Spotify Connect: what is it? Which devices support it?
With 602 million active users worldwide, Spotify is the world's largest and most popular music streaming service. But thanks to Spotify Connect – arguably the streaming world's most important feature – you're no longer restricted to listening to its catalogue solely through your phone or desktop.
The feature allows you to play the catalogue over wi-fi to any compatible audio product in your home – and with just two presses of a button! Since its 2013 release, Spotify Connect quickly became so simple and convenient to use that in 2020, streaming service rival Tidal followed suit, launching its own Tidal Connect feature. Sincerest form of flattery, and all that...
Spotify Connect is a godsend for house parties – so long as you trust your friends with the controls – but essentially, it's for anyone who wants to easily access Spotify's 100 million songs, 5 million podcasts and curated playlists on smart speakers, hi-fi and AV kit, without the hassle of Bluetooth pairing.
So how does it work? How do you set it up? And what are the perks of Spotify Connect?
Read our in-depth Spotify review
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What is Spotify Connect?
Spotify Connect is a way of playing Spotify through your wireless speaker, soundbar, AV receiver, voice-controlled smart speaker, or any other compatible device, over wi-fi. It means you can play your favourite tunes anywhere in the house and crucially, without the need for any convoluted Bluetooth pairing between devices.
Best of all, Spotify Connect doesn't use your smartphone (or tablet or desktop) app to stream music. It plays music directly from its servers to the device, leaving your smartphone free for making calls and all other uses. You only have to use your phone to identify the speaker in the first place and then control music playback.
To ensure the best quality possible, Spotify Connect streams in around 320kbps, which is the highest bitrate Spotify currently offers – although Spotify Connect will likely be used for Spotify HiFi, whenever that hotly-anticipated update arrives...
An excruciating timeline of our six-year wait for Spotify HiFi – now seven years and counting...
How does Spotify Connect work? What products support it?
Just like Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect works over wi-fi. It seeks out compatible devices that are connected to the same wi-fi network and links them together wirelessly in order to stream music.
To use Spotify Connect, you'll first need a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer running the Spotify app. To use Spotify Connect with some devices you'll also need a Spotify Premium subscription, although some (the PlayStation 5, for example) are happy to work with Spotify Free.
And then you just need the right product. Chances are you might already have a speaker or amp that supports Spotify Connect: there are heaps of Spotify Connect-enabled products, including smart speakers, music streamers and other hi-fi streaming components, wireless speakers, smart TVs, wearables and car audio systems. You can find the full list of compatible kit here.
Spotify Connect really has become a must-have feature in the AV and particularly audio world, and these days you won't see many streaming-enabled products without it. In fact, it's become so ubiquitous it's usually the first feature you'll see on a streaming-capable product's feature list. What Hi-Fi? Award-winning kit like the Audio Pro C10 MkII wireless speaker, Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation, or KEF LSX all-in-one system? They've all got Spotify Connect baked in for starters. They're joined by OLED TVs from the likes of Sony, Philips and LG, Apple CarPlay, the Xbox Series X and PS5, and many, many more.
Spotify Connect works on one device at a time, unless you're using a multi-room system such as Sonos, where you can stream music to a group (encompassing two rooms or more, set up via Sonos's app).
How to set up Spotify Connect
Spotify Connect is simple to use. Download the latest version of the Spotify app to your control device – a smartphone, tablet or computer, say – and make sure both it and your chosen product(s) are connected to the same wi-fi network.
On your smartphone, launch Spotify, log into your subscription account, and select a song to start playing. Click the 'Now Playing' bar, then the device logo at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. This will show which of your connected products can play from Spotify. Select a device (the text will go from white to green) and music will start playing on that device. Magic!
If you're using Spotify Connect to listen to a song on another smartphone or tablet, make sure both devices are logged in to the same Spotify account and simply follow the steps above.
On the desktop app, click the 'Connect to a device' button in the bottom-right corner. This brings up the devices menu. Select the one you'd like to use, and it'll do the rest.
Spotify claims using Connect lets you switch between multiple products "without skipping a beat". In reality, there's always a tiny bit of delay when you swap products, but it's much quicker than having to pair to Bluetooth every time.
Once you're all set, your smartphone or computer becomes the remote control: select a song or playlist, pause, skip or shuffle through Spotify's vast catalogue.
Another big advantage of using Spotify Connect (especially on a product that supports it natively), is when you fire up the app or switch between products, it will always adjust the volume automatically for the chosen audio product. Pretty neat.
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How do you use your smartphone while using Spotify Connect?
You can use it normally without worrying that whatever you're doing – sending a text, playing a game, watching a YouTube clip – will interrupt the music.
All songs are streamed directly from Spotify's cloud servers to your Spotify Connect product. Your phone acts purely as a controller.
First of all, this means playing Spotify won't sap your smartphone's battery. Since you're only using your smartphone or tablet to control playback, it goes a long way in prolonging the battery life.
Secondly, it means phoning to wish your mum happy birthday doesn't have to mean pausing your carefully curated playlist.
You can also switch between devices seamlessly. Were you listening to Spotify through your headphones on your way home? Once you've walked through the door, simply select your Spotify Connect-compatible stereo system in the app and the song will carry on playing through your speakers without having to pause or restart it. If it's non-stop music you want, you've got it.
Does Spotify Connect work with voice control?
If you use a smart speaker – like the Amazon Echo, Sonos Era 300, Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) or Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) – you can use voice commands to play music from Spotify on them.
Add your Spotify account to the list of music streaming services (this can be done in the Alexa or Google Home apps) and make sure you select Spotify as your default music player so you don't have to specify which service to use at every turn. Then simply say "Alexa, play the new Taylor Swift album" or "OK Google, play the John Wick soundtrack" and your smart speaker will oblige.
We can't see the HomePod Mini or HomePod 2 smart speakers supporting Spotify Connect anytime soon, although you can play Spotify through both Apple speakers via AirPlay. Just say "Hey Siri, play [band name] on Spotify" and it will do the rest.
Will Spotify Connect work with Spotify HiFi?
It should do. Obviously we're still waiting for official confirmation of when Spotify HiFi will launch, along with how it will work, but it would seem madness not to support one of Spotify's most popular features in Connect. Rumours abound that the HiFi tier could even be available on newer Connect-enabled devices before older ones, due to their advanced state of technological sophistication.
"We’re working with some of the world’s biggest speaker manufacturers to make Spotify HiFi accessible to as many fans as possible through Spotify Connect," Spotify said in a statement. Sounds like we're in luck.
Now if only Spotify would finally make good on its promise and launch that long-awaited HiFi tier. We've been very patient...
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Read Why I don't think Spotify HiFi is coming any time soon (and why it doesn't matter)
Also, consider that the problem with hi-res audio is how you might be listening to it
