify the root cause for this issue. It does not occur for everyone so it takes a bit longer to fix.

 

We'd like to ask you these two follow-up questions in case you're still experiencing the issue:

  • Is this behaviour only observable with larger playlists?
  • Does it happen when using a Connect device or when the playback is playing normally via your main device?

Much appreciated! We'll be on the lookout for your replies and we'll keep you posted when there's an update 🙂

Comments
Adam1313

This has been driving me nuts the last few days. How small is the team at spotify for everything to always take so long... and there's just soo many different problems. Makes me feel like they need a separate team, rebuilding from scratch or something... anything to make a halfway decent app that's reliable.

_shxne_

I just come here just to say my smart shuffle is only playing one genre and it rock and I got like 2000 and something songs on liked songs and wonder if anyone can give a answer 

Bel_Marduk

More than 5 months later, and this is still broken. Can you guys PLEASE start prioritizing this? It's affecting the base functionality of the player: it makes it impossible to listen to a pre-created playlist without unrelated random songs coming through. It is exceptionally infuriating, and is seriously making me consider alternatives to Spotify after swearing by it for more than 8 years.


Steps to reproduce:
1. Go to a playlist you've made.
2. Click play.
3. Behold the random songs that start showing up (Smart/Shuffle button is still showing as "off").

4. Close and open Spotify, and you'll notice that Smart Shuffle has turned itself on.

What I expected to happen:
Don't enable Smart Shuffle unless the user explicitly enables it.

 

This occurs for me on:
Spotify for macOS (Apple Silicon)
1.2.52.442.g01893f92

ConnyLindquist

They released this function 2021 and .. yes still broken. Probably by design I´d say seeing how they ignore the problem. 

JasonRash1

I am going to cancel my premium family plan if this is not fixed in one month.  Spotify,  just disable the damn annoying feature.  Problem solved.

pacific_side14

This has become an extreme issue for everyone on my Family plan at this point. It literally interrupts almost every single playlist played, and sometimes causes the playing of inappropriate music in various situations, including church/religious situations, family gatherings, etc. This is, perhaps, the largest issue at this point. Obviously we have gone to downloading the playlists, but this is  not a long-term solution, as you know, and we are concerned that if Spotify changes the download feature, we're going to be without any solution for these situations. Then really not sure what to do? 

 

Our family count so far over the past 5 days: 

Main plan holder: 6/12 playlists. 

Plan Member 2: 8/8 playlists. 

Plan Member 3: 7/11 playlists. 

Plan Member 4: 10/12 playlists. 

 

Since you are having a lot of difficulty resolving this issue, I collected more data from our family. Beyond that, I have, of course, answered your requested questions-- those answers are below the data I collected. 

 

FAMILY COLLECTED DATA: 

1. This happens regardless of whether it is a self-made or Spotify (Spotify, NOT other user) playlist. No one is using a collaborative playlist. 

2. Happens regardless of whether the playlist is music or podcast playlist (only tested podcast being user-made). 

3. Regardless of whether the playlist includes/doesn't include multiple albums/podcasts. However, in general, straight, traditional Catholic music (excluding mainstream chant) is less prone to this problem if Spotify is playing one single artist in the playlist (multiple albums w/same one artist fine).However, if Spotify is asked to play numerous artists/albums in the playlist, OR numerous artists on same album, same issues as the rest. AND... any kind of "mainstream" Catholic or Christian artists (i.e. pop) are not exempt from the smart shuffle problems. 

4. Happens regardless of whether the playlist includes/doesn't include explicit content. 

5. Happens regardless of genre of music or podcasts. (Exception: #3 above). 

5. Happens regardless of number of songs/podcasts on playlist, whether it's a frequently listened to playlist, whether songs/podcasts are added to/removed from playlist, whether it's a starred playlist, and/or is multiple of these things. 

 

And here are the answers you requested! 

  • Your device + its OS version; Everyone is using iPhones, versions 12-current, and all updated to Sequoia 15.2. 
  • Your Spotify app version; Most current -- I had everyone do this to ensure it's not "just the app edition."
  • A screen recording of the issue; How do you ever record this? Spotify randomly turns it on? No one has yet to really capture it. Will do if/when we can, but happy to share playlists and when it has occurred (i.e. what songs). 
  • Does this happen across devices or on a single device? E.g. if turned off on one device, does it re-appear on the same device, a different one or across all of them? Happening across ALL the devices on the plan, heavily on the mobile, very rarely on the desktop (playlist count above incl. the playlists played with almost little issue on plan manager/member 1 on desktop). Of note: Plan Manager has reverted to only listening to podcasts on Apple CarPlay because Spotify has been doing some absolutely bonkers playlist things on CarPlay (Honda HRV, 2023). CarPlay is updated, Honda dealer reports numerous complaints about this from people thinking it was Honda. Can provide more info if you'd like. Member 3 has Honda CR-V 2022, simply downloaded to iPhone and listening on CarPlay that way at this point. CarPlay counts not included above (didn't count-- driving). 
  • Does this happen when using the Connect feature or when playing normally? Normally. 
  • What are the steps to reproduce the issue on your end? See all the notes provided. 

 

wellmadelie

@Vasil 

That I've noticed, mine does it when I connect to headphones or my car. Specifically, when Spotify is set to automatically start playing. I end up having to actually open the app and switch it back to regular shuffle. I don't like smart shuffle anyway, so I'd like the option to remove it from the options on my playlists. I want to be able to just toggle it between shuffle and not shuffle. 

Orangewic

Hello, I didn't read till end comments but I have this problem just for two days too. My playlist change between each other, don't know where the song comes from. So it must be this smart shuffle problem. Read the top comment, so we are waiting I guess ? It's so annoying 😞  thank you 

RyanJFabian

This issue will never be resolved because it's by design. Kickbacks from forced artist promotion is too lucrative. This would be a good time for a new platform to come in and exploit these weaknesses. Serious competition could significantly weaken Spotify. If an app came on the scene focused on its library and sound quality without all the bloat Spotify has, I'd jump ship.

Spoiler
Issue is a feature, not a bug. Will never be resolved. A serious competitor could disrupt the market right now.
Perdie

Agree.

Also wondering if they're intentionally not "fixing it", so they can offer a newer more expensive plan that does not have a shuffle feature, etc., forcing us to subscribe in order to listen to our playlists uninterrupted and pay more for it...

similar to the **bleep** Amazon did with Amazon Music a few years ago. 

 

I'd jump ship, too, if there was a better option available.