Spotify on Apple TV [tvOS 18]

Bugs and Support
1

After the most recent update on Apple TV I’m no longer able to play Spotify in the background while in game on Zwift. I was always able to play Spotify and then swap over to Zwift where the music would continue to play while riding in Zwift.
Anyone else come across this or have a fix?

2

I have not tried it with ATV, but Spotify will work in the background on IOS with the Companion App still functioning properly.

3

Same problem here

4

Really frustrating
Was such a positive when doing workouts

5

My ATV is connected to the sound system in the room and now can’t play music through it

7

I open Spotify on my iPhone and then stream it to the ATV. Perhaps this still work?

8

Same issue herre.

9

Hey everyone - Shuji at Zwift HQ here. Thanks for the reports, but we can really use a few things clarified to understand what’s happening on your end.

1a. Are you listening to Spotify on your smartphone that’s running the Zwift Companion app?
1b. If yes, are you using an iPhone or an Android?
1c If iOS - have you updated to iOS 18 recently?

OR

2a. Are you listening to Spotify on the Apple TV that’s running the main Zwift app?
2b. Have you updated your Apple TV recently to tvOS 18?

10

Hi Shuji,
2a. I’m listening to Spotify on the Apple TV that’s running the main Zwift app.
2b. I have updated my Apple TV recently to tvOS 18.
Thanks for looking into it.

11

Hi @Rachel_Wiltshire_SZR
Thanks for responding - until we hear back from the others in this thread, we’ll have to assume everyone’s running Spotify on tvOS18 like you are.

Can we try the simplest thing first? Please uninstall the Spotify app and re-install. During re-install, it’s possible you may be prompted to give the Spotify app permissions. If that happens - please snap a photo so we can see what the message says.

Historically speaking, Apple’s OS updates tend to reset app permissions to their default (more secure) settings. By uninstalling Spotify and re-installing, you may be prompted to allow whatever permissions were removed. Would you give that a shot?

This sounds like the Spotify app lost permission to continue running in the background while some other app is foregrounded following the tvOS 18 update. This is an Apple article for developers that explains how apps designed to run in the background should be configured. It’s not that useful to end-users of those apps necessarily - I link to it as a possible reason why Spotify stopped working as you’re used to.

12

Hi Shuji,

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the Spotify app. I wasn’t prompted to give any Spotify app permissions.

I have selected Spotify, then selected Zwift again. Still same issue, the Spotify music switches off after a short few seconds, just before it shows my Zwift log in Profile.

14

@Rachel_Wiltshire_SZR
Thanks for your continued help. So you start Spoitfy first, then foreground to Zwift, please confirm?

Can you take a photo of this? I’m not sure what you mean by “Zwift log in Profile.”

15

Hi Shuji,

I start spotify first and then click on zwift.
zwift1
The music cuts out on “Z Ride on”, just before I click on my name, which I referred to as my “Zwift log in profile”.
zwift2

My husband uses MyWhoosh on apple tv and Spotify plays in the background with no issues.

16

Hi Rachel
Thanks for posting all this detail
That’s exactly the same for me

1 Like
17

Hi The Hammer,

I’m glad it’s not just happening to me :blush:.

18

For me

1a/b yes on an IPhone (and cast Spotify to ATV)
d and Zwift running on ATV
And all is working fine,

Perhaps use this as a temporary workaround?

1 Like