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I Am Having Issues with Spotify on My Garmin Watch

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NOTE: vívoactive® 3 Music (Verizon) watch requires an active Verizon subscription to connect to the Verizon LTE network as this model cannot connect to Wi-Fi®.

General Spotify Troubleshooting for Garmin® Watches

Below are some basics to cover that can solve most issues. Select each step for detailed instructions to follow. If the below steps do not resolve the Spotify issues you are facing, continue reviewing the top troubleshooting topics for assistance.

Step 1: Confirm You Have an Active Spotify Premium Account

If you have a Spotify Premium account but are having trouble syncing Spotify, check to ensure your subscription is active or if any billing issues on your account are preventing access to premium features. To check the status of your Spotify account:

  1. Go to https://www.spotify.com/.

  2. Log into your account.

  3. Select Profile.

  4. Select Account.

  5. View Your Plan.

If you have a Spotify Premium account it will say Spotify Premium. If not, it will say Spotify Free. To sign up for a Spotify Premium account, select Join Premium.

Step 2: Confirm the Spotify App is Up to Date

Syncing may fail or other issues with playback may be experienced if the Spotify app on your watch is out of date. To check for updates to the Spotify app:

  1. Open the Garmin Connect™ app.

  2. Select More (bottom right).

  3. Select Garmin Devices.

  4. Select your device.

  5. Select Music.

  6. Select Music Providers (skip if you do not see this option).

  7. Select Spotify.

  8. Select Update, if available.

Step 3: Confirm the Garmin Connect App and Connect IQ™ Store App Are Up to Date

If you are experiencing issues downloading or updating the Spotify Connect IQ app on your watch, check for any available updates to Garmin Connect and Connect IQ Store apps on your phone. 

  1. Go to the App Store® (iOS) or Google Play™ Store (Android™).

  2. Search for Garmin Connect app or Connect IQ Store.

  3. Update the app if available.

Step 4: Confirm Your Watch Software is Up to Date

Software updates occur automatically when a watch is paired to the Garmin Connect app but a connection issue may prevent the watch from updating. If the watch is multiple versions behind, updates may not complete through the Garmin Connect app in which case the Garmin Express™ program can be used to get the watch updated. To install Garmin Express, see - How Do I Install Garmin Express?.

The Spotify App Fails to Install on My Watch

If you download Spotify in the Connect IQ™ Store app but it fails to install on the watch, check for connection issues or try installing Spotify with Garmin Express.

Step 1: Check for Bluetooth® Pairing Issues

For help with Bluetooth pairing issues, see - Garmin Connect App Bluetooth Troubleshooting.

Step 2: Check for Wi-Fi Connection Issues

If possible, test on another available Wi-Fi network. For help with Wi-Fi issues, see - Adding, Removing, and Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Networks With a Compatible Garmin Outdoor Watch.

Step 3: Use the Garmin Express™ Program to Install Spotify

If you are not able to install Spotify over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, use Garmin Express on a computer instead. For help, see - How to Install Connect IQ Content Using Garmin Express.

Spotify Shows Downloaded in Connect IQ™ Store but is Missing on the Watch

If you can not find Spotify on your watch but it shows that it has been downloaded in the Connect IQ Store app, use the following steps.

Confirm Spotify Is Selected as the Music Provider on the Watch

  1. On the watch, access your Settings menu.

  2. Select Music.

  3. Select Music Providers.

  4. Select Spotify.

If Spotify Is Not on the List of Music Providers

  1. Restart the watch.

  2. Sync the watch again with the Garmin Connect™ app.

  3. Check for Spotify on the Music Providers list on the watch.

I am Having Issues Signing Into Spotify

After Spotify is successfully installed on the watch and after selecting Spotify as the Music Provider, the watch will prompt you to sign in to Spotify in the Garmin Connect™ app. When you open the Garmin Connect app, you should see a message prompting you to sign in to Spotify. 

NOTE: Ensure permissions for notifications from the Connect app are enabled. Refer to  How Do I Set the Permissions for My Garmin Connect App?If you are not prompted to sign in, view the steps below.

  1. Force close the Garmin Connect app on the phone.

  2. Restart the watch.

  3. If you have an iPhone, open the Garmin Connect app and leave it open on the screen.

  4. Go to the Music widget on the watch.

  5. Select Music Providers.

  6. Select Spotify.

  7. You should see a message to open the Garmin Connect app.

  8. Open the Garmin Connect app (Android).

  9. Stay on the Home page until the message to sign in to Spotify appears.

  10. Select Sign In.

After selecting Sign In, you will be redirected to a Spotify page where you can agree to the terms of service and sign in to your Spotify Premium account using your login credentials (username and password). If you are redirected to a blank screen with nowhere to sign in, contact Product Support. 

Sync Fails When Syncing Spotify Content

NOTE: If Wi-Fi has been disabled in the main Settings menu, or from Power Manager settings on some watches, Spotify content will not be able to sync. For more details on Power Manager settings, see - How to Use Power Manager on Garmin Watches.

If you get a Sync Failed message when syncing Spotify content on your watch, the following suggestions may help:

  • Make sure the watch is connected to a secure Wi-Fi network.

  • Ensure that you are paired with the Garmin Connect app on your phone via Bluetooth® and remains connected throughout the sync.

  • Charge the watch battery to 100% before attempting to sync.

  • Keep the watch connected to a power source while syncing.

  • Keep the watch within close proximity to the Wi-Fi router when syncing.

  • Limit Wi-Fi usage with other devices on the network when syncing.

    • Activities like streaming videos and playing online games can limit the bandwidth available to the watch and cause the sync to fail.

  • If syncing Podcasts, allow the artwork to display on the watch prior to starting the download. If the album artwork is not displayed on the watch, the Podcast download may not complete.

My Spotify Playlists Disappeared From My Watch

If your Spotify playlists are missing on your watch, your Spotify Premium subscription may have expired, you may have exceeded the number of offline devices on your account, or the watch has not been synced over Wi-Fi through the Spotify app within the last 15 days.

Your Spotify Premium Subscription Has Expired

Log in to your Spotify account to renew your subscription, then sync your Spotify content again on the watch.

You Have Exceeded Your Limit of Offline Devices

Log in to your Spotify account to remove offline devices other than your watch.

The Watch Has Not Been Synced Over Wi-Fi Through the Spotify App Within the Last 15 Days

This is needed to verify your account status periodically. Failure to do this can also result in a "Content Expired" error message on the watch. This can be resolved by selecting Update Downloads from the Spotify app on the watch (when the watch battery is charged and in range of your Wi-Fi network).

Podcasts Unavailable for Download in the Spotify App

Some podcasts that you listen to using the Spotify app on your phone or computer may not be visible on your Garmin watch for download. This is due to some podcasts not being housed on internal Spotify servers due to their file size. For this reason, these podcasts may not be visible for download or display an "Unable to get content" message on the watch when trying to download the full podcast or a specific episode.

The Above Content Did Not Resolve My Issue

The last step that you can take is to uninstall then reinstall the Spotify app on your watch. This effectively is starting over as the app and any previously downloaded music to the watch will be removed. 

For additional assistance, see Related below or contact Product Support by clicking the link at the bottom of the article. 

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