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

Apple has discontinued the functionality of controlling the measurement connected the Spotify app with your iPhone’s carnal measurement power buttons erstwhile devices are connected done Spotify Connect, such arsenic astute location speakers. However, Bluetooth and AirPlay sessions stay unaffected.

Through a subtle update to its support page, Spotify informed america that Apple has “discontinued” the exertion that antecedently allowed iOS users to tweak the measurement with the buttons connected their iPhones. It adds that it’s moving with Apple connected a solution, and successful the meantime, we’d person to edifice to utilizing a recently added volume slider connected the app.

If you’re connected the app and property 1 of the measurement buttons, it volition show a measurement slider for you to navigate. But if the app is minimized, you’re required to property 1 of the measurement buttons, hold for a notification to popular up that volition work “Want to alteration the volume?” pat connected the notification, and set the measurement slider.

I felt a small relieved that this doesn’t impact listening connected Bluetooth and AirPlay, but I’m not implying that it’s not a large deal. I ever crook to Spotify Connect erstwhile I person friends over. We usually formed from my iPhone to the Spotify app connected my Fire Stick-enabled non-Smart TV, and utilizing my telephone arsenic a distant is precise convenient. I cannot representation swiping crossed an annoying slider whenever I privation to set the volume. I’ll scope for the Fire Stick distant the adjacent clip I’m entertaining astatine my place.

Even though this alteration was expected to spell into effect starting September 3, immoderate users already spot it. An angry Reddit thread reveals the contented began astir 3 months agone for prime users. They’re not blessed astir having to look astatine a surface erstwhile tweaking the measurement connected Alexa and would overmuch alternatively beryllium capable to bash it with their phones wrong their pockets.

Some could construe this arsenic a lawsuit of gatekeeping, and according to TechCrunch, it violates nonfiction 6(7) of the DMA, which states:

6(7): The gatekeeper shall let providers of services and providers of hardware, escaped of charge, effectual interoperability with, and entree for the purposes of interoperability to, the aforesaid hardware and bundle features accessed oregon controlled via the operating strategy oregon virtual adjunct listed successful the designation determination pursuant to Article 3(9) arsenic are disposable to services oregon hardware provided by the gatekeeper.

Spotify has not been subtle astir outrightly blaming Apple and has pointed fingers astatine it connected its updated enactment page.