Search functionality missing from spotify carplay on IOS26

[Natenn]

Plan

Premium

Country

USA

Device

Iphone 14 Pro Max

Operating System

IOS 26, Carplay IOS26

My Question or Issue
The search function/button/voice search is gone now from spotify in carplay. It still works from the app on my phone and I can search on my phone to find a song for carplay to play but I should not have to pick up my device while driving to search for a song when then the voice search functionality existed previously. Is this fully gone or was it moved to a new spot I cant find?

[TarynT27]

I thought I was going crazy. Following in the Hope there is a resolution. 

[joshhaftel]

I cannot use Spotify in my car—my kids ask me to play random songs non stop (which also don’t show up in recents even when I have searched via Siri).

this was a bone headed feature release

[joshhaftel]

Guess I can use the voice button on my steering wheel (but won’t work on my other car since it keeps forcing the car voice assistant vs Siri).

why you have to move my cheese 😛

[ShaPeR]

Who came with the idea to remove a feature which has been used a lot? Should we now all use our phone in the car to search for a specific artist or song? wth Spotify…

[L2207]

I have this issue! My son asks for random songs al the time and Spotify was the only way I could get them. He’s only 2 so doesn’t understand me saying I can’t get them now, so I just have to endure the repeated request non stop until we reach our destination 😆

I hope this functionality returns!

[Joan]

Hi there folks,

Thank you all for reporting this to us.

We've forwarded everything you've provided us to the appropriate team and will look into this. We'll update you with any new information if and when we have it.

Cheers!

[TarynT27]

YES. This is why this feature is so needed. Any parent knows that this was an essential attribute of Spotify CarPlay

[JP123456789]

The search option is now gone on Spotify Apple CarPlay.  What is going on?

[JP112]

Same issue! Please fix this

[mamallama]

Same issue - this is driving me crazy! I'm still on iOS 18 but 2 days ago, Spotify app updated to version 9.0.80. I think that's when it broke!! 

[annajsch]

Please fix. I just spent a 30 minute car ride with my toddler losing it because she asked me to play a specific song I could have ordinarily searched for with the voice function, and I told her I couldn’t anymore. Somewhere in the middle of the backseat meltdown that resulted, I attempted to call Spotify customer service from the car to let someone from your company listen to the havoc you created by removing this function, as a treat. This was so stupid.

[s722bcd]

Same issue here since the upgrade. 2 phones 2 cars no Search function

[joshhaftel]

Ive finally figured out the settings needed to switch to a Siri voice command from the steering wheel on both cars. Once done, it’s actually better than the old way, still annoying that someone decided I needed this new side quest. But I imagine daily minutes played (or some other NSM) is up, otherwise it wouldn’t have been GA’d 😕

[Nowv3]

To the product team: I’ve been a loyal Spotify user since 2010 (!). My family has paid in the thousands for premium service during this time.

The disappearance of CarPlay search created such a negative experience for how I habitually use and enjoy Spotify that I have downloaded and activated a 3-month Apple Music trial. I don’t think I am alone in this. Hope this is escalated and resolved soon.

[KBW3]

I am the same - please return the search feature to CarPlay ASAP - it's a disaster.  I thought it was just me - and was hopeful I could fix it - but now to read it is a change from within Spotify is so upsetting as I can't do anything to resolve it.  Please sort it. Thanks