Do you have Spotify on your Android phone and want to get the most out of it when you're in the car and you connect it? Here are some tips to help you get the most out of the music streaming service ; in other words, we're going to give you several Spotify tricks for Android Auto.
Spotify has become the leading music streaming service , used daily by millions of users on computers, tablets, and mobile devices. Furthermore, Spotify's catalog of offerings extends beyond music; the platform now boasts a significant selection of podcasts . Consequently, listening time has increased.
The first thing you should know is that Android Auto underwent a redesign and user interface improvements. This update was called Coolwalk . And among many improvements, Spotify received a significant boost. You can now choose where to place the music player on your vehicle's screen.
Choose Spotify situation in Android Auto
From now on, you can have Spotify on the right or left side of the screen. In other words, you can choose whether you want the media player on the right or left . To do this, once you've connected your Android phone to your vehicle via cable, in the settings that appear on the screen, you'll need to select the 'Display' option.
After this step, you must select the option 'Change design'. And it will be when the only two alternatives that we will have appear:
- Multimedia closer to the driver
- Navigation closer to the driver
We can't tell you which is the best option; you'll have to choose for yourself. However, keep in mind that from now on the screen will be divided into two parts . And the part with less screen space is designated for secondary apps. Spotify is one of them.
Control Spotify on Android Auto with different devices
Another Spotify trick for Android Auto is that you're not the only one who can control the playlist. However, keep in mind that searching the music streaming service while driving is not allowed. It's primarily a matter of road safety. The fewer distractions you have, the more focused you'll be on the road and what really matters: driving.
However, this doesn't mean you have to manage your playlists from the vehicle's screen or use voice commands. It simply means that, as you probably know, your Spotify account allows you to add it to different devices . For example:
You connect your smartphone to the vehicle. Android Auto launches and the music—or podcast—starts playing. If you have passengers, you could leave a device in the back seats so they can choose what they want to listen to—an interesting option for ride-hailing services? Perhaps. A tablet would be ideal.
Spotify trick on Android Auto: listen to music even if there is no coverage
As you probably know, using your mobile phone while driving has one small drawback: it's called coverage. Depending on the roads you take or the terrain, you'll have more or less coverage . And this results in dropped calls. In this case, there's little or nothing you can do.
However, Spotify is also affected in this regard . But don't worry, because the music service—or rather, its app—makes it easy. The best thing you can do when preparing for a long trip is to download the playlists you need for the journey to your device.
Always do this using a Wi-Fi connection to save data before your next billing period. What do we gain from these downloads? Simple: having an entire playlist downloaded locally—on your mobile device—and it won't depend on whether you have a data connection or not ; playback will continue—without interruption—even if you drive through areas with no coverage.
How do I download a playlist locally? Simply go to the playlist you're interested in. Just below the playlist name, you'll find several buttons. You'll need to press the button with a downward-pointing arrow – we've highlighted it with a red arrow in the accompanying image.
Wired and Bluetooth Spotify Playback
Finally, and although it has nothing to do with Android Auto, it is also interesting to know that Spotify is one of the applications that do not need to be connected by cable to run inside a car – at least with the latest generation infotainment systems.
Android Auto, unlike Apple CarPlay, requires a cable to work and launch; Apple, on the other hand, allows wireless connection to project all applications on the vehicle's screen.
What do we mean by this? It means that if your smartphone is connected to your car via Bluetooth and you've chosen to use Bluetooth for calls and multimedia – for example, Toyota allows this option – as soon as you turn on the car and start playing music from your Spotify app , it will play directly without needing to connect your smartphone by cable.