Around 34% of Spotify users listen to Spotify in their cars. Are you one of that 34%? Are you fed up with playing music manually all the time when you get into the car? Well, that’s frustrating but not enough. We will get you out of this problem.
Spotify, the leading music–providing application, has become a go–to platform for most music enthusiasts around the globe. If you’re a music lover who spends much time on the road, you know just how important it is to have a great audio experience in your car. For many, this means finding a way to play their favorite music and audio content from their phone. And when it comes to music streaming services, Spotify is one of the most popular choices.
What if you want to listen to Spotify in your car without having to fiddle with your phone every time you get in? Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to make Spotify play automatically in your car, allowing you to enjoy your favorite music seamlessly while on the go. This post will address the sequential guide to make Spotify play automatically in my car in 2023.
How to Get Spotify to Automatically Play in Car (4 Ways)
While making a wireless connection of your phone with your car, Bluetooth is the first technology that comes into your mind. However, there are other ways than Bluetooth to establish a connection, i.e., Bluetooth Adapter, AUX or USB Cable, Carplay (For iPhone), and Android Auto (For Android).
Use Bluetooth
Many modern cars come equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to connect your phone to your car’s audio system wirelessly. Even after introducing Wi-Fi/HotSpot communication, Bluetooth is still used to connect your phone to other output devices.
To connect your Phone to Car’s infotainment system, start your Multimedia Player on your car and switch to Bluetooth mode. Now open your phone’s Bluetooth and search the Car’s Bluetooth under the Available devices. Tap on it to connect. Once your Phone is connected, that device will be shown inside the Paired Devices option.
Once the connection between the car and the phone is established, it’s time to open the settings of Spotify and navigate to the car option, as highlighted in the image below:
Now, inside the Car option of Spotify, you can configure a few features, i.e., Car Mode and Keep Spotify open. We need to play Spotify when the Phone is connected to the Car. For that, turn On the toggle button named Car Mode shown below:
Now, enjoy your favorite music player on Spotify and listen to it on the Car’s speakers. After then, you will see the following icon on the Spotify application, which assures that the Spotify app is connected to the Car’s Bluetooth:
Use AUX Support/USB Support
In the last few decades in the automobile industry, the usage of the AUX has been reduced because of the modern infotainment systems. However, many multimedia or stereo car players are equipped with AUX support.
So, it can be the best alternative if Bluetooth is not working or if Bluetooth is engaged in another activity. It would be best to have an AUX cord to connect your stereo player to the phone. After that, follow the steps to connect your Phone to the multimedia system:
- Power On your Car’s infotainment or the basic multimedia player.
- Locate the port on your multimedia player in the car, and then check that you have the supported cord available.
- Plug the cord into your phone and the multimedia system.
- Open Spotify on your phone and play the music on your application to listen to it on the multimedia system.
Note: AUX is the most used connectivity medium after Bluetooth. There might be a possibility that your system supports the USB cord instead an AUX. So, you must ensure that you are using the correct supported cable.
Use the CarPlay | iPhone
Apple CarPlay is a software feature that enables drivers to use their iPhones in their car’s infotainment system. It is designed to provide a safer and more convenient way to use your iPhone while driving. The Apple CarPlay can connect your Spotify from your phone to the car. The availability of the CarPlay depends on the make/model of the car’s infotainment system, as the CarPlay does not come by default with all infotainment systems.
- Check your car is CarPlay-compatible on Apple’s website or by contacting your manufacturer. Some car manufacturers offer CarPlay as a standard feature, while others may offer it as an optional add-on.
- Once you have a CarPlay-compatible infotainment system installed in your car, connect your iPhone using a Lightning cable or a wireless connection, if available.
- With your iPhone connected to your car’s infotainment system, select the CarPlay option on your display to launch the CarPlay interface. You can access your iPhone’s features and apps directly on your car’s touchscreen display, including Spotify, Maps, and Messages.
Use the Android Auto | Android
Android Auto is a software feature developed by Google that allows drivers to use their Android phone in their car’s infotainment system. It’s designed to provide a safer and more convenient way to use your phone while driving.
The Android auto support feature is available on Android 6.0 or higher, as this feature is not supported on older models. Let’s see how it works to make Spotify play automatically in my car. Open the phone setting and search for the Android Auto feature on your phone. Now, set it up as per your requirements:
Scroll inside the General Settings, where you will observe various toggle buttons associated with different functionalities. Locate the option “Start music automatically” and ensure its toggle button is switched on:
Now, you need to connect your phone to the multimedia system on your car via a USB cable. Here, you must use the Android-Auto-compatible cable (all the changing cables might not offer such support).
When you have connected your phone to your car, you can now tap on Spotify on the Android Auto screen and play the songs. This will automatically start playing Spotify whenever your phone is connected to your Car.
Why Doesn’t My Spotify Automatically Connect to My Car?
You might encounter some connectivity-related issues while in the car. Or you have established a connection but are still unable to play Spotify automatically. This section will list the best fixes that allow you to play Spotify automatically in your car. Let’s dig into these:
Phone/Infotainment Settings Error
If you use your phone frequently to connect to other devices or the infotainment system is being connected to multiple devices on a daily basis, then this kind of situation invokes the inevitable disruption while establishing a new connection. In such a case, you need to restart the source and the target devices.
- How to Fix it?
The best solution to rectify this error is to restart the infotainment/multimedia system and your phone. Once both devices have been rebooted, you can try reconnecting the Phone with the infotainment system and then play Spotify to check its automatic functionality.
Spotify Cache
The cache memory acts as a performance catalyst for any application. However, if the cache is mismanaged or has achieved the memory threshold, then connecting your Spotify with other sources becomes hard. Therefore, Spotify must be clear and then try reconnecting the devices.
- How to Fix it?
The cache option is available in the Storage feature inside the Spotify’s settings. To clear the cache on Spotify mobile app, open the settings and then navigate to the Storage option. You will find the Clear Cache button:
Outdated Android/iOS Version
The manufacturers keep on updating the content and the performance of the application. If the Operating System of your phone, i.e., Android/iPhone, is outdated, you won’t be able to use Android Auto on your Android device and the CarPlay feature on your iPhone.
- How to Fix it?
To rectify this, you must review your phone’s settings and check for any pending updates. In modern smartphones, there is a notification pop-up inside the settings, which shows pending updates. Moreover, you also need to confirm that your Android/iOS versions are supported with the Android auto or the Carplay.
Spotify App Error
Have you performed all the above-stated fixes and cannot fix them? This means the Spotify app has caught some errors, stopping any remedy. In such a case, you must uninstall the currently installed version/copy and get a fresh copy of it from the APP Store.
- How to Fix it?
First, it is recommended to uninstall the currently installed version from your systems by long pressing the icon of the application and then Remove App. Once the application is removed, you have to go to the APP Store and install a new copy of it:
Spotify Under Maintenance
Sometimes, there is ongoing maintenance which is supposed to fix the bugs/or to upgrade the version. In that specific period, the Spotify app does not function properly, ultimately not allowing you to play Spotify automatically in your car.
Moreover, if you are using an incompatible phone or an infotainment system, you won’t be able to play Spotify automatically in your car. So, if you don’t know
- How to Fix it?
To rectify this, you must contact the Spotify support team, which is available on Twitter. For this, navigate to their Official Support page and send them a direct message with all the relevant details, including your car Make/Model and the Phone on which you are using Spotify:
Bottom Line
Playing your favorite music seamlessly while in your car has become easier with Spotify’s vast library of songs, podcasts, and other audio content. Multiple ways to make Spotify automatically in your car in 2023 include Bluetooth connectivity, aux-in, CarPlay, and Android Auto.
You can use Bluetooth if your car has Bluetooth connectivity or choose the aux-in or USB support alternatives. Moreover, if you have an iPhone, you can use the CarPlay feature, and if you have an Android, you can use the Android Auto feature to make Spotify play automatically in your car.
Adnan is a Software Engineer with an aim to learn and teach the community through words. The go-to expert about Technology. He has honed his skills in crafting easy-to-understand documentation, tutorials, and articles on these powerful tools.