Spotify: Volume control of devices via iPhone is Apple’s problem
According to Spotify, iPhone users will no longer be able to control the volume of connected devices using the physical volume buttons. The reason is that Apple has discontinued the underlying technology. The change affects Spotify Connect, a feature that allows you to control Spotify playback on various devices such as speakers, game consoles and smart TVs.
The streaming giant claims that the previous method has become unstable, leading to issues such as volume spikes during playback. As a result, iPhone users now have to resort to an in-app slider to adjust the volume. However, as The Verge reports, to the Swedes it’s just a workaround.
To use the new volume control, iPhone owners need to tap a notification that appears when they press the physical volume buttons and then prompts them to use the in-app slider. Spotify claims that the new solution will provide “persistent, high-quality” volume control despite the extra steps required for users. The change is set to take effect on September 3, but some users are reportedly already seeing it.
Spotify claims Apple is denying access to the same technology that allows Apple Music to play on third-party devices. Continuing long-standing tensions between the two companies, the streaming service even went so far as to suggest that this could violate the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which requires major platforms to open up to third-party services.
“We have asked Apple to introduce a similar solution to what they offer users on HomePod and Apple TV for app developers controlling non-Apple media devices.” […] “Apple has told us that apps need to integrate with HomePod to access the volume control technology on iPhones.”
Apple does indeed offer an API for third-party music services to stream directly to HomePods. But Spotify has chosen not to implement it for some reason. Fortunately, iPhone users with iOS 17 can still start an AirPlay session on the HomePod with a Siri command. To do this, you can simply say “Siri, play artist XY on Spotify”. Incidentally, the change only affects Spotify Connect on iOS – control via Bluetooth or AirPlay works as usual.
