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Why is the Spotify app for Apple Watch so glitchy?

Hi all,

The main reason I bought my Apple Watch was to be able to play my playlists from it without needed my phone when I go on a run. The Spotify app is so glitchy that it presents a whole host of problems, usually that I can’t even choose to play music from my watch and not my phone if my phone is next to me and connected to the same Wi-Fi. If I go out of range of phone and Wi-Fi (my watch is not cellular) I am unable to play downloaded music directly from my Apple Watch into my AirPods - I sometimes can’t even connect my AirPods to the watch. It’s extremely frustrating and seems like amateur app development from such a premium product.

Apple Watch SE, watchOS 9

Posted on Apr 19, 2023 5:31 AM

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Posted on May 10, 2024 9:03 AM

I'm so confused as to why no one from Apple has responded to this inquiry/issue. I have been a long-time samsung/galaxy person and switched to Apple last September and I can't tell you the # of times i've wanted to crunch my watch under my car tires but the primary issue i experience is related to playing music consistently.

  • I have playlists on spotify that are DOWNLOADED to watch and apple randomly stops playing
  • It takes 2-5 minutes everytime i want to play something and the software completely glitchy; nothing happens when you select play, it's displaying some old content recently played on phone, nothing happens. I then pray - proceed to play some old content hoping it will release whatever memory/connection it has, attempt to play ANY downloaded content and sometimes it starts
  • It's completely random WHEN it successfully follows the controls (skip song)

It seems like there's a lot of bugs to use spotify and i'm starting to give up all together which is probably Apple's strategy to drive you to imusic or some other. I'm going to start testing Pandora but I can't express the level of frustration when in the middle of a run and music stops at random and you can't get anything to play again.


I came online to see if this is a known issue - so thanks to everyone that's already posted; glad it's not just me but where's Apple in this. They are just happy taking $ and not responding to customer issues, I'm going to see if apple store can help but was really surprised that no one has weighed in from Apple on this issue - out of all the devices the watch should be the fastest for these types of apps - connecting to headset/play music... I've already done software update but my guess is they have so much other garbage on the watch their software is overburdened. The galaxy watch was far superior for not just music all the health metrics/tracking. I think this is just junk.

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7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 10, 2024 9:03 AM in response to hennerzt

I'm so confused as to why no one from Apple has responded to this inquiry/issue. I have been a long-time samsung/galaxy person and switched to Apple last September and I can't tell you the # of times i've wanted to crunch my watch under my car tires but the primary issue i experience is related to playing music consistently.

  • I have playlists on spotify that are DOWNLOADED to watch and apple randomly stops playing
  • It takes 2-5 minutes everytime i want to play something and the software completely glitchy; nothing happens when you select play, it's displaying some old content recently played on phone, nothing happens. I then pray - proceed to play some old content hoping it will release whatever memory/connection it has, attempt to play ANY downloaded content and sometimes it starts
  • It's completely random WHEN it successfully follows the controls (skip song)

It seems like there's a lot of bugs to use spotify and i'm starting to give up all together which is probably Apple's strategy to drive you to imusic or some other. I'm going to start testing Pandora but I can't express the level of frustration when in the middle of a run and music stops at random and you can't get anything to play again.


I came online to see if this is a known issue - so thanks to everyone that's already posted; glad it's not just me but where's Apple in this. They are just happy taking $ and not responding to customer issues, I'm going to see if apple store can help but was really surprised that no one has weighed in from Apple on this issue - out of all the devices the watch should be the fastest for these types of apps - connecting to headset/play music... I've already done software update but my guess is they have so much other garbage on the watch their software is overburdened. The galaxy watch was far superior for not just music all the health metrics/tracking. I think this is just junk.

Jun 1, 2024 10:35 PM in response to hennerzt

Not a complete fix, but I've had some luck by removing the downloaded playlists. So basically tap the green download button on all your playlists to make it gray. I was surprised to see it being much more responsive by using streaming instead of local downloads. Maybe the Spotify app chokes when there are too many downloaded songs. I'll test out only having one downloaded playlist at a time.

Aug 16, 2023 10:54 AM in response to hennerzt

Hey there,


I completely understand your frustration with the glitchy Spotify app on your Apple Watch. It's disappointing when a premium product like the Apple Watch doesn't have a seamless experience with an app like Spotify. The whole point of having an Apple Watch is to make tasks like playing music on the go much more convenient, especially during activities like running.


It's quite puzzling why the Spotify app hasn't been optimized better for the Apple Watch. Given the advancements in technology and the expectations users have, you'd think that such a significant compatibility issue wouldn't be present. Having to deal with connectivity problems, especially when you're near your phone and Wi-Fi, defeats the purpose of the device.


The inability to smoothly play downloaded music directly from your Apple Watch into your AirPods is a major drawback, particularly for those who rely on their devices for workouts and outdoor activities. The issue with connecting your AirPods only adds to the frustration.


While it's tempting to look for alternative solutions like downloading a modified Spotify Premium APK, I would advise caution. Third-party APKs can potentially introduce security risks, as they might not come from official sources and could compromise your device's safety and privacy. It's always best to stick with official app sources and give feedback to Spotify about the issues you're facing. Hopefully, they'll address these concerns soon and provide a more seamless experience for Apple Watch users.


In the meantime, you might want to explore other music streaming services that might offer better compatibility with your Apple Watch, or consider using the built-in music player options available on the watch. Hopefully, with enough user feedback and demand, Spotify will take the necessary steps to improve their app and deliver the experience you expected when purchasing your Apple Watch...

May 10, 2024 9:15 AM in response to campholls

campholls wrote:

I'm so confused as to why no one from Apple has responded to this inquiry/issue.

There are two reasons why Apple hasn't responded here. First, this is a user-to-user support forum and Apple's participation is largely limited to making sure we all one the rules. And second, this is a forum for Apple products and services. Spotify is not an Apple product or service.


The first thing to try is to delete the app (on both your phone and watch) and re-install. If that doesn't help, contact Spotify.

The galaxy watch was far superior for not just music all the health metrics/tracking.

Then perhaps you should sell your Apple Watch and get the type of watch that apparently better meets your needs.

Nov 17, 2023 11:58 AM in response to Alvaro Salgado

Alvaro Salgado wrote:

Part of the reason I pay premium prices for my apple devices is because Apple used to guarantee a high quality experience on software available on its tightly controlled app store, even if it is from another developer. If Apple can't deliver a premium experience, might as well move to android

Spotify is not an Apple product or service. Apple's ability to control the Spotify app is pretty much limited to allowing it in the App Store or removing it. If you want the Apple experience with your music, switch to Apple Music. No guarantees you'll like it better but at least if you complain about Apple it will make sense.

Why is the Spotify app for Apple Watch so glitchy?

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