[iOS] App crashing when playing podcasts with videos

[Vasil]

Hey folks!

We've received reports (mostly from iOS users) that Spotify crashes when leaving the app and then returning to it while a video podcast is playing.

Leave a +VOTE if you're affected so that we can keep track of how many people are experiencing this.

Thanks!

[dyashy32]

This happens for me as well.

iPhone Xs

iOS 15.4.1

Spotify app 8.7.30

Background App Refresh is enabled for Spotify

Happens on both WiFi and LTE.

Only when transitioning from bg to fg, not fg to bg. Video attached...

[Harmocol000]

Thank you for working through this! It has been happening to me semi-consistently for nearly a week. Im on iPhone Xr, IOS 15.4.1, Spotify version 8.7.30

Background App refresh is on, and it happens on data or wifi. 

[Wlennox]

I just took a screen recording of this issue, but the forum won’t let me upload it as a .mov file. Is there a link you can send me that I can use to upload this for you? I double checked that background app refresh is on for Spotify, I have full battery, and I’m on iOS 15.4.1 (the latest version to date). 

The issue occurs when you start a podcast that has video, leave the app with the video active on screen, then return to the app. The audio will stop and the app will freeze completely until it’s restarted. This happens every time, no matter what, for the last 2 weeks. 

[Wlennox]

Here is that video - I converted it to play here. I recorded the screen for just about a minute. You'll see that the video/audio stop right when re-entering the Spotify app. After about 30 seconds, the loading spinner appears, but that's it. Until I hard-exit and restart the app, nothing will play again. This is an iPhone 13 Pro Max on iOS 15.4.1.

[knoxvillebeachs]

The same thing is happening to me. If I start a podcast that has video and try to open the Spotify app again it immediately locks up the app. I have to close the app and start again. 

[Fivedoor]

Plan:

Free

Country:

USA

Device:

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Operating System:

iOS 15.4.1

Spotify Version:

8.7.30.1342

My Question or Issue:

I open the app on iPhone and start playing content.  Then I’ll minimize the app.  When I reopen the app, it freezes.  I need to kill the app and completely restart it.  It happens every time consistently.

[Billy-J]

Hey @Fivedoor, thanks for reaching out to the Community!

Could you try restarting your device? If that doesn't help, try a clean reinstall of the app following these steps.
If you're still having trouble, can you let me know if this happens when you play one particular song, or does it happen whenever you try to play something in the app?

Let me know how everything goes!

[Fivedoor]

Hey, Billy-J.  Thanks for the response.  Restarting my phone did not work and neither did a clean install.  Seems to mostly only happen while listening to the Joe Rogan podcast.  I just played a few songs and a few other podcasts and I can only get it to freeze when reopening the app while listening to the Joe Rogan podcast. 

[Nastronaut]

This is so frustrating!

I’m on latest ios and iphone 12. Every time i go back to the app, it just hangs. 

and it does not save the last played location, resulting in the podcast starting all over again when app is reopened. 

This needs a fix asap! 

[edp1999]

I'm getting this problem too when listening to JRE. Maybe something because of the video element. Super annoying though, I cant leave the app if I'm watching the pod or it'll freeze and I have to restart spotify all over again. It also causes me to lose my place I the pod, so I have to go back and find the right time.