Using spotify in car with USB cord

[sdrhythm]

I'm trying to play Spotify through the USB cord on my iPhone 5 in my 2012 jeep grand cherokee (RES 130 stereo with UConnect). When I plug it in it automatically starts playing music through the native iPhone music app. If i go to Spotify and press play it will play the song for 3-4 seconds then go back to the native music app. I've gotten it to play one song in full and then it will go back to iphone native music. I've gotten it to play 3 songs, sliding forward to the next song after playing for 10 seconds, and then it goes back to the native music app and wont go back. This has to have something to do with iOS 6 and spotify. I know it's worked before. Is there any way to override the native iPhone music app and play spotify? Is anyone else having luck playing spotify on their iphone through the USB of their car? Any help would be much appreciated!

Note: I can play Spotify with bluetooth turned off thru AUX, but that renders my bluetooth phone options useless. I can stream the audio through bluetooth but the audio is unbearably terrible.

[Bruce_Clark]

@ocifersven Dealing with the same exact problem on the 2015 Mazda 6 GT. Loads in as an iPod, then I try to play spotify, works for 2 seconds and then switches back.

[awmawm]

Really odd how the same issue crops up with multiple car manufacturers. In our 2015 Genesis, it is not just Spotify that cannot be streamed but other streaming apps like Soundcloud, too. Using Bluetooth and charging through a 12V port works for us but we loose the sound fidelity, album artwork as well as the ability to move to a specific portion in a recording.

Hard to tell for us consumers whether the issue lies with Apple's iOS, the iPhone apps like Spotify or Soundcloud, the car manufacturers or a combination of them. Considering that we have been able to stream Spotify on other cars through USB since 2012 model year, there is proof that it can work if everyone within the chain does the correct job.

[Bruce_Clark]

I agree @Awmawm — it is weird. I had a Nissan Versa rental that played USB from the iPhone 6 ios8 with no issues at all.

My guess is it's a problem with the car setup, at least in this case, as it's trying to force the iPhone to be used as an iPod. Really I just want USB to act like AUX.

[awmawm]

This is the response I received from a senior manager at Hyundai's Product Planning department regarding the inability to stream through USB in the 2015 Genesis:

"You are correct, at this time, only Pandora and Aha Radio can be streamed via USB.   When Car Play is launched, then USB streaming will be possible for apps like Spotify, etc.  This is now possible for Android Auto users."

Note: Pandora and Aha Radio can be streamed because they are dedicated apps that are loaded into the car's head unit.

At least they are aware of the issue which hopefully will push the deployment of CarPlay as an upgrade to existing owners.

[chrisfoxdesign]

Just got a Chevy Silverado and have the same issues with their MyLink audio software. No problems with previous Honda or Pioneer after-market audio systems. Frustrating. I've found some janky workarounds but they're not consistent. 

[Ocifersven]

Well, now I'm trying out Apple Music and it's working better than Spotify in my car. The best part is that I can use SIRI now to queue up or change songs, which Spotify doesn't have nor do I believe they ever can due to SIRI being proprietarily Apple. Apple Music shows up in my Kia Soul as "iPod".

But so far, so good. But I still yearn for Apple's CarPlay to hopefully retrofit my 2015 Kia Soul.

[ballyweel]

I have a brand new 2015 model Kia Sorento and I too am experiencing the same issues. Interestingly up until 5 weeks ago I had a 2014 KIA sorento until its untimely demise in a car accident. The 2014 sorento had no problem playing spotify or soundcloud through the USB cable. The only thing that has changed is the car leading me to believe the problem actually lies with the latest KIA sound system. I have exactly the same IOS version, phone and cable as I used in the last Sorento. I have tried a number of options including disabling car play under the restrictions setting under general settings. Nothing has solved the issue. When I try and start spotify I actually get a message saying that the "app is not supported" which suggests that the problem rests firmly with KIA. I can use spotify with Bluetooth without any issues. I too hope that Carplay will sort this out but I am going to raise it with KIA directly as well.

[Dtp7]

Bruce_Clark, I've got the same exact car but a 2014 and am having the same issue, now with an iPhone 6S Plus on iOS 10. Sure would love to have this work.

[Bruce_Clark]

Yeah, I'm locked into only using bluetooth for music. But I hate that startup connection time for BT (even with sync contacts turned off). Sadly I doubt we'll see a solution as it has to be Mazda's sound system software.

I really want CarPlay but every manufacturer has been slow to pick it up. And, they're not focusing on offering it for older models ... If more car companies were focused on better tech it'd be a huge advantage for them.

[natakasi1986]

Hi Vercaut,

I had the same problem.I drive a BMW 3-F30 model(2013) and my spotify sessions stops after 10minutes. I always had to push the button to connect my Iphone again and the screen always says that the title is unknow,correct? I recently found a solution:

Before you get into your car, open your spotify and play an random song and then close it back again. Then get into the car and connect your phone with the orginal lighting iphone cable.After being connected,start your spotify session up(not before) again and normally you would see the photograph of the song you played before you enter the car or the song name/artist. You would still have scroll the songs/playlist on your phone,but the audio will not stop after 10minutes. For me it works and I had to look long for it. Off course, I m not sure if it depends on software upgrades like IOS 10. If it works for you,great, but for example, if you have to pull your cable out off your Iphone during driving just do the same procedure. Start spotify again wihout connecting the phone to the cable and play a random song.Close it back again after a few seconds. Then connected the cable back again and normally you would see the title of the song you just played random on your phone.

Here is my info :

Iphone: 6
IOS: 10...
Bmw software: The latest version firmware found on the site for my car F30 Berline 2013 for Phone and USB
Cable: Orginal Apple Lighting cable

[natakasi1986]

Hi Jaap,

I had the same problem.I drive a BMW 3-F30 model(2013) and my spotify sessions stops after 10minutes. I always had to push the button to connect my Iphone again and the screen always says that the title is unknow,correct? I recently found a solution:

Before you get into your car, open your spotify and play an random song and then close it back again. Then get into the car and connect your phone with the orginal lighting iphone cable.After being connected,start your spotify session up(not before) again and normally you would see the photograph of the song you played before you enter the car or the song name/artist. You would still have scroll the songs/playlist on your phone,but the audio will not stop after 10minutes. For me it works and I had to look long for it. Off course, I m not sure if it depends on software upgrades like IOS 10. If it works for you,great, but for example, if you have to pull your cable out off your Iphone during driving just do the same procedure. Start spotify again wihout connecting the phone to the cable and play a random song.Close it back again after a few seconds. The connected the cable back again and normally you would see the title of the song you just played random on your phone.

Here is my info :

Iphone: 6
IOS: 10...
Bmw software: The latest version firmware found on the site for my car F30 Berline 2013 for Phone and USB
Cable: Orginal Apple Lighting cable

[HGibs]

This works!!!! And has saved me from unbearable frustration and anger! If you just delete the music app it allows you to play Spotify without interruption.