Spotify.pngSpotify on Friday added a new feature that allows subscribers to use an iPhone or iPad as a remote control for playback on their Mac. The new feature is available for free as part of Spotify's $9.99 monthly premium subscription.

We've just released a great new Premium feature, which lets you play Spotify through your computer, using your phone or tablet as a remote. Use the Spotify app to control the sound. It's brilliant if your laptop’s hooked up to your speakers. Or if you just don’t want to get off the couch.

Using the new Connect for Computers feature is simple, according to Spotify's setup instructions. After downloading the latest version of the mobile and desktop app, subscribers only need to log in, tap the "Now Playing" bar and hit "Connect" to direct music from an iPhone or iPad to a computer and its connected speakers.


Spotify is among the leading music streaming subscription services, sitting behind market leader Pandora and edging out Apple's Beats Music in App Store Revenue. Spotify recently introduced a new Family Plan feature that allows premium subscribers to add up to four additional lines for $4.99 each.

Top Rated Comments

T-Munns Avatar
146 months ago
"The new feature is available for free as part of Spotify's $9.99 monthly premium subscription."


It's free as long as you pay for it...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bookwormsy Avatar
146 months ago
Finally! Spotify Connect has been available on mobile-to-mobile and mobile to other devices for a while, but finally! Mobile-to-computer! Now for computer-to-mobile.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fofer Avatar
145 months ago
To those saying use AirPlay, this is much better for me and I'm sure for many other people too.

AirPlay requires both devices to be on the same WiFi network - and only a home WiFi network. Even if they're on the same enterprise or university WiFi network then they won't be able to see each other.

Spotify Connect tells their servers what song is playing on which device. So if I play a song on my iPhone, I can select to play it on my Mac. Even if my phone is on 4G and the Mac is on ethernet, then it will still see it and can select songs - these will stream from the ethernet on the Mac and play on there.
Yes! This is very cool indeed. I just tested the interaction of Spotify Connect between my iPhone 6, the beta of Spotify on my MacBook Air, and my new Yamaha receiver (that has Spotify built into it.) I was able to send Spotify music from the iPhone to the Mac and the Yamaha, and from the Mac to the iPhone and the Yamaha too.

I even took my iPhone off WiFi, and used LTE, and was still able to keep these devices in sync. Odd, then, that this note says that "all devices [must be] on the same WiFi."

https://support.spotify.com/us/learn-more/guides/#!/article/spotify-connect

(Because that's simply not true.)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JaJaWa Avatar
146 months ago
To those saying use AirPlay, this is much better for me and I'm sure for many other people too.

AirPlay requires both devices to be on the same WiFi network - and only a home WiFi network. Even if they're on the same enterprise or university WiFi network then they won't be able to see each other.

Spotify Connect tells their servers what song is playing on which device. So if I play a song on my iPhone, I can select to play it on my Mac. Even if my phone is on 4G and the Mac is on ethernet, then it will still see it and can select songs - these will stream from the ethernet on the Mac and play on there. If I introduce my iPad too then that also knows what's going on and I can select songs on there, all devices update live and show the current position in the song whilst still playing out the speakers connected to my Mac.

I was listening on a song on my Mac directly earlier today. Later in the day, I pulled my iPhone out of my pocket to go to the shop, and it told me what I was listening to on my Mac earlier and asked if I'd like to resume playback on my phone. I did.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tkermit Avatar
146 months ago
This is awesome. I'm not sure I'm ready to pay $120 a year for that feature though... :confused:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glassed Silver Avatar
146 months ago
"The new feature is available for free as part of Spotify's $9.99 monthly premium subscription."


It's free as long as you pay for it...

Exactly lol

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy Apple's free Remote app.

Glassed Silver:mac
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

airpods pro 3 purple

New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year

Tuesday January 20, 2026 9:05 am PST by
Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest. Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major...
smaller dynamic island iphone 18 pro Filip Vabrous%CC%8Cek

iPhone 18 Pro Leak: Smaller Dynamic Island, No Top-Left Camera Cutout

Tuesday January 20, 2026 2:34 am PST by
Over the last few months, rumors around the iPhone 18 Pro's front-panel design have been conflicted, with some supply-chain leaks pointing to under-display Face ID, reports suggesting a top-left hole-punch camera, and debate over whether the familiar Dynamic Island will shrink, shift, or disappear entirely. Today, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital shared new details that appear to clarify the ...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple Expected to Unveil Five All-New Products This Year

Wednesday January 21, 2026 10:54 am PST by
In addition to updating many of its existing products, Apple is expected to unveil five all-new products this year, including a smart home hub, a Face ID doorbell, a MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, a foldable iPhone, and augmented reality glasses. Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product. Smart Home Hub Apple home hub (concept) Apple's long-rumored smart home hub should...
airtag prime day 2

Apple Developing AirTag-Sized AI Pin With Dual Cameras

Wednesday January 21, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a small, wearable AI pin equipped with multiple cameras, a speaker, and microphones, reports The Information. If it actually launches, the AI pin will likely run the new Siri chatbot that Apple plans to unveil in iOS 27. The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape. It has an aluminum and glass shell, and two cameras at the...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

App Store and Apple TV Experiencing Outage

Tuesday January 20, 2026 4:36 pm PST by
Apple's App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple TV service are experiencing an outage at the current time, according to Apple's System Status page. Apple says that some users may be experiencing issues with the App Store and iTunes Store. Apple also says some users may be seeing intermittent issues with Apple TV. The Apple TV Channels feature is down too, and users may be unable to access some...