Spotify Connect taking over volume control of AV receiver / speakers

[Flavauk]

Plan

Premium

Country

UK

Device

Iphone 12 Pro

Operating System

iOS 16

My Question or Issue

Since updating to iOS 16 a few days ago I have had problems with the Spotify app taking over and not allowing separate volume control of my AV receiver / speakers.

The AV receiver is a Pioneer VSX-934 though I don't think this is important as this didn't happen previous to the iOS 16 release / Spotify update.

When you connect to the AV receiver through the Spotify app to play music, you can control the volume of the AV receiver on the phone which is fine although the increments of volume isn't ideal. Trouble is if you try adjusting the volume of the AV receiver using it's own remote or volume nob, Spotify resets it back to what it had in the app and the volume ends up jumping around all over the place.

This didn't happen previous to iOS 16 / Spotify update a few days ago so something has changed there. Remote control volume and the Spotify app were playing nicely together before this and allowed each other to control the volume as and when, neither overriding one or another.

Any suggestions or anyone else get this? Presume the app is needing an update to fix this.

. 

[5nf-r_h3vk5xk]

Same here. Actual iOS and Spotify. But problem seen if Spotify is running. 

[htenld]

Just double checked to rule out any mistake... Nope, I'm not having the issue anymore now. Sad that it is still there for others. Not sure if the soundbar silently updated its firmware on its own, but could that have fixed it in the first place? Doubtful...

[Flavauk]

It's not fixed for me either with the new Spotify update and the latest iOS. Same problem. 

Any ideas Mods when this fix might come about?! Is it just not being prioritised? 

[fotkyznovin]

Seems to work “by one point” after last update. Thanks spotify Team 😃

[Fabrizio79]

Deleting and reinstalling the app solved the problem. It worked for me

[5nf-r_h3vk5xk]

Reinstalling seems to solved the problem at my iPad. On my iPhone I tried to disable (and enable later again) the option „Multiple people can join and control this speaker“ (didn’t noticed this option before). This solved the problem on the iPhone without reinstalling the app. 

[vlad3r]

It's also solved for me now, a few days after updating Spotify and iOS to the latest version. I didn't do anything special (didn't reinstall the app, or change any settings). I'm assuming they are just rolling out the fix gradually, which is why it's working for some people and for others not yet.

[Flavauk]

Yup re-install got it working for me again, cheers all.

[Ph1l1ppR]

works again, thank you very much for the quick fix

[htenld]

Aaaaand again in trouble, now the app switches the soundbar volume to 100% when switching back to the app. That's even worse then the 5 point increment. Sighhhhhhh worry less on the gui please, fix the piping fist!!!!

[RedFlags]

On iPhone 11.

Occasionally, when playing music on my Sonos system, Spotify randomly changes the volume from massively loud, to a whisper and back again, over and over. Manually correcting the volume works for a second, then it goes back to fluctuating.

Very frustrating. Be FAR better if Spotify just had a single volume slider and didn't react to iPhone master volume. I don't want Spotify to affect my iPhone master volume, as it impacts anything else I'm running at the time. Really bad UX choice.

[Shane68]

I’m having the same problem now with Spotify controlling the volume on my Arcam system also. It started to play up after the iPhone update. Absolutely frustrating. Nanny state gone mad

[RCLSaviour1]

Have the problem now when my Android phone takes over my MS tablet via Spotify connect. Reinstalled the app on both devices. I have to erase all data of the app on the phone. Cut off the connection and reconnect. Don't know what happened. Used to work perfectly up until a couple of weeks ago. 

[RCLSaviour1]

Have that issue when my Android phone takes ove my MS PC tablet via Spotify connect. Was OK a few weeks ago.

[E_81]

I have same problem my Samsung S20 fe with Onkyo RZ50. Volume not increase 1 step. increase 5 step spotify on Onkyo. I uninstall spotify app and install. there is same.

[dentoll]

Yes, this seems to be a known issue that started after the iOS 16 update. Spotify Connect is now syncing volume more aggressively, which causes the app to override changes made directly on your AV receiver.

It's not specific to Pioneer users with Yamaha, Denon, and Onkyo receivers have reported the same behavior.

Fix (for now):

• Make sure both Spotify and iOS are updated to the latest versions.

• Try using AirPlay instead of Spotify Connect — it doesn’t have the volume reset issue.

• If your receiver has a “Network Control” or “Volume Sync option, try turning that off.

• You can also report it to Spotify via Settings → Help → Report a Problem — they’re aware and likely working on a fix.

So yes, it’s most likely a Spotify Connect bug after the recent update, not an issue with your receiver.

[vlad3r]

The volume syncing issue was fixed 3 years ago. Does it happen again in iOS 26, or why are you bringing it up again?