Spotify iOS app keeps opening

[rburke01]

My Question or Issue

For the past week, when I am using my phone, no matter what app I am on, the Spotify App will auto-open and take over as if I selected it to open. It doesn't auto-play the content, it just opens the app and I have to constantly close it to go back to where I was. I've deleted and re-installed and the problem is still occurring.

Plan

• Family

Country

• USA

Device + OS

(iPhone 13, iOS 15.6)

[Alex]

Hey there @rburke01,

Thanks for reaching out about this in the Community.

This sounds very odd. Is your phone connected to Bluetooth headphones or another device when this is happening?

Looking forward to your reply.

[iwubiggy]

I have also been having this same issue with the app launching continuously on my iPhone. It does not auto play music and it is not related to being connected with any device to my knowledge, but this started happening shortly after I got my Car Thing and I am not sure if this is related. 

[rburke01 · Accepted solution]

I figured it out - so stupid, I've had my Car Thing plugged into my truck so you are almost correct, it was connecting to that all the way into my house which is a pretty good distance. 

[rburke01]

It's connecting to your Car Play - that is what was happening and causing mine to open all the time even though I was inside my house

[Lily46]

hi there, I’m having this same problem but my phone isn’t connected to anything. This started happening after I created a shortcut for it and when I opened it all of a sudden it couldn’t stop opening everytime I opened a different app. I’m not sure what’s caused it and it sucks cause I need to use Spotify :((

[Alex]

Hi there @Lily46,

Thanks for the post.

We'll do our best to help.

Can you let us know what you mean exactly when you say you've created a shortcut? Does the app open at random when it's in the background or when it's completely closed, and does music start playing straight away?

Keep us posted.

[Katie_Aquarius]

Hi there! I switched from android to an iPhone this year and ever since Spotify has been bullying my phone! Every time I get in my car, every time I use voice to text, it pops up and plays AND THE WINDOW that says it’s dangerous to use this app while driving pops up and YOU HAVE TO PRESS DISMISS. And this is a million times more dangerous than just having the app start playing. I never had this problem with my android. How can I get the pop ups to go away. It’s seriously stressful.

thanks! 

Katie 

[MihailY]

Hey @Katie_Aquarius,

Thanks for reaching out.

As a first step, can you please let us know the following:

• Your device model, OS version, and Spotify version.
• Have you tried any troubleshooting steps like reinstalling the app?
• How are you connected to your car? (e.g. CarPlay, Bluetooth only etc.)
• Does the notification appear only when you use Voice to text?

Keep us posted.

[mordenfeld]

Hi,

The same issue happens to me in my car...

Whenever I try to play audio from another app (i.e. Youtube, TikTok, etc), the movie starts in muted mode and as I turn the volume up (on my car stereo), after approx 5 secs, the movie is paused and Spotify app takes over and starts playing last played song. The actual Spotify app does not seem to be starting (not appearing in the list over started apps), so I have to manually start the app and kill it to make the song stop playing in my car, but as soon as I repress play in my other audio app the procedure repeats itself and Spotify starts playing the last played song again. I am unable to listen to sound from any other app...

• IPhone 15 Pro
• iOS 17.0.3
• Spotify app 8.8.86.157
• Spotify settings / Playback / Automatic playback of similar content is switchen off.
• Connected to my VW car stereo with bluetooth.

[Joan]

Hi @mordenfeld,

Thanks for reaching out. If you restart your phone and then try and play audio, having never opened Spotify after restarting, does the same still happen?

Let us know how it goes.

[mordenfeld]

Yes, still the same result. It might be worth mentioning that I have
Spotify Connect setup on multiple devices at home, if that maybe interfere?

[Vasil]

Hey @mordenfeld,

The Connect devices shouldn't cause any issues but there's a few more things we can look into here:
 

Firstly, you should turn off the "Handoff" setting, which may cause the automatic playback of music apps, such as Spotify:

1. On your iOS device, open Settings > General.
2. Scroll to Handoff, and turn off this setting.

If you are using Apple CarPlay to use media apps, including Spotify in your car, don't allow CarPlay for restrictions:
 

1. On your iOS device, open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps.
2. Scroll to CarPlay, then toggle it off.

And, if you are using iPhone or iPad and you found Spotify plays automatically every single time when paired with Bluetooth in your car, you can prevent that by creating a shortcut:

On your iOS device, open Shortcuts > Automation > Create Personal Automation.

1. Scroll down and tap on "Bluetooth" to choose Bluetooth as the trigger for the automation.
2. Tap on the Choose button next to Device to select your car device. At this time you car's Bluetooth device should be connected and appears in the list under "MY DEVICES".
3. Tap Done to confirm this device selection.
4. Tap Next to proceed.
5. In the Actions view, Tap on Add Action > Search, and type "Play" to find and select the Play/Pause action under the Media section.
6. Tap on Play/Pause to choose Pause to stop Spotify or other media from playing when paired with Bluetooth.
7. Review the action, which should now read "Pause on iPhone", then tap Next to continue.
8. Revie the automation, which should appear as "When [YourUsername's iPhone Model] connects to [Your Car's name]," then tap Done.
    

Hope this helps! Keep us posted on how things go and we'll be on the lookout for your response 🙂!