Apple watch spotify simply unstable

[Ashybertt]

Spotify on Apple Watch keeps being extremely unstable! It almost always gets stuck and no matter what you do: close the app, restart watch, re-install app on the watch, unpair and repair the watch - the issue keeps coming back after some time.

perhaps it has something to do with the spotify team not being able to keep up with watch ios updates, but keeping reinstalling the app us nit a great user experience 

[OscarDC]

Hey @Ashybertt,

Thank you for reaching out to the Community and welcome.

The issue you're mentioning was previously reported and fixed some time ago with an app update. Taking this into account, to continue investigating this case, would you mind including the Spotify version you're currently running? Also, include in your next response the OS version of your Apple Watch.

Lastly, and if possible, could you record a short video where we can take a better look? You can attach it to your next response by using the Insert Video option in the post editor. You can also upload it to Google Drive and share the link with us (make sure the video has the permissions for anyone to watch it).

We'll be on the lookout. 

[preekam1223]

I've been attempting to utilize Spotify on my watch running on Verizon's network with a stable cell connection. I use AirPods connected to the watch via Bluetooth and leave my iPhone behind in my car or my home when going to the gym or workouts. The Watch, the iPhone, and Spotify app are all fully up-to-date software version wise. My Spotify app is always constantly buggy or unreliable in the watch app. It refuses to connect to Spotify have the time when other apps such as Apple Music (I got a trial because Spotify watch app is so unreliable) work perfectly fine in the same network conditions as do other apps. I've attempted to clear cache, reinstall Spotify, and re-pair watch to phone.

[sicknickers]

Adding to this - it's hard to pick a specific issue as there are so many, so the labels 'unstable'/'unreliable' others have used seem appropriate.  It's essentially unusable on at least a weekly basis.

I have no data connection on my watch so my main use case is attempting to listen to offline playlists.  Among my issues:

* Playlists seem to randomly 'un-sync' so my offline content is no longer available on the watch.

* Playlists frequently get stuck partly downloaded, blocking all future downloads.

* Watch appears to pull data from the phone via bluetooth, rather than over wifi?  Downloads are unbearably slow.

* Watch app frequently lands in unusable state where selecting a downloaded song or playlist does not change the 'now playing' value.

In general some combination of force-quitting, re-setting, or re-installing resolves the issues ... but they show up again shortly, and can't always be resolved without a phone/data connection (which is where I'm usually using the watch.)

watchOS 10.4, Spotify 8.9.30.414

[OscarDC]

Hey folks,

Thank you for your messages and for the info shared.

In order to continue investigating this behavior internally, @preekam1223 would you mind including in your next response the OS version of your watch, along with the Spotify version you're currently running?

Also, and if possible; could any of you record a short video where we can take a better look? You can attach it to your next response by using the Insert Video option in the post editor. You can also upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and share the link with us (make sure the video has the permissions for anyone to see it).
 

We'll be on the lookout.

[kristensansing]

Plan

Family

Country

United States

Device

Apple Watch Series 8

Operating System

iOS 10

My Question or Issue

When I’m listening to something on Spotify, the time left on a song or podcast will change to an incorrect time sometimes and it will show “0:00” sometimes. 

[turbobb]

Plan

Premium

Country

USA

Devices & Operating Systems

iPhone 13 Pro: iOS 17.6.1, model MLR93LL/A

Apple Watch SE: OS version 10.6.1, model MKQ13LL/A

My Question or Issue

Apple Watch issue. Playlists containing podcasts downloaded to Apple Watch will not play offline. They are shown as downloaded but when you push play it shows as playing but there is no audio. I've tried several different podcasts and creating new playlists but all variations have the same issue. But if a playlist with just music is created or you download a music album it will play that without issue. 

This has only been an issue for the last month or so. 

Things I've tried to unsuccessfully resolve the issue: uninstalling and reinstalling Spotify on both my iPhone and Apple Watch; various combos of wifi on / Bluetooth off, etc.; doing a hard reset on the watch and reinstalling Spotify; several restarts of phone and watch; "download to watch" via phone and on the watch; repairing my headphones even though they connect properly to the watch and will play music; and probably more odd combos. Nothing works, podcasts still will not play offline. 

[stnrtn]

I'm having similar problems with Apple Watch and Spotify, today half way through a run it decided it would NOT PLAY ANYTHING! Not downloaded podcasts, not streaming podcasts, not downloaded music, not streaming music. Restarted watch and Spotify multiple times, it just starts up again in a failed state on the last thing it was stuck on, which does not play, or the seconds tick down but there's no sound, or it says "find something to play" or crashes. I had to finish my run by listening to the Alanis Morisette techno remix radio on Apple Music, because all the Swedish Death metal I downloaded to Spotify on my watch would not play! Removed and re installed Spotify on Apple Watch and now it will play downloaded music, but not downloaded podcasts, but I can stream a podcast which I didn't download (batter drains in about 30 minutes!), wth seriously this was working fine then all the sudden complete and total failure of the basic task of playing tracks! 

Is there any service that will transfer Spotify playlists to Apple Music? the software bugs have seriously gotten way way worse since they hiked up their monthly fees. 

[warrenyoungster]

App performance issue is ongoing (Apple Watch) and can't get any response from your Support community.

[andylacko]

Spotify on apple watch is total garbage..

[andylacko]

spotify apple watch application is the worst thing on the market, it works just sometimes, when stars are alligned

If you can get lucky enough to connect, you will experience bugs in almost every feature possible, even next song will sometimes stop and break the whole app. When you don’t skip songs, you are always wondering if next song will play or there will be silence. It is like playing roulette. If you added new song to downloadable playlist, don’t expect that playlist to work, you need to download the whole playlist again. Sometimes, songs even stop playing in the middle

In summary, it is app with 1 purpose, to play music, which it doesn’t deliver

[ssyberg]

Also came here to add to this! Having all the same issue as above, it's incredibly unstable/buggy it's hard to even describe what's not working because there's very little connection to the buttons I'm pretty and what happens. Most recently I was about to head out for a run but instead spent 30 minutes trying to figure out why I couldn't just play the podcast I was listening to. I could load it on the screen of the apple watch, click play, and then it would just start playing a different random podcast. I tried downloading it to the watch and it would start to download and then display an exclamation point. Same podcast played fine on the phone, then the moment I'd switch to apple watch it would switch to a different podcast again. Beyond frustrating. 

[MUSIC2mEaRS]

I’m experiencing the same issues no cellular on Spotify app through my Apple Watch. my music will stop after about 5 to 10 minutes of running. The Spotify app shows no cellular connection. my cellular connectivity is good though on all the other apps. Pretty crazy that a music streaming company can’t play music through your device. Can Spotify please resolve this soon or at least acknowledge the multitude of reports of this issue. Very frustrating. Hopefully some info or a fix soon. 

[maxaudio]

Same issue, no cellular plan download only. I am about to cancel Spotify, as I just signed back up but it has been consistently stopping music while I run since they came out with an Apple Watch App many years ago! I cannot believe this is still happening in 2025.

[Rahimhamada]

Same issue and everything is updated 

[SosaBaby]

Same issues as all the above. My (least) favourite issue is when I am halfway through a long run and Spotify decides to stop working. I have noticed issues for a few years. There have been periods of time when the app works fine on Apple Watch but the present status is the worst it has ever been and is a multitude of issues (not synching downloaded songs, not shuffling the playlist, not playing the next song, stopping after one song, or stopping after a few songs). 

[Bob363]

oh my God, so if it’s ongoing so long then there is no hope for this **bleep**. I’m new to Apple Watch.

Exactly same story, Spotify does not switch to Apple Watch when leaving house and going for a run, constantly unresponsive buttons when hitting „play”, randomly stops playing during the run, horrible !!!!!

I think it’s about time to switch to Apple Music 

[wavyMan]

I'm experiencing the same issues as everyone else. Unbelievable that this has been going on this long and in the tech space, that is way too long. I'm leaving Spotify for good. The experience makes keeping an active life frustrating to say the least. I will encourage anyone to do the same as they clearly have no interest in catering to customers like us.

[BayerShep]

The Spotify app for Apple Watch has been consistently garbage for over a year since I last attempted and gave up using it.

Decided to try utilise it again today for a run and instead spent half an hour cursing, trying to make it function. 

astonishes me how this hasn’t improved and is still unusable. It’s really not acceptable for a service I’m paying for. It’s not like either product is a niche thing….

[stnrtn]

So basically listening to podcasts on apple watch away from your phone is a S%$*show no matter which app you use. Spotify is still buggy and no updates to fix it (today it stopped mid podcast 8 miles into a run, and kept wanting to connect to my Denon AVR Receiver over Cellular (it's off, and has airplay disabled anyway!) , and didn't want to play until thankfully force killing the app got it working again. Seems to work with music still so that's a big plus!

Other option is Apple Podcasts, but there's the 2 episode hour limit, 10 podcast maximum, and you can't force downloads, (which can ONLY be done while it's charging) 

Last option is Overcast, which seemed like the best option, but then I found that it also has a bug that disabled the download button (important?!) and the developer has not fixed that in 9 months. 

Just get all three apps on your watch, maybe 4, download a bunch of stuff and hope that at least one works at a time, and good luck keeping track of what you already listened to!

EDIT - Decided to give Spotify another try on my run with my watch today, downloaded 5 podcasts just fine, after listening to one podcast, it totally glitched out. Was stuck at 5 seconds remaining on the same podcast, no audio, and whenever I tried to switch tracks or go to another downloaded episode or music track, there was no response it just went back to the end of that episode and just hung there.  Restarting spotify app and watch made no difference, it was stuck and could not play ANYTHING past the last 5 seconds of silence on ONE podcast. Thankfully Overcast was my backup player so I had a fallback.

Over a year and still no fix of BASIC functionality for the watch app, (the ability to ACTUALLY PLAY ANYTHING should be a given!) but subscription costs went up!