Spotify Says Apple No Longer Allows for Physical Volume Controls on iPhone Connected Devices

Apple has discontinued the functionality of controlling the volume on the Spotify app with your iPhone’s physical volume control buttons when devices are connected through Spotify Connect, such as smart home speakers. However, Bluetooth and AirPlay sessions remain unaffected.

Through a subtle update to its support page, Spotify informed us that Apple has “discontinued” the technology that previously allowed iOS users to tweak the volume with the buttons on their iPhones. It adds that it’s working with Apple on a solution, and in the meantime, we’d have to resort to using a newly added volume slider on the app.

If you’re on the app and press one of the volume buttons, it will display a volume slider for you to navigate. But if the app is minimized, you’re required to press one of the volume buttons, wait for a notification to pop up that will read “Want to change the volume?” tap on the notification, and adjust the volume slider.

I felt a little relieved that this doesn’t affect listening on Bluetooth and AirPlay, but I’m not implying that it’s not a big deal. I always turn to Spotify Connect when I have friends over. We usually cast from my iPhone to the Spotify app on my Fire Stick-enabled non-Smart TV, and using my phone as a remote is very convenient. I cannot picture swiping across an annoying slider whenever I want to adjust the volume. I’ll reach for the Fire Stick remote the next time I’m entertaining at my place.

Even though this change was supposed to go into effect starting September 3, some users already see it. An angry Reddit thread reveals the issue began around three months ago for select users. They’re not happy about having to look at a screen when tweaking the volume on Alexa and would much rather be able to do it with their phones inside their pockets.

Some could interpret this as a case of gatekeeping, and according to TechCrunch, it violates article 6(7) of the DMA, which states:

6(7): The gatekeeper shall allow providers of services and providers of hardware, free of charge, effective interoperability with, and access for the purposes of interoperability to, the same hardware and software features accessed or controlled via the operating system or virtual assistant listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9) as are available to services or hardware provided by the gatekeeper.

Spotify has not been subtle about outrightly blaming Apple and has pointed fingers at it on its updated support page.