Spotify Connect drops iPhone volume control support & blames Apple

Spotify has announced that iPhone users will no longer be able to use their physical volume buttons to control connected devices. According to the music streaming company, this is due to Apple’s actions.

Spotify, much like Epic, has been Apple’s primary critic, and the latest dispute between the two companies revolves around volume buttons. According to Spotify, Apple has “terminated the technology”that previously allowed users to utilize the volume buttons on their iOS devices to adjust levels while using Spotify Connect.

Spotify Connect enables you to use the Spotify app on your phone, tablet, or computer to remotely control Spotify on other devices.

According to a support article from the company, Apple has ended the use of the technology that allows Spotify to adjust the volume on connected devices using the device’s volume buttons. While a solution is being worked on, the Spotify app can be used to conveniently adjust the volume on the connected device.

According to the company, even prior to Apple’s decision to disable the technology, the utilization of the iPhone’s volume buttons was frequently unreliable, leading to issues such as sudden increases in volume during use.

Despite the issue, Spotify iOS users can still adjust the volume on connected devices through the volume slider in the Spotify Connect menu within the app. The company clarified that this problem does not affect volume control during iOS Bluetooth or AirPlay sessions, and it also does not affect Android users.

The music streaming company argues that Apple’s decision to disable the technology is a violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates interoperability from large technology companies known as “gatekeepers.”

According to TechCrunch, Apple has informed Spotify that integration with HomePod is necessary in order to access the volume control technology on iPhones. This means that while Apple offers similar technology for Apple Music to be played on third-party devices, Spotify will not be granted access to it.