Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Spotify Updated With Home Screen Widgets on iOS 14

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,504
37,790


Following a brief beta testing period, Spotify today updated its iPhone and iPad app with a new Home Screen widget that provides quick access to recently played playlists, artists, albums, or podcasts. The widget is available in small and medium sizes.

spotify-ios-14-home-screen-widget.jpg

To access the widget, update the Spotify app to version 8.5.80 or later and open the app. Then, tap and hold a widget or an empty area of the Home Screen until the app icons jiggle, tap the plus sign in the top-left corner, tap on Spotify in the list, and select the size of the widget. Home Screen widgets require iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 or later.

As with other Home Screen widgets, this one only serves as a shortcut to various parts of the Spotify app, as Apple does not allow Home Screen widgets to offer playback controls or toggles due to battery life considerations.

Article Link: Spotify Updated With Home Screen Widgets on iOS 14
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/10/14/spotify-home-screen-widgets-ios-14/
  • Angry
Reactions: DeepIn2U
and 1989 others said:
Restricting playback buttons because of 'Battery life limitations' codswallop. This is 100% to try and get more subscribers to Apple Music.
Click to expand...
Lol. You do realise that apple’s OWN music widget has the SAME limitation as Spotify’s right? Derp.

EDIT: I agree the widgets are crap on iOS 14 due to these limitations. But to say it’s to drive more subscriptions to Apple Music is ludicrous.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: magicman32, tranceking26, sideshowuniqueuser and 13 others
Spotify will work with HomePod mini through airplay right?
.... I can skip the widget for now
 
I really wish Spotify would allow downloads to the Apple Watch-kinda crazy that they don’t. Makes me consider switching to Apple Music sometimes just for this functionality
 
  • Like
Reactions: osx86
If we want to actually have a good version of iOS, how long do we wait until we install it?

I guess I'm waiting for iOS 14.2.1 or something?
 
  • Like
Reactions: DEMinSoCAL
Huh. I missed it at first due to the purple color. I guess it draws from the playlist theme, which seems random and always has.

Hopefully Stations can get a widget next.
 
Last edited:
I updated Spotify. But I don’t see the widgets.🤷🏻‍♂️

Edit: NM I updated and then I rebooted my phone. And then I was able to find them.
 
I see so many posts about the widgets being useless if there are no control buttons. Is it really that much of an issue though? If your phone is locked, are you going to unlock your phone and find the widget to play/pause or skip? No, you can do it from the lock screen. If you're in an app, are you going to close the app and find your widget to play/pause or skip? No, you can do it from the Control Center. Yes, it would neat if the widget has controls for a cool factor, but I'm not really seeing how it would be useful unless you spend a lot of time on the home screen for whatever reason.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mach and Caviar_X
To be fair, Spotify actually got this out the door pretty quick (I mean in Spotify-time of course)

And when you look at how long it normally takes them to develop additional features...
 
  • Like
Reactions: MadeTheSwitch and TheLunaPark
I get in my car, it doesn't autoplay because spotify was last closed or became inactive in the background and apple doesn't allow you to set Spotify as your default music player. Where's my quick and easy play button?

Yes the widget having them would have been very useful.
 
iStorm said:
I see so many posts about the widgets being useless if there are no control buttons. Is it really that much of an issue though? If your phone is locked, are you going to unlock your phone and find the widget to play/pause or skip? No, you can do it from the lock screen. If you're in an app, are you going to close the app and find your widget to play/pause or skip? No, you can do it from the Control Center. Yes, it would neat if the widget has controls for a cool factor, but I'm not really seeing how it would be useful unless you spend a lot of time on the home screen for whatever reason.
Click to expand...

Both cases are useless like why do I need to see the album covers on my home screen? adds nothing to my user experience
 
Android has control buttons in their widgets so are actually useful, unlike the token Apple widgets
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back