music just starts playing automatically on my iPhone

Okay—this worked for me, but not unfortunately, until I had deleted the Music app (which didn’t fix the problem anyway).

This problem was connected to my AirPods. I had connected them to my iPad a couple days ago instead of my iPhone phone (which I usually use with my AirPods). It wasn’t until I took the AirPods out of my ears, that I realized that the music was coming through my iPad, not my phone. It was an easy fix to turn the music off on my iPad.

Problem solved. Hope this helps somebody.

I realize there are ppl here with different issues, but the core issue of unwanted auto play with no infinity symbol to toggle off does happen regardless of Bluetooth connectivity.

For example, if I am watching a twitch stream and whether I’m connected to a Bluetooth device or not, if I take a call or visit a separate app that uses mic or speakers (like the camera for video), when I exit the secondary app, instead of resuming my stream or other media, it auto plays Apple Music instead of the media I was playing resuming.

This is certainly intentional on apple’s part as (from what I’m seeing and reading) they don’t provide the infinity symbol toggle to ppl who don’t subscribe to Apple Music, and it activates whether the Apple Music app has been opened by the user or not.

For me, it is an intermittent problem, so I’m not certain of every parameter that is in play. While it may not be Apple’s express intention to “make” someone listen to or use Apple Music, it certainly functions to highlight how their native apps are synchronized with the operating system and ease of use features. Combined with the general human inclination to take the path of least resistance, it is not out of the question to attribute this issue to purposeful design on apple’s part, or to resent having the choice taken from you, when it is clearly available to others, or was available in the past.

It is so frustrating for me too whenever I start my car, music from ITunes play automatically and I want to play my Spotify playlists. Much worse is when you move tab from your option on car screen, let say AM, FM, iPod, Bluetooth , it would default back to to the iTunes music. I cancelled my iTunes subscription already coz Spotify has a much broader selections. Apple please give an option to have our music defaults.

Ever since this new update, it’s more frequenting in auto play for iTunes music in cars. I believed they intentionally did it for customers to subscribe back to iTunes. I hope with many competitive music apps, ITunes gets obsolete.

This is what I did. I added a screen time for ITunes and time it only for the minimum 1 minute. Before you go car play iTunes & it stops after 1 minute, walla, you can play your other music app. Add the app on screen time so you can limit use.

Very unfortunate but I deleted Apple Music app even though I have purchased a significant library over the years. Super annoying that Apple Music always opens when connecting to BT or earbuds. This has been a long time coming for me deleting it I suppose. It’s been so annoying that it’s prevented me for years using my phone as much as I’d like in vehicles… which led to me never using Apple Music…you want to try to force me to use it?…made me 100% not willing to try anything associated with a subscription through it EVER but instead become happy with other company’s services. Get out of your own way Apple.

Similar issue, no "infinity" sign, but I believe people mean the shuffle and loop signs, make sure they are both *not* enabled like this:

And not like this:

Solved it for me.

Thank you for this thread to help me understand my issue with autoplay!

Apple Music randomly turns on and the infinity button doesn’t help. I even had to go as far to not use Bluetooth in my car which makes it hard to hear using the phone now. It’s so aggravating when I turn on my car and Apple Music turns on by itself and plays random songs as loud as can be. I’m definitely going to get rid of Apple Music if there isn’t a fix for this. Such bs!!!

ABetterCalendarChoice wrote:

I have a Pixel 8 with the Apple Music app. Same problem occurs. Music starts playing automatically when it connects to my car. Really irritating.

That is the way it works for any Music app or any device. When the bluetooth connection is made to the car, music will start playing from the last music source. If it did not do this, you would not be able to listen to Music through your car without having to start the music manually on your device. This would no longer qualify for a hands-free device, which is the way it is marketed by the car manufacturer for Bluetooth Audio.

Correction: go to Screen Time, go App limit, add the Music for ITunes and set limit to minimum which is 1 minute. Every start of day before you go to car play music for your iTunes for 1 minute. It will stop after one minute.

I followed the instruction to turn off the repeat, but it only sets at repeat every and repeat song. When I manage to get it greyed out it turns right back on again 🤦🏻‍♀️

so annoying. And no way to set Spotify or other service as default. Oh apple, how you betray us in your own interest

Thankyou Forgottenrim. I just tried your solution but like others no infinity icon - I have the latest IOS.

in my old Freelander Apple Music now starts more frequently than ever and unprotected. Latterly immediately a phone call has ended it cuts in.

clearly and intentional act.

I don’t want to delete the app as I have some great music in my library 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️😫

You’d think apple would finally do something about this! It’s been the same on all iPhones and it’s horrible.

I disabled “hand off” and it’ll still automatically play in my car.

it’s one of the most irritating IPhone features. Instead of adding 50 minor fixes each month, they should focus on the items pepper hate about the phone.

meagen195 wrote:

You’d think apple would finally do something about this! It’s been the same on all iPhones and it’s horrible.

I disabled “hand off” and it’ll still automatically play in my car.

it’s one of the most irritating IPhone features. Instead of adding 50 minor fixes each month, they should focus on the items pepper hate about the phone.

I you have read through the posts you would realize it has nothing to do with the iPhone and every thing to do with the car manufacturer. The way a hand-free Bluetooth device works when connected to a vehicle that does not have a setting to pause Bluetooth audio is to start playing immediately when connected to the car. If it did not do this, then when you chose to listen to Bluetooth audio from your phone, you would need to manually start playing the music on your phone while driving which defeats the purpose of a hands-free connection that they advertise.

Newer vehicles from some car manufacturerers do have a setting to pause Bluetooth audio and allow you to start playing without having to do that from your device. These vehicles also have a setting to prevent autoplay when connected. This also affects Android devices as you can see here:

https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s22-series/autoplay-music-in-car/td-p/7667316

https://support.google.com/androidauto/thread/194798173/i-want-to-turn-off-autoplay?hl=en

https://support.google.com/androidauto/thread/188932983/can-t-turn-off-start-music-automatically?hl=en

In addition, most vehicles will allow you to set a different input source, such as FM before you shut the car off. When you later start the car, the input source will remain on FM and only play the Bluetooth audio when it is chosen from the car radio. All the options depend on the vehicle you have and what settings they include to control your Bluetooth device, whether it is an iPhone or Android phone.

FleshwoundsInIthaca wrote:

Wrong. The problem is with iPhone because the same thing happens with directly connected headphones.

If you read my post and the links provided, you would see that it is specific to Bluetooth connections in a vehicle. You have provided no information to refute that. For your situation it may be useful to include the manufacturer of the headphones and if the music starts from Apple Music, Spotify, or Pandora along with the connection type. It would also be helpful to provide any troubleshooting steps that you have already done:

• Did you test with another phone manufacturer to conclude it only happens on iPhone?
• Did you try the AutoPlay setting on Apple Music?
• Do you use any other music app or is it only Apple Music?

I don't have a wired set of headphones to test on my own device, but I'm sure others will be able to provide more insight. It may be best to start a new question as the responses are starting to stray off topic being wired/wireless and headphone/ car audio.