Playlist changes don't synchronize between devices

[johnwastle]

Since 21 June, I have noticed this problem. 

Moving the position of a track within a playlist does not sync. Nor do track additions after having created the playlist.

Track deletions do work though. 🤔

Reinstalling the iOS app appears to temporarily fix this issue. I have subsequently done clean re-installs on macOS and iOS without getting a resolution.

[LeeCo]

I use a variety of custom-built python scripts, as well as third-party online tools, to create, filter, and sort my playlists. Starting recently (within the past week), the Mac desktop client no longer updates to reflect changes made with my scripts or third-party tools. I can instantly see my changes in the web client, so I know the playlist changes are actually taking place on Spotify's servers. Only the desktop client fails to sync.

Plan

Premium

Country

USA

Device

2021 iMac M1

Operating System

MacOS Sonoma 14.5

My Question or Issue

[Amazingbass13]

When I make edits on a playlist on my mac desktop app, they don't appear on my mobile app and vice versa. Note that these are playlists downloaded for offline play on both devices. I switch back and forth regularly depending on if I'm walking around the office or not. So if I delete 5-10 tracks in one location, the edits aren't shown on my other device. Which causes issues like repeated songs or skipping whole albums or tracks being in a completely different order.

[Joan]

Hi @johnwastle,

Thanks for reaching out.

Since you mentioned this started happening on Friday, did this coincide with something else? For example an update to the app or either device's OS? A change of ISP or the settings of your network is possible too.

Also let us know the following:

• Does this affect the sync between all devices? Does the webplayer sync properly with one or the other? 
• Does Connect not sync the playback between the devices?
• Does this happen across different networks? If you haven't tested this, please do so. You can use a hotspot from your phone if necessary.

With this information, we’d be happy to investigate.

Keep us posted.

[johnwastle]

My problem occurs on different networks.

As far I can tell, syncing problems only exist from macOS to iOS. 
Playlist changes initiated from iOS seem to work correctly.
Syncing between the webplayer and other platforms also works correctly. Caveat: I don't use the webplayer very much.

I'm not certain Connect has ever worked terribly well for me. Playing on iOS, I can the current track playing on macOS, but the track progress indicator is very laggy. 

[johnwastle]

[26 Jun] I've updated the iOS app this morning (v8.9.50). 

[27 Jun] As far as I can tell, playlist syncing seems to be working correctly.

[2 Jul] No issues since 27 Jun. 

[FaIsMe]

I am also having syncing issues, but it's between iOS and Windows. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the apps multiple times, and it'll fix it briefly but then the issues will start again. I'll add or remove songs to the playlist on one device and wont' see the changes on the other device. This is happening across different networks. Playback is syncing (I can see on my phone which song I'm playing on my desktop). The Desktop version appears to match up with the Windows desktop version of the playlist, not the iPhone iOS version. 

Edit: This seems to have fixed my problem: https://community.spotify.com/t5/Other-Podcasts-Partners-etc/Spotify-connect-not-synchronize-time-of...

[MihailY]

Hey @LeeCo,

Thanks for reaching out.

We'd like to investigate this further, so please let us know:

• Your exact Spotify app version.
• Does this happen only when using the scripts and 3rd party tools or also when making manual changes to your playlists?
• Have you noticed any other syncing issues? Here's a similar thread for reference.

Keep us posted.

[New user]

Usually my playlists that I create on the desktop, automatically appear in the library on my iPhone. This time there is no sign of the playlist on my phone. How do I get it to show up on my phone?

[LeeCo]

Spotify app version:

Spotify for macOS (Apple Silicon)
1.2.40.599.g606b7f29

To answer your other question - this appears to happen only when using my scripts (via the official API) and 3rd party tools. By contrast, when I delete or add a playlist track in the Spotify web client, it is instantly reflected in the Spotify desktop client.

[TheBigLiima]

I just noticed one of my playlist also had the same issue. I've created it at least a couple weeks ago, my pc and my phone are connected to the internet everyday so it should have synced by now.

I started playing the playlist from my desktop but through my phone then I was able to open the playlist on the phone app and add it to my library.

What happened to spotify? I've been using it since 2017 and the last couple years I'm encountering so many bugs also the UI has become trash both on desktop and mobile.

[MihailY]

Hey folks,

Thanks for your replies.

This is currently being investigated, we'll let you know in this thread once we have news or if we need more info.

In the meantime, make sure to share (if you haven't already) the device model, OS version and Spotify version of your devices.

Cheers,

[hastynero]

Plan

Premium Family

Country

Poland

Device

PC / OnePlus Nord 3

Operating System

Windows 11 / Android 14

My Question or Issue

I think it started to happen a week ago but I was on vacation so didn't fully notice it.
Changes I've made to my playlists on Android do not always (mostly?) get reflected on my phone.

For example, today I removed some albums from a playlist twice, within a few hours of each other. The earlier batch of songs got removed, the later one didn't.

Interestingly enough, when I go to the playlist on my phone (when the music is playing via PC) and I try to select the song that got removed to be played via PC, Spotify shows an error that "this cannot be played now". For the songs I did not remove, it works fine.

Similarly, when I was going on vacation, I added some albums to the playlist (via PC) to have them downloaded abroad. Lo and behold, they were not in the playlist (on Android). I added them again on the spot. I came back today and noticed the playlist on PC had them doubled...

I've tried removing caches but I don't know what else I can do.

This is beyond frustrating. Another day, another Spotify bug. Any fix?

[hastynero]

Seems I cannot edit the post.
Well, reinstalling the Android app I don't know if fixed the issue but at least made the playlists sync up. And they sync up for now.

But I'd ask you not to close this thread just yet, as the synchronization already worked today and failed again. I'd hate to reinstall the app every time this happens and lose all my downloads in the process.

[ElBandido]

Plan

Premium

Country: Belgium

Device

iPhone 13 Pro and Laptop HP on windows 10 pro

Operating System

(iOS 10, windows 10 pro.)

My Question or Issue

I modify playlists on my laptop but play them on my iphone linked to speakers.

Since a few days, modifications to playlists don't sync between the devices. I have tried logging out and back in on both devices, deleting cache and local files on iphone, but to no avail. When I create a new playlist on my computer it appears in the phone version but just the title, not the added tracks.

[n1amr]

+1 This issue has been on since Jun 21. I'm using Spotify for Android version 8.9.50.552. I've tried all the  troubleshooting steps mentioned in this post but to no avail. 

[Stealin]

I am facing a similar issue.

Whenever I delete songs from a playlist via the desktop app or web browser, these changes do not sync with the mobile app.

I tried clearing the app cache and data and logging out, but it only syncs when I perform a clean install.

Plan

Premium

Country

Brazil

Device

PC / Galaxy S21 Ultra

Operating System

Windows 11 / Android 14

[hastynero]

Op here. Yeah, this doesn't work again.

[Asteroid_Alan]

I have the same issue on pc and android, sorting the playist by custom dosent work, some playlists it does, others it dosent, really frustrating!!! 

[hastynero]

Honestly, this is weird as **bleep**. Some playlists sometimes sync, some don't. No idea what could be the catalyst. I thought maybe playlists being downloaded (cause the one not downloaded got synced correctly just now) so I 'undownloaded' it and it's the same?

Any response from the mod or dev team?