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Spotify Connect: What Is It? Which Devices Support It?

With 602 million active users worldwide, Spotify is the world's largest and most popular music streaming service. But thanks to Spotify Connect – arguably the streaming world's most important feature – you're no longer restricted to listening to its catalogue solely through your phone or desktop.

The feature allows you to play the catalogue over wi-fi to any compatible audio product in your home – and with just two presses of a button! Since its 2013 release, Spotify Connect quickly became so simple and convenient to use that in 2020, streaming service rival Tidal followed suit, launching its own Tidal Connect feature. Sincerest form of flattery, and all that...

Spotify Connect is a godsend for house parties – so long as you trust your friends with the controls – but essentially, it's for anyone who wants to easily access Spotify's 100 million songs, 5 million podcasts and curated playlists on smart speakers, hi-fi and AV kit, without the hassle of Bluetooth pairing.

So how does it work? How do you set it up? And what are the perks of Spotify Connect?

What is Spotify Connect?

Spotify Connect is a way of playing Spotify through your wireless speaker, soundbar, AV receiver, voice-controlled smart speaker, or any other compatible device, over wi-fi. It means you can play your favourite tunes anywhere in the house and crucially, without the need for any convoluted Bluetooth pairing between devices.

Best of all, Spotify Connect doesn't use your smartphone (or tablet or desktop) app to stream music. It plays music directly from its servers to the device, leaving your smartphone free for making calls and all other uses. You only have to use your phone to identify the speaker in the first place and then control music playback.

To ensure the best quality possible, Spotify Connect streams in around 320kbps, which is the highest bitrate Spotify currently offers – although Spotify Connect will likely be used for Spotify HiFi, whenever that hotly-anticipated update arrives...

How does Spotify Connect work? What products support it?

(Image credit: Spotify)

Just like Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect works over wi-fi. It seeks out compatible devices that are connected to the same wi-fi network and links them together wirelessly in order to stream music.

To use Spotify Connect, you'll first need a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer running the Spotify app. To use Spotify Connect with some devices you'll also need a Spotify Premium subscription, although some (the PlayStation 5, for example) are happy to work with Spotify Free. 

And then you just need the right product. Chances are you might already have a speaker or amp that supports Spotify Connect: there are heaps of Spotify Connect-enabled products, including smart speakers, music streamers and other hi-fi streaming components, wireless speakers, smart TVs, wearables and car audio systems. You can find the full list of compatible kit here.

Spotify Connect really has become a must-have feature in the AV and particularly audio world, and these days you won't see many streaming-enabled products without it. In fact, it's become so ubiquitous it's usually the first feature you'll see on a streaming-capable product's feature list. What Hi-Fi? Award-winning kit like the Audio Pro C10 MkII wireless speaker, Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation, or KEF LSX all-in-one system? They've all got Spotify Connect baked in for starters. They're joined by OLED TVs from the likes of Sony, Philips and LG, Apple CarPlay, the Xbox Series X and PS5, and many, many more.

Spotify Connect works on one device at a time, unless you're using a multi-room system such as Sonos, where you can stream music to a group (encompassing two rooms or more, set up via Sonos's app).

How to set up Spotify Connect

Spotify Connect is simple to use. Download the latest version of the Spotify app to your control device – a smartphone, tablet or computer, say – and make sure both it and your chosen product(s) are connected to the same wi-fi network.

On your smartphone, launch Spotify, log into your subscription account, and select a song to start playing. Click the 'Now Playing' bar, then the device logo at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. This will show which of your connected products can play from Spotify. Select a device (the text will go from white to green) and music will start playing on that device. Magic!

If you're using Spotify Connect to listen to a song on another smartphone or tablet, make sure both devices are logged in to the same Spotify account and simply follow the steps above.

On the desktop app, click the 'Connect to a device' button in the bottom-right corner. This brings up the devices menu. Select the one you'd like to use, and it'll do the rest.

Spotify claims using Connect lets you switch between multiple products "without skipping a beat". In reality, there's always a tiny bit of delay when you swap products, but it's much quicker than having to pair to Bluetooth every time.

Once you're all set, your smartphone or computer becomes the remote control: select a song or playlist, pause, skip or shuffle through Spotify's vast catalogue.

Another big advantage of using Spotify Connect (especially on a product that supports it natively), is when you fire up the app or switch between products, it will always adjust the volume automatically for the chosen audio product. Pretty neat.

How do you use your smartphone while using Spotify Connect?

You can use it normally without worrying that whatever you're doing – sending a text, playing a game, watching a YouTube clip – will interrupt the music.

All songs are streamed directly from Spotify's cloud servers to your Spotify Connect product. Your phone acts purely as a controller.

First of all, this means playing Spotify won't sap your smartphone's battery. Since you're only using your smartphone or tablet to control playback, it goes a long way in prolonging the battery life.

Secondly, it means phoning to wish your mum happy birthday doesn't have to mean pausing your carefully curated playlist.

You can also switch between devices seamlessly. Were you listening to Spotify through your headphones on your way home? Once you've walked through the door, simply select your Spotify Connect-compatible stereo system in the app and the song will carry on playing through your speakers without having to pause or restart it. If it's non-stop music you want, you've got it.

Does Spotify Connect work with voice control?

(Image credit: Sonos)

If you use a smart speaker – like the Amazon Echo, Sonos Era 300, Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) or Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) – you can use voice commands to play music from Spotify on them.

Add your Spotify account to the list of music streaming services (this can be done in the Alexa or Google Home apps) and make sure you select Spotify as your default music player so you don't have to specify which service to use at every turn. Then simply say "Alexa, play the new Taylor Swift album" or "OK Google, play the John Wick soundtrack" and your smart speaker will oblige.

We can't see the HomePod Mini or HomePod 2 smart speakers supporting Spotify Connect anytime soon, although you can play Spotify through both Apple speakers via AirPlay. Just say "Hey Siri, play [band name] on Spotify" and it will do the rest.

Will Spotify Connect work with Spotify HiFi?

It should do. Obviously we're still waiting for official confirmation of when Spotify HiFi will launch, along with how it will work, but it would seem madness not to support one of Spotify's most popular features in Connect. Rumours abound that the HiFi tier could even be available on newer Connect-enabled devices before older ones, due to their advanced state of technological sophistication.

"We're working with some of the world's biggest speaker manufacturers to make Spotify HiFi accessible to as many fans as possible through Spotify Connect," Spotify said in a statement. Sounds like we're in luck.

Now if only Spotify would finally make good on its promise and launch that long-awaited HiFi tier. We've been very patient...

MORE: 

These are the best free music apps: get free music on Android and iPhone

See our pick of the best Alexa speakers

Read Why I don't think Spotify HiFi is coming any time soon (and why it doesn't matter)

Also, consider that the problem with hi-res audio is how you might be listening to it

The latest hi-fi, home cinema and tech news, reviews, buying advice and deals, direct to your inbox.

12 Hidden Spotify Tricks You'll Wish You Knew Sooner

There's a good chance you subscribe to Spotify. It's the biggest music streaming service in the world, with more than double the market share of Apple Music. You may feel like you know the ins and outs but Spotify frequently adds new, advanced features. Here are a dozen to turn you into a Spotify power user.

The best perks of being a Spotify Premium subscriber include being able to download tracks, albums and podcasts directly to your device so you can listen to them offline. This is ideal for people on a capped cellular plan or know they're traveling to a place without service.

The problem is that keeping tabs on your downloads — especially if you download things across different categories, like albums, playlists and tracks — is the opposite of intuitive. Even though Spotify doesn't make it easy, you can still delete all your downloaded music.

Open the app, go to "Your Library" and select the big "Music" tab at the top of your screen. Then select either Playlists or Albums, whichever you want to manage, and then you'll have to swipe up so that a search bar appears.

Select the Filters button, then select Downloads from the drop-down menu. From here, you can see all your downloaded playlists and albums, and then remove them one by one.

Spotify Down Or Not Working? Here Are A Few Fixes You Can Try

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Spotify is one of our best apps for accessing free music legally, and it's no surprise that it's popular among listeners. But such success doesn't come without occasional glitches and downtimes. If you're experiencing issues with the Spotify app, here are some solutions to help you get back in the groove.

Editor's note: All instructions were generated using a Google Pixel 7 running Android 13 and an Apple iPhone 12 Mini running iOS 16.4.1. Some of the steps below might be slightly different on your end, depending on your device.

Check if Spotify is down

Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority

Consider you might not be the only one having issues with Spotify not working. It could be a widespread issue. The first thing you can try is using Spotify on another device to see if it's working. If Spotify is fine on another smartphone, tablet, or computer, then you know the problem is with your device.

Another good resource is the Spotify Status Twitter account, which lets you know when Spotify has any service-side problems. Alternatively, you can check Down Detector, a third-party website where users can report issues with many services. It's usually spot-on, and it even includes a map with local outages.

Close and reopen the application

Is Spotify not working only for you? If the problem is local, the simplest solution is to close and reopen the Spotify app. It may also help to log out and log back into Spotify. Either of these solutions might resync all data and get things working again.

How to close Spotify on Android

Launch the Settings app.

Go into Apps.

Tap on See all apps.

Find and select Spotify.

Hit Force stop.

Tap OK to confirm.

How to close Spotify on iOS

Slide your finger up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a few seconds.

This will bring up the Recent Apps view.

Find the Spotify preview.

Slide the preview up to close it.

Check for Spotify app updates

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

While being an update or two behind usually won't cause any issues, apps may stop working correctly if you're several updates behind. This is especially the case with more significant updates that make big changes in the way things work within the app. Keeping your apps as up-to-date as possible is always a good practice. Go ahead and check for updates in your app store. We have a full guide if you need help using the Google Play Store.

How to check for Android app updates:

Launch the Google Play Store.

Tap on your profile icon.

Select Manage apps & device.

Go into Updates available.

Scroll down and see if there is an available update for Spotify. If there is, hit Update next to it.

You can also select Update all to take care of all updates in a single sweep.

How to check for iOS app updates

Launch the Apple App Store.

Tap on your profile icon.

Scroll down and see if there is an available update for Spotify. If there is, hit Update next to it.

You can also select Update All to take care of all updates in a single sweep.

Update your phone to the latest software version available

Has it been a while since you last checked for a system update? These often come with performance improvements and bug fixes, so your general experience will be better if you stay on the latest software version. There is a slight chance this might fix any Spotify woes, too.

How to check for Android updates

Launch the Settings app.

Go into System.

Tap on System update.

Select Check now.

The system will look for updates. If there is anything available, you'll be notified and provided instructions for updating.

How to check for iOS updates

Launch the Settings app.

Go into General.

Select Software Update.

The system will automatically check for updates and notify you if one is available. You'll get instructions for performing the update.

Restart your phone!

It may sound like a silly thing to try, but some magic goes on when you restart your phone. It's one of the most recommended troubleshooting solutions, and it happens to work more often than not. Just give it a try!

How to restart an Android phone

Press the Power and Volume Up buttons simultaneously.

Tap on Restart.

How to restart an iPhone

Simultaneously press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons for a few seconds.

A power screen will show up. Use the slider labeled slide to power off.

When the phone shuts down, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds, until the Apple logo shows up on the screen.

Check your internet connection

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Another reason for Spotify not working may simply be because your internet connection is faulty. Go into another app or website and see if things are working correctly elsewhere. If nothing in your phone works, then chances are your internet is down.

Try restarting your router. Sometimes you can do this from the app, while other routers have reset buttons. If you can't figure it out, simply unplugging the router, waiting for about a minute, and plugging it back in will do the trick.

Also, check your account with the internet provider and see if everything is as it should be. Forgetting to pay a bill happens to the best of us, and sometimes automatic payments can fail.

Those using cellular data may also want to check if the data connection is active.

How to check if Android mobile data is on

Open the Settings app.

Go into Network & internet.

Select Mobile network.

Toggle Mobile data on.

If you're outside your country or network coverage, also toggle Roaming on (this may incur extra charges).

How to check if iOS mobile data is on

Launch the Settings app.

Go into Cellular.

Toggle on Cellular Data.

If you want to turn roaming on, go to the SIMs section and tap on your primary SIM. Then toggle Data Roaming on (this may incur extra charges).

Clear the Spotify app's cache

Cache is one of the longest-debated topics in computer history. Should you clear it? It's a topic for another day, but let's just say it helps sometimes. New cache data can get corrupted and cause issues, so it's good to clean it when experiencing problems with any app. If you're interested in this topic, we've discussed when and how to clear your cache to speed up your phone.

How to clear the cache on Android

Open the Settings app.

Go into Apps.

Find the Spotify app under See all apps.

Tap on Storage & cache.

Hit Clear Cache.

You can also select Clear storage for a clean start.

If you're using an iOS device, you can't really just clear an app's cache memory. The only way to accomplish this is by completely uninstalling the Spotify app and then installing it again.

How to uninstall Spotify on iOS

Find the Spotify app. Tap and hold onto it for a few seconds.

When the menu appears, select Remove App.

Confirm by tapping on Delete App.

Clean up some storage space

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Those having trouble downloading songs may want to check how much space their smartphones have. With so many photos, songs, and videos on our devices, it can be easy to fill up the storage and leave no space for new Spotify song downloads. There are many things you can do to clear some storage space. Check out our guide on how to free up storage for more help.

Is your volume down?

This may seem like the silliest problem, but checking doesn't hurt. After all, accidentally lowering your volume is a common issue. Or maybe you just forgot you muted your phone earlier. Just hit the volume up button and see if that's why your songs weren't playing!

Are you using Spotify Connect?

Spotify Connect lets you stream Spotify directly from any Wi-Fi-enabled audio device in your house, including computers, TVs, and smart speakers. If you've recently used Connect, and you can't get audio to play back now, it might be that you still have another device selected in Spotify Connect. Ensure you've chosen the right playback device, and you can fix your problems instantly.

What to do if the Spotify Web Player is not working?

If you use the Spotify Web Player to enjoy your favorite tunes and find that it's not working properly or not playing songs, here's what you can do:

Clear your browser cache and cookies.

On Chrome, click on the three vertical dots icon, then navigate to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data.

On Firefox, go to Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data or go to History > Clear Recent History.

Ensure your browser is up-to-date.

On Chrome, click on the three vertical dots, go to Settings > About Chrome, and check if you're using the latest version.

On Firefox, click on the three horizontal lines, go to Help > About Firefox, and see if any updates are available.

Try a different browser to determine if the problem persists.

Disable browser extensions as some might interfere with the Web Player, especially those related to ad-blocking, script-blocking, and VPN services.

Enable the "Playback of Protected Content."

On Chrome, click on the three vertical dots icon, go to Settings, type "Protected content" in the search bar, and ensure the setting that allows sites to play protected content is enabled.

On Firefox, click on the three horizontal lines, go to Options > General, find the Digital Rights Management (DRM) Content section, and ensure it's enabled.

Lastly, be aware that Spotify has noted some shared or public networks may restrict access to their web player.

What to do if you don't find your username on Spotify mobile?

It might seem trivial, but not being able to locate your username on Spotify's mobile app can be surprisingly frustrating. We faced the same challenge. Managing five different accounts to create these guide articles, we often forgot which account we had signed in with. However, we discovered a workaround that should help you too.

On your mobile device, tap the gear icon located at the top left corner.

Scroll to the bottom and select Support. This will redirect you to the Spotify web version within your browser.

Tap the profile icon.

Choose Edit profile. There, you'll see both your username and your email address.

How to contact Spotify?

There may be times when you can't resolve an issue on your own and need to check if the problem originates from Spotify's platform. For assistance, consider the following methods:

Through the Spotify Community: the community often identifies and flags issues more quickly than Spotify's own staff:

Here, you'll find the latest issues flagged by the community. These have often already been addressed or are in the process of being resolved. You can also submit your own issue, and a community member may assist you.

Directly contacting Spotify's Support team: if you prefer direct communication, you can send a message to the Spotify support team via their support page.

FAQs In which countries is Spotify available?

Spotify is available in a long list of supported countries. The streaming service offers a comprehensive list of markets where you can use its services.

How much does Spotify cost?

Spotify has a free plan that's ad-supported and has a bunch of other limitations. You can pay for a Premium subscription if you want to unlock all Spotify features. Premium Individual costs $9.99 a month. The Premium Duo plan is $12.99. Premium Family is priced at $15.99 monthly and covers up to six accounts. If you're a student, you can also get Premium Student for just $4.99 per month.

How many songs does Spotify have?

According to Spotify, its service offers over 80 million songs.

Can I use Spotify abroad?

Yes, but you can only use Spotify for up to 14 continuous days outside of your country.

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