How to Fix Spotify Won't Work on Apple CarPlay: Step-by-Step Guide

Part 1. How to Fix Spotify Not Working on Apple CarPlay

In this part, we'll cover some basic yet crucial steps to help resolve most issues with Spotify on your Apple CarPlay. These steps can address common issues like Spotify continuously loading or displaying a black screen. While most of these steps won't affect any critical functions, some may require caution, such as resetting settings and infotainment systems.

1. Check CarPlay Compatibility

Before troubleshooting further, it's essential to ensure that your country or region supports both car supports CarPlay and Spotify, and that your car is compatible with CarPlay. CarPlay availability varies depending on your location, so it's crucial to check if CarPlay is supported in your region.

If you're using CarPlay in a different country or region than your usual one, and you're experiencing issues with Spotify, you can try changing your Spotify profile to match the CarPlay region.

How to Change Country & Region (for Premium Users):

1. Open the Spotify app and navigate to Your Account Overview.
2. Scroll down to "Subscription" to access your subscription details.



3. Look for the "Manage your plan" option to update your plan and tap on it.
4. Update your payment method to match the location where CarPlay is supported.

Note: You may need to update your payment method to match the new region.

How to Change Country & Region (for Free Users):

1. Open the Spotify app and navigate to Your Account Overview.
2. Scroll down to the "Account" section to access your account settings.
3. Look for the "Edit profile" option to edit your profile and tap on it.



4. Find the section"" where you can change your country or region.



5. Select the new country or region where CarPlay is supported.
6. Save your changes.

2. Update Spotify & CarPlay

Ensure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS and runs the latest version of the Spotify app for iOS.

How to Update iOS:

1. Go to the home screen of your iPhone and tap on Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap on General.
3. Tap on Software Update to check for available updates.
4. If an update is available, tap on Download and Install to proceed with the installation.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.

How to Update Spotify:

1. Navigate to the home screen of your iPhone and tap on the App Store icon.
2. Tap on the search icon and type "Spotify" in the search bar.
3. If an update is available for the Spotify app, you'll see an "Update" button next to it.
4. Tap on Update to download and install the latest version of the app.

3. Restart Your Device

A simple yet effective troubleshooting step is to restart your iPhone and car.

How to Restart Your iPhone:

1. Locate the power button on your iPhone. It's typically located on the right side (iPhone 6 and later) or on the top (iPhone SE, 5s, and earlier).
2. Press and hold the power button until you see the "slide to power off" slider appear on the screen.
3. Once the slider appears, slide it from left to right to power off your iPhone.
4. Wait for your iPhone to shut down completely. This may take a few seconds.
5. After your iPhone has powered off, press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
6. Release the power button and wait for your iPhone to restart. This may take a few moments.
7. Once your iPhone has restarted, unlock it using your passcode or Touch ID.

How to Restart Your Car:

1. Park your car in a safe location.
2. Turn off the engine and remove the key (if applicable) or turn off the ignition.
3. Allow your car's infotainment system to power down completely. This may take a few moments.
4. Turn the ignition back on or start the engine, depending on your car's configuration.
5. Allow your car's infotainment system to reboot fully. This may take a few moments.
6. Once your car's infotainment system has restarted, reconnect your iPhone to Apple CarPlay.

4. Check CarPlay Connection

Another common issue that can affect Spotify's performance on Apple CarPlay is a faulty connection. Whether you're using a wireless connection or a USB connection, it's essential to ensure that the connection is stable and reliable.

How to Switch to USB Connection (from Bluetooth Connection):

1. If you're using a wireless connection, ensure that your iPhone and your car's infotainment system are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Check that Bluetooth is enabled on both your iPhone and your car's infotainment system.
3. If you're currently using a wireless connection, disconnect it from your iPhone's settings menu.
4. Connect your iPhone to your car's USB port using a compatible USB cable.

How to Switch to Bluetooth Connection (from USB Connection):

1. If you're using a USB connection, check that the USB cable is securely plugged into both your iPhone and your car's USB port.
2. Inspect the cable for any signs of damage or wear and tear. If the cable is damaged, replace it with a new one.
3. If you're currently using a USB connection, disconnect it from your iPhone and your car's USB port.
4. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure that Bluetooth is enabled.
5. Follow your car's instructions to pair your iPhone with the car's infotainment system via Bluetooth.

5. Reinstall Spotify & CarPlay

If you're still experiencing issues with Spotify on Apple CarPlay, reinstalling both the Spotify app and the CarPlay system can sometimes resolve underlying software issues.

How to Reinstall Spotify:

1. Press and hold the Spotify app icon on your iPhone's home screen until it starts shaking.
2. Tap the "x" icon on the Spotify app to delete it from your device.
3. Confirm the deletion if prompted.
4. Open the App Store on your iPhone.
5. Search for "Spotify" using the search bar.
6. Tap the download icon next to Spotify to reinstall the app.

How to Reinstall CarPlay:

1. Disconnect your iPhone from your car's infotainment system.
2. Go to Settings > General > CarPlay on your iPhone.
3. Tap on your car's name under "MY CARS" to forget the connection.
4. Confirm the removal if prompted.
5. Reconnect your iPhone to your car's infotainment system.
6. Follow the setup instructions on your car's display to reestablish the CarPlay connection.

If regular uninstalling doesn't resolve the issues with Spotify on Apple CarPlay, a clean uninstall may help by removing all traces of the app from your iOS device before reinstalling it.

How to Clean Uninstall Spotify:

1. Open the "Settings" app on your iOS device.
2. Tap on "General" and then select "iPhone Storage" (or "iPad Storage").
3. Scroll through the list of apps to find and tap on "Spotify."
4. Tap on "Offload App" to remove the app from your device while keeping its documents and data.
5. Confirm the offload action if prompted.
6. Return to the "Settings" app and navigate back to "General" > "iPhone Storage."
7. Tap on "Spotify" again.
8. This time, tap on "Delete App" to remove Spotify completely from your device.
9. After deleting Spotify, restart your iOS device to complete the uninstallation process.

6. Reset Network Settings (If Necessary)

Resetting your iPhone's network settings can help resolve connectivity issues that may be affecting CarPlay functionality.

How to Reset Network Settings on iPhone:

1. Tap on the Settings app on your iPhone's home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on "General."
3. Scroll to the bottom of the General settings and tap on "Reset."
4. Tap on "Reset Network Settings" from the list of reset options.
5. If prompted, enter your iPhone's passcode to proceed.
6. Confirm the action by tapping "Reset Network Settings" again when prompted.
7. Your iPhone will now reset its network settings. This process may take a few moments.
8. After the reset is complete, your iPhone will restart.
9. Once your iPhone restarts, reconnect to Wi-Fi networks and cellular data as needed.

7. Reset Infotainment System (If Necessary)

If you've tried all the previous steps and are still experiencing issues with Spotify on Apple CarPlay, resetting your car's infotainment system may help resolve any underlying issues.

How to Reset Infotainment System:

1. Consult your car's manual to locate the settings menu on your infotainment system.
2. Navigate through the settings menu to find the option for system reset or factory reset.
3. Select the reset option and confirm your decision to proceed with the reset.
4. Follow any on-screen instructions provided by your car's infotainment system to complete the reset process.
5. Allow your car's infotainment system to reset. This process may take a few moments.
6. Once the reset is complete, reconnect your iPhone to your car's infotainment system.

Part 2. How to Fix Spotify Keep Crashing on Apple CarPlay

If you're experiencing frequent crashes of the Spotify app on your Apple CarPlay interface, there are additional solutions available to help resolve this issue, and most of them are about adjusting related settings.

1. Turn Off Battery Settings

While Spotify can sometimes cause battery drain issues, turning off the Low Power mode on your iPhone may help stabilize the app's performance on Apple CarPlay.

How to Turn Off Low Power Mode:

1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone's home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on "Battery."
3. If Low Power Mode is currently enabled, you'll see the switch toggled to green. If it's already off, you can skip to step 6.
4. Tap on the switch next to "Low Power Mode" to toggle it off. The switch should turn gray when it's off.
5. Confirm the action if prompted.
6. After turning off Low Power Mode, restart your iPhone to ensure that the changes take effect.

2. Allow Spotify Through Content & Privacy Restrictions

Content & Privacy settings on your iPhone regulate various permissions and restrictions for apps, including Spotify. Disabling certain restrictions can sometimes resolve issues with app stability.

How to Turn off Content & Privacy (or for Spotify Only):

1. Launch the "Settings" app from your iPhone's home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on "Screen Time."
3. Tap on "Content & Privacy Restrictions." You may need to enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted.
4. If Content & Privacy Restrictions are enabled, you'll see a toggle switch next to it. Tap on the toggle switch to turn it off. You may be prompted to enter your Screen Time passcode again to confirm the change.
5. Scroll down and locate "Spotify" in the list of apps under "ALLOWED APPS." Ensure that all restrictions for Spotify are turned off to grant the app full access.
6. After adjusting the Content & Privacy settings, restart your iPhone to apply the changes effectively.

3. Allow for CarPlay Through Screen Time

Screen Time settings allow you to manage and monitor your device usage, including app restrictions. Disabling certain restrictions, especially those related to CarPlay, can potentially resolve issues with Spotify crashing.

How to Turn off Screen Time Settings (or for Spotify Only):

1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone's home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on "Screen Time."
3. If Screen Time is currently enabled, you'll see a toggle switch next to it. Tap on the toggle switch to turn it off. You may be prompted to enter your Screen Time passcode or Apple ID password to confirm the change.
4. If you have set time limits for app usage, including CarPlay, you can adjust these limits. Go to Settings > Screen Time, then tap on "App Limits." Select "CarPlay" from the list and adjust the time limit accordingly.
5. Another option is to ensure that CarPlay is always allowed. Navigate to Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed > CarPlay and make sure it is toggled on.
6. After making these adjustments, restart your iPhone to apply the changes effectively.

4. Allow for CarPlay When Locked

Enabling CarPlay while your device is locked allows for seamless integration and operation even when your iPhone screen is turned off. This setting adjustment can potentially improve Spotify's performance on Apple CarPlay.

How to Allow for CarPlay When Locked:

1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone's home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on "General."
3. Tap on "CarPlay" from the list of options.
4. Under the "MY CARS" section, select the name of your car's infotainment system.
5. Find the option labeled "Allow CarPlay While Locked" and ensure that it is toggled on (green). If it's already on, you can skip to the next step.
6. After making this adjustment, restart your iPhone to apply the changes effectively.

5. Turn on Siri

Siri serves as a valuable tool for controlling CarPlay, allowing you to perform various tasks hands-free while driving. Enabling Siri ensures seamless integration with CarPlay and enables voice commands for controlling Spotify and other CarPlay features.

How to Turn on Siri:

1. Open the "Settings" app on your iPhone's home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on "Siri & Search."
3. Under the "Ask Siri" section, tap on "Listen for 'Hey Siri'."
4. Toggle the switch next to "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" to the on position (green). If it's already on, you can skip to the next step.
5. Confirm the action if prompted.
6. Use the voice command "Hey Siri" to test if Siri responds. Alternatively, if your device has a Home button, press it and make a request. If there's no Home button, press the Side button instead until a request is recognized.
7. After ensuring that Siri is enabled, restart your iPhone to apply any changes effectively.

Part 3. How to Fix Spotify No Sound on Apple CarPlay

In this Part, we'll explore different methods to troubleshoot and fix the issue of no sound on Spotify while using Apple CarPlay. These methods include controlling audio playback through the CarPlay dashboard, Spotify volume settings, and even Siri voice commands.

1. Control Audio Playback:

To ensure that audio playback is properly configured on Apple CarPlay, follow these step-by-step guides:

How to Use Apple CarPlay Dashboard:

1. Navigate to the CarPlay dashboard on your vehicle's infotainment system.
2. Use the touchscreen or physical controls to select Spotify as the active audio source.
3. Ensure that the volume is turned up to an audible level.

How to Use Spotify Volume Control:

1. While Spotify is active on Apple CarPlay, locate the volume controls within the Spotify interface.
2. Adjust the volume level using the on-screen controls or physical knobs/buttons if available.
3. Increase the volume to ensure that it's not muted or set too low.

How to Use Siri Voice Command:

1. Activate Siri using voice command ("Hey Siri" or pressing the voice control button on your steering wheel).
2. Issue a command to adjust the volume, such as "Hey Siri, increase the volume" or "Hey Siri, set Spotify volume to maximum."
3. Siri will respond and adjust the volume accordingly.

2. Check Spotify Connect

Spotify Connect allows you to seamlessly switch playback between different devices, including Apple CarPlay. Checking and confirming that your mobile device is selected as the current device in Spotify Connect can help resolve issues related to no sound on CarPlay.

How to Check Your Spotify Device:

1. Locate and open the Spotify app on your iOS device.
2. Tap on the "Settings" option within the Spotify app.
3. Within the Settings menu, find and tap on "Devices."
4. In the Devices menu, locate your mobile device (e.g., "This iPhone") listed under the "Select a device" section.
5. If your device is already selected, you can skip to the next step.
6. If your device is not selected, tap on it to ensure it's chosen as the current device for playback.
7. After selecting your mobile device, ensure that it is listed as the "Current device" for Spotify playback.
8. Confirm the selection by checking for any visual indicators or prompts confirming the device selection.

Part 4. Best Alternative to Enable Spotify on Apple CarPlay

Some users have reported that even if the issue has been fixed, the whole process is too complicate to finish the task. Then we'd like to introduce the best alternative to enable Spotify on Apple CarPlay without the Spotify not working on CarPlay issue - to keep Spotify music songs as MP3s.

Such Spotify not working on Apple CarPlay issue can't be fixed forever for a particular reason - DRM protection. Even there's an active Premium subscription, the downloaded music is still encoded in DRM, which prevent further use across device, including the car in use.

How to Play Spotify in Car with 6 Methods

This post provides the 6 most popular and easiest ways for you to play Spotify music songs in your car via a cable, Bluetooth, Android Auto, CarPlay, or external drive/CD.

Thing You'll Need: ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

No worries. ViWizard Spotify Music Converter can help Spotify users to download and convert the music content into MP3s and more supported formats - no Premium subscriptions requires. Once the conversion completes, the DRM is also removed.

Since ViWizard ensure users the full control over the converted music contents, there shouldn't be limits when it comes to transferring them to a USB drive on the device and later Bluetooth or USB connection.

Key Features of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

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• Download Spotify songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, audiobooks
• Convert Spotify music to lossless MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, M4B
• Support playing offline Spotify music on any device at any time
• Compatible with Windows and macOS, as well as, the latest Spotify

Step 1Select Spotify Music Tracks

Head to download either the Windows or Mac version of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter from the Download box above. Also make sure the device is running the latest version of the Spotify desktop app. Then head to launch ViWizard and select the desired contents from the Spotify desktop app to add.

Step 2Adjust Output Format Settings

Once a selection of music tracks are added to ViWizard, click the menu icon from the top menu > Preferences > Output > Output format. Then click the chevron down icon to open the drop-down menu to select MP3. Click OK to save this setting.

Step 3Download Spotify Music Files

Once the output format is MP3, don't hesitate to click the Convert button at the bottom-right to start the conversion at a 5x super faster speed and ViWizard will take care of the rest. You can open the output folder (3 dots next to output path) and the converted menu to check for the converted music files, which are stored on the computer.

Step 4Activate the Spotify Music Files in USB

Now transfer the folders and files to a compatible USB storage device and connect it to the car device for offline play.