Music is everywhere, and a lot of listening happens on the go. Whether it's during a commute, a workout, or a long road trip, people want music that moves with them. That's why cars have become such a natural place for Spotify. It can keep you seated and focused on your favorite songs without the distractions you might face at home. The experience is simple, personal, and just a little more fun than the car radio alone.
So if you've ever asked, "Can I play Spotify in my car?" you're not alone. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to bring Spotify with you—more than just Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. You can always find a method that works for your music and your lifestyle. This guide will show you the most popular, practical ways to play Spotify in your car, so your music always travels with you.
Way 1. Play Spotify in Your Car via Bluetooth (most common and easy)
Wirelessly stream music from your phone to your car's stereo.
The easiest way is to use Bluetooth. Pair your phone with the car's stereo, and the music will play wirelessly. If your car doesn't have Bluetooth, you can use a Bluetooth receiver. Plug it into the 3.5mm AUX input (usually near the center console), and it will send music from your phone to the car speakers.
Turn on your smartphone and your car's Bluetooth system.
Open Bluetooth settings on your car through the "Settings" menu, Bluetooth menu, or press the voice control button.
Open Bluetooth settings on your smartphone and turn it on.
Select your car from the list of available devices.
Enter the pairing code if prompted.
Open the Spotify app on your smartphone.
Press Play to stream music through your car's speakers.
Use the larger icons in the Now Playing view to control music safely. Use steering wheel audio controls, if available, to manage playback without touching your phone.
Way 2. Play Spotify in Your Car via USB Connection
Connect your phone with a USB cable to play music and charge your device.
You can use a USB cable to play Spotify and charge your phone at the same time. Plug your phone into the car's USB port, set the car audio to USB input, and browse your playlists from the car screen if supported.
Find the USB port in your car's dashboard or center console.
Connect a USB cable compatible with your smartphone.
Tip: Check your car's manual or phone documentation if unsure.
Plug one end into the car's USB port and the other into your smartphone.
Set your car's audio system to the USB input source.
Open Spotify on your smartphone. Select a playlist, album, or track to start playback.
Way 3. Play Spotify in Your Car via Auxiliary Cable
Use a 3.5mm AUX cable to send audio from your phone to the car stereo.
A 3.5mm AUX cable sends music directly from your phone to the car stereo. Plug one end into your phone and the other into the AUX port in your car. This works with almost any car or stereo.
Locate the AUX socket in your car's dashboard or center console.
Connect a 3.5mm audio cable from your phone to the car's AUX port.
Tip: If your phone lacks a headphone jack, use a dongle adapter.
Set the car audio system to the AUX input source.
Open Spotify on your smartphone.
Select a playlist, album, or track to start playback.
Way 4. Play Spotify in Your Car via USB Drive
Move downloaded Spotify songs to a USB flash drive for playback on compatible car stereos.
Another effective solution to listen to your Spotify songs in your car stereo system is to transfer Spotify tracks to an external USB drive. However, Spotify music can't be directly imported to USB due to content protection. To overcome this limitation, you can use ViWizard Spotify Music Converter to convert Spotify songs to MP3 or other unprotected audio formats.
Download Spotify music, podcasts and audiobooks as MP3 and more. Keep full sound and listen offline anytime.
Download and install a Spotify music converter on your computer.
Open the converter and log in to your Spotify account.
Select the songs, albums, or playlists you want to download and add them to the converter.
Open the converter's preferences or settings and choose an output format, such as MP3. Adjust output properties as needed.
Start the conversion process to create unprotected audio files compatible with USB playback.
Organize the converted files into folders by playlist, album, or artist.
Insert a USB drive into your computer and copy the converted files onto it.
Make sure your car supports USB playback and the file formats used.
Insert the USB drive into your car's USB port.
Select the USB source on your car's audio system. Browse the folders and play your Spotify music through the car speakers.
Way 5. Play Spotify in Your Car with Apple CarPlay (iPhone Users)
Integrate your iPhone with your car's display for easy Spotify control.
Apple CarPlay lets you use Spotify safely on your iPhone in the car. Connect your phone via USB (or wirelessly if your car supports it), and Spotify will appear on the car screen. You can browse playlists or albums using touch, voice, or steering wheel controls.
Make sure your car supports Apple CarPlay.
Connect your iPhone via a USB cable (or use wireless CarPlay if supported).
On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay.
Select your car from the list.
Open Spotify on the car display.
Browse playlists, albums, or songs. Use the touchscreen, steering wheel controls, or voice commands to control playback.
Way 6. Play Spotify in Your Car with Android Auto (Android Users)
Use your Android phone to access Spotify safely on your car's screen.
Android Auto brings Spotify to your car screen for Android phones. Connect your phone via USB, follow the setup steps, and tap Spotify on the screen.
Make sure your car supports Android Auto.
Download the Android Auto app if it's not pre-installed.
Connect your Android phone to the car using a USB cable.
Follow on-screen prompts to authorize the connection.
Open Android Auto on the car display.
Tap the Spotify icon to open the app. Browse your library and control playback using the touchscreen or voice commands.
Way 7. Play Spotify in Your Car with CarPlay/Android Auto Adapters
Add CarPlay or Android Auto to cars that don't have it built-in.
If your car doesn't have CarPlay or Android Auto, you can use an adapter. Plug it into the car USB port and connect your phone.
Buy a CarPlay or Android Auto adapter compatible with your car.
Connect the adapter to the car's USB port and your smartphone.
Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the adapter.
Open Spotify on the car display. Use the touchscreen, steering wheel controls, or voice commands to control playback.
Way 8. Play Spotify in Your Car with Spotify Car Thing
A dedicated Spotify device that plugs into your car for simple music control.
Spotify Car Thing is a small device for your car. Connect it to your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, plug it into a USB port or car charger, and log in to Spotify. You can use the touchscreen, knobs, or voice commands to play music without touching your phone.
Plug Spotify Car Thing into the car's USB port or 12V power outlet.
Connect it to your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Log in to your Spotify account on the device. Use the touchscreen, knobs, or voice commands to browse and play music.
Way 9. Play Spotify in Your Car with an FM Transmitter
Broadcast Spotify from your phone to your car stereo via FM radio.
An FM transmitter sends Spotify from your phone to your car stereo through an unused FM radio frequency. Plug it into your phone, tune your car radio to the same frequency, and your music will play through the car speakers. This is good for older cars without modern connections.
Plug the FM transmitter into your phone's headphone jack or USB port.
Set the transmitter to an unused FM frequency.
Tune your car stereo to the same frequency.
Open Spotify on your phone and start playback. Adjust volume on both your phone and car stereo for optimal sound.
Way 10. Play Spotify in Your Car Using Audio CDs
Burn Spotify playlists to CDs to play on older car stereos.
If your car has a CD player, you can burn downloaded Spotify songs to a CD. Use CD-burning software, add your songs, and burn the disc. Put the CD in the car, and control playback with the stereo.
Download Spotify songs in MP3 or a CD-compatible format.
Open a CD burning program on your computer.
Add the downloaded tracks to a new CD project and arrange them as desired.
Adjust CD settings, such as format or burn speed, if needed.
Start the burning process and wait for it to finish.
Eject the CD and insert it into your car's CD player. Use your car stereo controls to play, pause, or skip tracks.
Way 11. Play Spotify in Your Car Directly from Your Smartphone
Use your phone's speaker if no car connection is available.
If nothing else works, play Spotify through your phone's speaker. Open the app, pick a playlist or song, and adjust the volume. Keep your phone in a holder to stay safe while driving.
Open Spotify on your phone.
Select a playlist, album, or song.
Adjust the volume to a comfortable level. Keep your phone in a safe position, such as a phone holder, to avoid distractions while driving.
Conclusion:
Here are the best 11 ways to play Spotify in car: Bluetooth, Aux-In cable, USB, CD, Android Auto, CarPlay. Besides, you can also buy an FM transmitter or Spotify Car Thing to play Spotify when driving. Whichever method you use, the most important thing is always to pay attention to your safety.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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