Shuffle setting turned off by google assistant

[Strobl]

Plan

Premium

Country

USA 

Device

Samsung galaxy s25ultra

Operating System

Latest android

My Question or Issue

When asking google assistant to play a playlist using ANY available command, the shuffle setting for that playlist is turned off and the playlist is played from the beginning. 

[AlejaR]

Hey there @Strobl,

Thanks for posting in the Community and welcome. 

Just to confirm, is Spotify set as the default to play music when using the Google assistant? If yes, unlink and link them again to see if you notice any difference.

We'd like to gather some additional info to have a better idea of this what exactly is happening. Please send us:

• The exact Spotify version you're running.
• Does it always behave like that or does this behavior start after a specific event/update?
• A short video recording. You can attach the video to your next reply in mp4 format, or upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and make it public, so we can watch it.

Keep us in the loop! 

[Strobl]

Thanks for the help. I've tried unlinking with no effect. Spotify version 9.0.46.496. It's always done this. Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YGZAppP7erBVuvw6J00nZrbQDxe2i7_a/view?usp=drivesdk

[AlejaR]

Hey there @Strobl,

Thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately, we couldn't visualize the video. Would you mind checking its permissions? Make sure it is public.

On another note, and just to confirm, does this happen on a different mobile device? You can ask for the mobile device of a relative or a friend to open your account there and check.

Lastly, you mentioned this is happening no matter what voice command you use. Would you mind trying "Hey Google, shuffle playlist [name]" to see how it goes?
 

We'll keep an eye on your response! 

[Strobl]

It should be fixed now. I tried it on another device and it did the same exact thing. I've found I have to say "my playlist titled..." or "named..." so it will find my actual playlists, but yes I am using the word shuffle in the command as you suggest. 

[AlejaR]

Hey there @Strobl,

Thanks for your reply and for the video.

We noticed you're using Gemini. Would you mind switching to use Google Assistant as the primary assistant on your phone to see if this continues to happen? You can follow the steps in this article to do it. 

On another note, please send us the exact Android version you're running on your mobile phone along with the One UI version. You can find this info by going to Settings> About phone> Software information. 

We'll be on the lookout for your reply.

[Strobl]

So i switched to Google Assistant, un and re linked spotify, but all it was
able to do when commanded was open spotify, not play any music.

I tried clearing the cache for both apps and unlinked and relinked spotify
again to no effect.

One UI V7
Android v15
Apologies! This is my first non apple


Cheers!

[Maria]

Hey,

thanks for following up @Strobl!

Just to confirm, does Shuffle stay on if you start playback through the app > pause it > ask to resume playback via Google Assistant/Gemini?

Also, it seems like a new version of the app was just released. Could you try updating it following the steps on this page to see if you notice any difference? 🙂

Keep us posted!

[Strobl]

I updated the app, selected shuffle, played, paused, then asked Assistant
to play. The same song resumed.

I paused again and said, "shuffle my playlist titled Energy in Spotify" and
it began the playlist from the top.

[Ivelina]

Appreciate the cooperation @Strobl.

We did some testing and it would be very helpful if you could try the following:

• Open the playlist and say the command 'Shuffle it'. 

Let us know if then Google Assistant confirms this and shuffles the playlist.

Hope to hear from you soon.

[Strobl]

Please clarify the chain of events. Open spotify manually by clicking on
it, opening the playlist the same, then telling Google assistant to
"shuffle it"?

[Ivelina]

Apologies for the confusion @Strobl. 

Yes, these would be the correct actions - open the playlist manually on Spotify and then ask Google Assistant to 'shuffle it' with a voice command. 

We'll be on the lookout 🙂

[Strobl]

Hello! It didn't work and the video is too big to attach.

Using Gemini:
It initially responded with "Sure."

But then "something went wrong please continue in the app."

I tried the command again in the app and it actually did take me back to
spotify, but nothing else happened.

When i tried with Google Assistant, the same thing happened but no
"continue in app" prompt.

Whole lotta nothing unfortunately.

Talk later, thanks again!

[Susan_GP]

Hi there @Strobl,

Thanks for keeping us updated on this and for following all our suggestions.

Just to be sure, if you use the Google Assistant instead of Gemini, you are not able to use any commands to play music on Spotify? And you mentioned this is your first Android device; has this been happening since you started using it or were you able to shuffle your music this way before?

Now, just to check, if you use the command to play Spotify and then enable Shuffle from your mobile device, does the app shuffle the songs, or are they played in order as well? I understand this is not what you're trying to achieve; it's just to check if it works.

We'll wait for your reply.

[Strobl]

The voice commands with both assistants work as expected for everything ive
tried except beginning a playlist shuffled or with anything other than the
first song.

I have been unable to begin a playlist shuffled or with anything other than
the first song using either voice Assistant since first getting this phone
a month or so ago. All other features work as expected.

If I begin a playlist using either Assistant and then manually hit the
shuffle button from the now playing or queue screens, the playlist is
shuffled from then on during playback.

Happy friday!

[OscarDC]

Hey @Strobl,

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

We tried to replicate the issue on our end, but the playlist seems to start shuffling from the beginning when asking google to play it. So to continue investigating this, it would be great if you could have someone log in with their account on your device - such as a friend or a family member, to see if the issue persists with a different account logged in. 

Also, would you mind confirming if you're playing your tracks directly on your phone or if you use the voice assistant to play it on a different device such as a Google Home/nest or other speakers?

Lastly, it would be really helpful if you could retry sending the video you mentioned before. If it's too long to attach it by using the Insert Video option in the post editor, you can upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and share the link with us (making sure the video has the permissions for anyone to watch it).

We appreciate all your help and cooperation regarding this behavior. We'll be on the lookout.

[Strobl]

I will be out of the country starting tomorrow until the 18th. Im sorry for
the delay but I appreciate all your attention to this matter. I will get
back to you by the 18th if not sooner.

Please keep my case open! Thank you for everything.

Steven