Cannot download app to Apple Watch on Apple Family Setup

[Seanoneill65]

Plan - Family

Free/Premium - Premium

Country - United States

Device

Apple Watch SE

Operating System

7.4.1 (18T201)

My Question or Issue

We recently purchased 2 Apple Watch SEs for our girls. We also purchased cellular data plans for them from T-Mobile. Note that they have their own Apple IDs/accounts and their own iPads with latest iOS, but neither has an iPhone, so we set the watches up using Apple’s Family Setup. Everything was set-up properly and works as expected, except we cannot download Spotify to their watches. They both have their own Spotify Family Plan logins and their Spotify accounts work perfectly on their iPads. However, Spotify did not automatically download when the watches were set-up, as I would have expected. So we have tried going to the App Store on the watch to download Spotify and it won’t let us - we receive the message in the watch App Store that a phone is required. My impression is that this is not the case. Our girls LOVE Spotify and it was a good portion of the reason we bought the watches. Help!

[Applewatchuser1]

We have the same problem. Any updates? We will need to cancel our Spotify account and return to Apple Music. 

[2023doesitworkyet]

I'm understanding Spotify does work on a standalone watch now correct?....But how do you install it from a family setup?

[1HitWonder]

This is not a solution anymore. How do we get this thread noticed? Everyone with kids that use Apple Family Plan setup is having to cancel Spotify and being forced to Apple Music. 

[Lyubka]

Hey there folks,

We appreciate all your feedback on the functionality of the Spotify app on Apple Watch. Right now, this is how the app works. 

Going forward, we'd like to refer you to the Idea Exchange in the Community for any further feedback you might have. 

Community folks have already created an Idea about having Spotify standalone app for Apple Watch. If you'd like to see that option available, go ahead and check this idea here. Make sure you leave a +Vote to support it, so that it would have a better chance of being considered, as Spotify always strives to improve your experience.

You'll also find all the relevant info about how the Community feedback gets implemented here if you'd like to know more about the topic.
 

Cheers!

[las328]

I don't personally have an iPhone so, setup a family setup instance for my Apple Watch SE. I wanted to listen to music, to see that you CANNOT download the Spotify app on the watch.

Is it possible to be able install the app from the App Store, then sign-in from a code (that you insert on another device and authenticate) and then be able to listen to music?

This would also help parents out when they get there child an Apple Watch, and the child wants to play music.

Other's have had there music app on the watch (without a phone). Pandora and Amazon Music for example.

[Brian716]

Plan

Free/Premium

Country

US

Device

iPhone 14, Apple Watch 8 with GPS & Apple Watch SE 2 with Cellular

Operating System

iOS 16.6; WatchOS 9.6.1

My Question or Issue

My son is a minor with an Apple Watch SE with Cellular Service and his own phone number.  His watch was set up as part of my Family Watches on Apple - so we have two watches: his and mine.  The Spotify app works fine on my Apple Watch, but his does not allow it to be downloaded.  If he goes to the App Store on his watch, it says "iPhone required".

Does anyone know whether it's possible for his watch to get Spotify?  And if so, what are the different steps to those on the Spotify instruction page for Apple Watch use, since those don't work for his watch. 

For further color - he can use other services like Apple Music and can download and use other apps, but we'd both prefer he use Spotify if it's available.

Thanks!