Spotify Connect not working on certain accounts

[gaetan_p]

Plan

Premium

Country

Switzerland

Device

Samsung Galaxy 9

Operating System

Android 10

Connected Device

Cambridge Audio Sonata NP30

My Question or Issue

I have been streaming music from my android phone to my Cambdridge Audio NP30 with Spotify Connect for weeks without issues. Since about 1 week, this does not work anymore. The external device still appears in the app, I can select it and I see that the 2 devices are connected, because the current song details are visible on the external device display, as well as the time information. But when I play it on the phone, it does not play on the NP30. It stays on pause on the external device and no music plays, even though I can see the song continues on the phone. It's like it's playing on the phone, but on pause on the external device. When I pause/play on the phone, the song is reset to the time when the 2 devices connected, but the NP30 is still on pause. The play/pause button on NP30 has no effect. No way to make it play the music. If I switch back to the phone, the music continues playing on the phone, but when I switch to the NP30, the music does not continue on the NP30.

Cambridge Audio has not released any firmware since 2020, so the change is not on their side. I disabled BT on the phone, no change. I stop/start/reset everything, no change. I tried from another phone, same result.

Has something changed on spotify connect these last 2 weeks or so? Does anybody have an idea?

[piotrb00]

Unfortunately, I've been having the same problems since December 24, 2025. I can't hear music streamed via Spotify Connect to my Sony STR-DN1080 and Sony CMT-SX7B devices. The firmware on these devices is up-to-date (M41.R.0518 for STR-DN1080 from February 17, 2022, with no subsequent updates). Everything worked flawlessly until December 22, 2025. I see the devices' names in the app as Spotify Connect, but after connecting, the song stops at 00:00 and doesn't continue, and I can't hear the music. Restarting the app and router, restarting the computer and phone, uninstalling and reinstalling the app, and changing the streaming audio quality (this applies to both Lossless and lower sound quality) all don't work. The problem affects all my devices and apps: Android 16, Windows 11, iOS. I've tried changing the DNS to 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4, and 1.1.1.1. No changes. I also tried logging in via hotspot, from a different Premium account, on a different phone, and I flushed my DNS. Same thing. I don't have a VPN or proxy network, the firewall hasn't been changed, and it worked before (after disabling it, the rest is the same). Sometimes I see Google Cast on my Macbook in the app under the device name, and if I manage to connect, it works. However, Spotify Connect doesn't work at all. UPDATE: I logged in with a free Spotify account and can select the Sony STR-DN1080 and Sony CMT-SX7B as Google Cast (it's constantly displayed, unchanged), and streaming works. However, the music quality is limited to High. I have a Premium account and want to listen to music through the system audio in at least Very High or Lossless quality.

Country: Poland

NOTE: My problem IS NOT limited to Lossless quality.

[piotrb00]

Spotify deleted my post and moved it to a different section, even though my problem isn't ONLY with Lossless quality. I can't stream music at any quality, even Low.

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Other-Podcasts-Partners-etc/Lossless-stopped-working-for-connect-de...

[Ivelina]

Hey @gaetan_p,

Thanks for posting on the forum and welcome!

To help with investigating this, could you let us know if you've tried any other troubleshooting steps or if you noticed in case this behavior occurred after something specific?

Since you mentioned this is happening on 2 phones (we assume with your Spotify account), consider testing the following:

• Start playback from a desktop if it's possible.
• Another network connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data shared via hotspot).
• Lower the streaming quality from Settings (to Very High, High, Low for example, but not Lossless).

Lastly, it's worth mentioning this thread the team is investigating where other users have reported issues when using Connect to stream on other devices in Lossless quality. Check it out and make sure to join if this sounds like what you're experiencing. Otherwise, we'll continue here.

Many thanks and we're here if anything else comes up in the meantime.

[piotrb00]

Unfortunately, my problem is broader than just Lossless streaming and overlaps with the problem reported above by user gaetan_p.

• I tried logging in to two different Premium accounts on my phone and my wife's. I tried logging in to two different Premium accounts in the Desktop app on Windows. I also logged in to two different Premium accounts in the Desktop app on my MacBook (MacOS) in the same way.
• I tried creating a hotspot and connecting my computer and Sony to it.
• I tried changing the quality from Low, through Normal, High, Very High, and Lossless.

The same problem occurs everywhere. Streaming to visible Sony devices via Spotify Connect is impossible (playback stops at 0:00, but the song title is visible).

If Google Cast appears, the connection is established and the music plays correctly in all available quality levels (up to Very High). In addition, streaming to a Samsung TV works without any problems (using the Spotify app on the TV), but the quality isn't as good as Spotify Connect for the Sony STR-DN1080.

[Ivelina]

Hey @piotrb00,

Thank you for posting in the thread and apologies for the confusion.

We took another look at what you've described and it actually sounds like it may be the issue in this thread instead. Users are reporting that they're able to stream via Google Cast, but not via Connect. The relevant team is currently investigating this and I recommend checking out the thread, as well as posting your details there.

Appreciate the cooperation and don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything else we can help you with.

[JBF1]

Ivelina, here is some additional information that may be helpful to your team. This issue appears to be account-specific, affects all media quality settings (e.g., Normal—not just Lossless), and does not appear to be geographic. Below is a summary of our testing.

Using a specific Spotify Premium account, we are unable to play to several different device types (e.g., Denon receivers) via Spotify Connect when controlled from the iPhone app. Playback either freezes or, when starting from a new playlist, skips through songs without playing.

Under identical test conditions—but with the iPhone logged into other Spotify Premium accounts—Spotify Connect works normally on the same devices.

We have reproduced this in at least two different homes in different states with the same account, and we also tested using a VPN through a European server with the same results.

In summary, this suggests a server-side change affecting certain Spotify accounts that prevents some Spotify Connect devices from authenticating and/or initiating playback properly.

[Dessi]

Hey @JBF1,

Thanks for reaching out and kudos for all the testing you've done, we really appreciate your input!

It does sound like there might be a caching issue causing this, since it does work with a different account and we know it might be a bit of a drastic approach, but a factory reset of the devices you connect to might help with this and we think it's worth the shot. 

If that doesn't do the trick, we'd be happy to report this separately so our tech folks can have a closer look.

Let us know how it goes.

[colton4tth]

Dessi - I am experiencing the same issue as this with my Denon receivers that have worked previously with Spotify Connect for multiple years.  The issue is specific to only certain user accounts that visit my house and try to play and is not device specific. I can play from my account perfectly fine and then when I log into my friend's account on my device (or any other) it does not work. Tracks auto skip the second you select one.  

We kindly ask that you escalate this to your team as soon as possible.  This issue began about December 20th. 

[colton4tth]

Turning any of our phones, tablets, computers off and back on did not resolve the issue. No matter what device, the audio won't stream via Spotify Connect on a certain account but will when logged into another account exactly like JBF1 described.

It seems there has been some phased rolled out to specific Spotify accounts that has broken the Spotify Connect integration with certain hardware pieces.  

[Patricia28]

Appears to be account specific. Some accounts work, some do not.  Resetting the device has no effect.  Was there a phased rollout recently that may be causing this?

[Eni]

Hey folks, 

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. 

We'd really appreciate it if you could provide us with the following info (in case you've not already done so): 

• Does this always happen with that specific account when you try to use the Connect feature from any device (phone, PC, etc.)?
• Make/model and firmware version of the devices you're experiencing this issue with. 
• Exact Spotify version.
• Does the issue persist across any networks? 
• Troubleshooting steps you've tried so far.

We'd like to investigate this. 

We'll be waiting for your replies.

[JBF1]

Eni, thanks for looking into this!  Here are some answers to each of your questions.

• Does this always happen with that specific account when you try to use the Connect feature from any device (phone, PC, etc.)? [Yes]
• Make/model and firmware version of the devices you're experiencing this issue with. [At least a Denon AVR-1913, which works fine with Spotify Connect for certain Spotify Premium accounts but not others.]
• Exact Spotify version. [9.1.6.1142 on iPhone]
• Does the issue persist across any networks? [Yes, different networks, different homes, etc.]
• Troubleshooting steps you've tried so far. [Resetting and rebooting everything, confirming that it does work from certain Spotify accounts but not others.]

[MihailY]

Thanks for the additional info @JBF1!

We've now forwarded this to our tech team, we'll let you know in this thread once we have news to share. For anyone that still hasn't shared their device details, please do so as it will help with the investigation.

Cheers,

[colton4tth]

Hello Mihail - I am reporting the same issues as JBF1.  My answers are also the same as is but the issue I am running into is with Denon AVR-X3000. 

Again to summarize, the audio will not play via Spotify Connect to that Denon AVR from one Spotify account but works completely fine on others.  This problem only just began after working fine for many years. 

[Luca_vs]

Same here on my Onkyo TX NR555.

I can play using Chromecast connection but not Spotify connection. It worked until December.

[gaetan_p]

Eni, thanks for looking into this!  Here are my answers to your questions.

• Does this always happen with that specific account when you try to use the Connect feature from any device (phone, PC, etc.)? I only have 1 spotify account, so I cannot test it from another one. However, I tested from all the phones in my family with same result
• Make/model and firmware version of the devices you're experiencing this issue with. Cambridge Audio Sonat NP30. Fireware v270-a-012, which is the latest.
• Exact Spotify version. 9.1.6.1145 on android 10 + same version on android 12
• Does the issue persist across any networks? Only tested on my home network. Device is on cable and phone on wifi.
• Troubleshooting steps you've tried so far. Resetting and rebooting NP30, restarted home router. Uninstall/re-install app on phone.

[kingosticks4]

So what's the verdict here @MihailY? What is the tech team going to do to fix playback on devices running older software following a poor attempt to better secure the platform in response to the Anna's Archive release? They can't just break legitimate playback for paying customers, that's not acceptable, and there should be no mystery as to why this happened. So where's the admission, and what's the plan? Everyone affected by this deserves a partial refund, an apology, and to have the changes reversed ASAP to restore the service they've paid for.

[Creacas]

Just weird. Same issue here. Two accounts. One works flawless (Oneplus 11 to Marantz NA6005). Switching accounts and the same problem as described here. On the same phone! Fix it, even if it is account-specific. 

[Geh1]

Starting late December, I'm having problems listening to music via Spotify Connect on Bluesound N130, Wiim Ultra, and Marantz Cinema 40.

The problems start in the evening here in Germany, with music dropping out, going silent for a longer time, then coming back, stuttering etc...

During this time, I can see in my router that the data transfer drops dramatically, to around 100 kbit/s, over some time. Skipping to the next song can sometimes help (the data transfer is around 700 to 1000 kbit/s), sometimes it doesn't. The worst problem was on Marantz Cinema 40, which has worked flawlessly before.

I have hade the same problem around a year ago, then at the start of 2025, it magically vanished, and everything worked. Now it's the same again ...

I'm using Spotify Premium with Lossless activated, restarted the router and all devices, but it didn't help. I have a very fast fiber internet connection, so this is surely *not* the problem.