Iphone 6: music starts playing by itself

This was originally posted in 2015 and just about 3 years later I’m still experiencing this same problem. It’s not the headphones, all my headphones do it. My iTunes library will just randomly start playing and skipping songs. When I try to listen to music it’s annoying because it’ll go half way through a song then skip all of a sudden. When I haven’t even pressed play my music will begin playing and at the worst times. I’ll be in class next thing I know my music is blaring through my headphones. I’ve restarted my phone and made sure my software is up to date. This problem is really annoying and after 3 years you’d think Apple would have a fix.

This been happening to me for a while now (couple years). Have an Iphone 5, IOs keep it up to date. Never use headphones. Sometimes phone has been charging on my desk when, all of the sudden, music starts playing (phone was charging for half an hour before this happened last time. Other times i've been at movies, phone in my pocket and then i hear music.... after thinking "who is the idiot with that phone" i realized it was me 😟 Dont really expect any help from Apple, given that this thread has been here for 3 years without any progress but just needed to vent....

I've been having this issue too, think I just figured it out though....I hope. I was just turning off auto-update for the apps and I noticed that it was turned on for music as well. So, whenever my daughter downloads a song, it goes to my iPhone as well???? That's all I can figure. Turned it off tonight, we'll see.

Hello there borisser,

It sounds like your music for some reason starts playing on its own, randomly. That seems like some software in the background is causing it to start, so I would quit all the running apps on the device and then test that out for a bit.

iOS: Force an app to close

Double-click the Home button.

Swipe left or right until you have located the app you wish to close.

Swipe the app up to close it.

When you have done that restart the device and test the issue again:

iOS: Turning off and on (restarting) and resetting

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Regards,

Sterling

Could you clarify what kind of software running in the background would possess the ability to start auto-playing Apple Music on its own? I'm experiencing the same issue on my iPhone 5C, where Apple Music will just start playing on its own. My phone has been sitting next to me on my desk for the last two hours, and it just started suddenly playing music. Wasn't touching it, and wasn't in my pocket, so can't blame it on errant button press. And I checked apps running in the background, which was limited to just a few, including Safari, Outlook, Instagram, and a weather app. I don't think any of these would have the permissions necessary to start auto-playing music.

I have the same issue. Very annoying.

May be a sw issue but it seems to happen only when headphones are in the iPhone socket - are others experiencing this?

Your suggestion doesn't fix the issue because it has nothing to do with background apps. My phone starts playing music even if I have completely restarted the phone and have not used it again since turning it back on. The music which it was playing was not even on my phone as I tried deleting all of my music and was under the impression (since the phone told me) that I could only play music over wi-fi (which I have turned off). Somehow it set itself up to play music using my mobile data so not only is it wasting my battery because I have to keep my phone muted to avoid embarrassment and don't realise this is happening immediately, but it is also costing me money. I think that this has to do with the annoying voice control which often also switches itself on, talks to itself for a while and then decides to play music even when no one responds.

Mine does it even when there are no headphones plugged in and clearly the OP's does the same which is why s/he said:

Last time it was in my pocket at work and all of a sudden it started blaring out of my pocket during the meeting. It was quite embarasing [sic].

This happens on my 6+ but it has been playing Audio Content from iBooks even when that app has not been open

So when do we get a solid answer from Apple????

Running ios9.2 and still have the problem. Apple Genius my ***

Same problem with audiobook content (both Audible and Book Mower apps).

iPhone 6s+ iOS 9.2.1(13D15)

I Just experienced the same problem and i discovered that it happens when connected to a specific charger. If i use a different charger the problem does not happen. The charger that causes the issue also cause loss of control of the display, i cannot swipe or do anything with the display.

Turns out the problem is the earbud cord. The wires on the jack end had become pulled loose (internally) from the base and when the cord gets bent over by me moving around, the loose wires turn on the music or Siri comes on.

It is an obvious design flaw...the hard plastic piece needs to be longer so you don't use the wire to unplug the cord. I had to buy new earbuds but decided to go by Homedepot and buy a white heat shrink tube. (3/16-3/32" size) fit nicely over the jack. This now acts as a bend restricter and keeps the wires from being pulled out when I unplug.

I am having this same problem, music starting on its own. But sometimes my earbuds are in and most times they are not. I have no apps running in the background and the music still starts. I even signed out of Apple music and it still played!! I had to turn my phone completely off at church this morning just in case it happened again. Seems to happen 2 or 3 times a day and even in the middle of the night. Very annoying! I have a 6 plus iPhone and the IOS is 9.2.1

I think it's a bug in the software of the newest version of iOS, that's what I think.

iphone 6 iOS 9.2.1

my phone will randomly play music with no app. I can't even swipe the app off to turn it off. I have to go to the lock screen to turn it off. The last time it was sitting on the table, locked, no apos of any kind running because I had just killed them all. This is very annoying and it randomly comes on at the worst times. In meetings, when I'm sleeping, etc. This isn't acceptable.

Thanks

faithful apple user questioning my faith.

Katy White