Spotify Not Showing on Lock Screen? Widget Fixes for iPhone

Quick control of your music from the lock screen is one of those small things you only miss when it's gone. If you play Spotify while you work, drive between appointments or run a class, having to wake the phone and open the app every time you want to skip a track is a nuisance.

I'll be straight about what I could confirm. Spotify's help centre has a clear page for the iPhone lock screen widget and one for the Android home screen widget, with a list of fixes for each. It doesn't have a page I could find that explains the lock screen player controls in detail, so I haven't made up steps for them. Where Spotify's help stops, I'll tell you where to look next.

Adding the Spotify widget to your iPhone lock screen

Spotify's page says the widget lets you open Spotify directly from your iPhone's lock screen. It has two requirements: an iPhone running iOS 16 or later, and Spotify app version 8.8.26 or later. The steps are:

1. Press and hold the lock screen.
2. Tap Customize, then choose Lock Screen.
3. Tap Add Widgets.
4. Select the Spotify widget.
5. Tap the close button, then tap Done.

If you can't find Spotify in the widget list, the first suspects are an old version of the app or an old version of iOS, so check both in your settings and the App Store.

What to do when the Spotify lock screen widget is greyed out

Spotify lists these fixes for a greyed-out widget on iPhone, in this order:

1. Log out of Spotify and log back in.
2. In Spotify's settings, make sure Devices Lock Screen is on.
3. Turn on lock screen notifications in your device settings.
4. Update Spotify and your iPhone's operating system.
5. Restart your iPhone.

If it still doesn't work, Spotify says to remove the widget and add it again, then restart your iPhone once more.

For the first step, you can do a cleaner reset by following my guide to logging out of Spotify on all devices, then logging back in on just your phone.

Adding the Spotify widget on Android

On Android, Spotify's help talks about a home screen widget rather than a lock screen one. It needs Spotify app version 8.9.60 or later. The steps:

1. Touch and hold an empty area of your home screen.
2. Tap Widgets, then tap Spotify.
3. Tap Add.

To resize it, long press the widget and drag one corner. Spotify says a larger size offers richer functionality, while a smaller size is more flexible in placement.

If the Spotify widget on Android is greyed out

• Log out of Spotify, then log back in.
• Update the Spotify app and your device's operating system.
• Restart your device.
• If it still fails, remove the widget, add it back and restart again.

Why Spotify might not show controls on the lock screen

Spotify's own pages I read don't explain the lock screen media player, so I can only point to the general causes in its help. In its page on tracks that won't play, Spotify says to restart the app, update it and reinstall it if needed. Its Connect page adds that you may be sending the music to another device.

• Music may be playing on a different device. Tap the device icon in the Now Playing bar in Spotify to see which one you're connected to.
• The app may be out of date or need a restart. Spotify says to update and restart first.
• On iPhone, Spotify's Connect help says to allow Spotify access to the local network in your iPhone settings.
• Lock screen notification settings on your phone may be blocking it, which Spotify mentions for the iPhone widget.

I'd treat the last point as a good general clue. If your phone is hiding lock screen notifications, it can affect what you see there.

Spotify lock screen problems: when to reinstall

Reinstalling is the bigger step, so leave it until the others have failed. Spotify warns that downloaded music and podcasts are lost after a reinstall, so you'll need to download them again. On iPhone, Spotify says to press and hold the app icon, choose Remove App, then Delete App, and install it again from the App Store. On Android, open Settings, then Apps, choose Spotify and tap Uninstall, then reinstall from Google Play.

If you clear the cache first, my guide to clearing the Spotify cache shows where the setting sits. Spotify says the cache is separate from your downloads.

If Spotify still won't show on your lock screen

Where Spotify's help runs out, your device maker's support is next. Spotify itself says that if the usual steps don't help, you may need to troubleshoot further with the device's manufacturer. Apple, Samsung, Google and others have their own pages on lock screen controls and notifications, because the lock screen is part of the phone's system rather than Spotify.

When you contact anyone, have these ready: your phone model, the operating system version, the Spotify app version, whether the widget is greyed out or missing, and the fixes you've already tried.

Using Spotify from the lock screen for work and daily life

If you use Spotify to set the mood in a studio, a shop or a car, here's a simple setup that avoids fuss:

• Add the widget so Spotify is one tap away.
• Keep the app and phone updated.
• Check notification permissions after any big phone update.
• Keep a second route, such as the app's home screen or a speaker's own controls.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add Spotify to my iPhone lock screen?

Press and hold the lock screen, tap Customize, choose Lock Screen, tap Add Widgets, select Spotify, then close and tap Done.

What iOS version does the Spotify lock screen widget need?

Spotify says iOS 16 or later, and Spotify app version 8.8.26 or later.

Why is the Spotify widget greyed out?

Spotify says to log out and back in, make sure Devices Lock Screen is on in Spotify's settings, allow lock screen notifications, update the app and phone, and restart.

Is there a Spotify lock screen widget on Android?

Spotify's help describes a home screen widget for Android, which needs app version 8.9.60 or later.

What if none of the fixes work?

Remove and re-add the widget, restart your phone, and if needed contact your device manufacturer or Spotify's help centre.