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
134 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
134 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
132 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
134 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
134 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
134 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

oppo find n5 fingers

World's Thinnest Foldable Phone Launches Next Week

Monday February 10, 2025 3:05 am PST by
Oppo has confirmed a February 20 global launch for its Find N5, which the company claims is the world's thinnest device in the foldable phone category. The phone is expected to be re-branded as the OnePlus Open 2 in the US. The Chinese vendor has been teasing the device in the last few weeks, touting its waterproofing and nearly invisible display crease, and highlighting its thinness by compa...
2007 iPhone

Apple Discontinuing This 18-Year-Old iPhone Feature

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:51 pm PST by
The end of an 18-year era is on the horizon for the iPhone. Apple reportedly plans to announce a new iPhone SE as soon as next week, and the device is expected to feature a full-screen design with Face ID, instead of a Touch ID home button. That means Apple will no longer sell any new iPhone models with a home button, for the first time since the original iPhone launched. The home button...
m2 macbook air blue

M4 MacBook Air Release Continues to Appear Imminent

Monday February 10, 2025 10:56 am PST by
There continue to be signs of a new MacBook Air with an M4 chip, indicating that we could see the machine launch in the not too distant future. A private account on X today shared the identifiers that the MacBook Air will use, and those identifiers correspond to the M4 chip. According to the source, both the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with Apple's...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:04 am PST by
Apple today released watchOS 11.3.1, a minor update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.3.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.3.1 can be downloaded by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to...
sequoia

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:11 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, a minor update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that came out last September. macOS 15.3.1 comes a few weeks after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. Apple has also released macOS 13.7.4 and macOS 14.7.4 for those who are...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

'New' iPhone SE Product Listing Appears on French Website

Wednesday February 12, 2025 6:49 am PST by
As the wait continues for Apple's long-rumored, fourth-generation iPhone SE, French electronics retailer Boulanger has prematurely published a product listing for a "new" model of the iPhone SE. The placeholder page says the device is "coming soon," but it offers no further information, and the price shown is obviously not real. The listing was spotted by a reader of the French technology...
Powerbeats Pro 2 Orange

Powerbeats Pro 2 Given to Customer Early, Expected to Debut Tomorrow

Monday February 10, 2025 7:42 am PST by
Apple's long-awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 are finally expected to be announced this Tuesday. Ahead of time, one lucky Walmart customer was able to get their hands on the earbuds early, according to a since-deleted Reddit post over the weekend. A leaked image of the Powerbeats Pro 2 in Electric Orange "My local Walmart had them in the cage," the Reddit user explained. "I asked if I can buy them...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.3.1 With Bug Fixes

Monday February 10, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, minor updates for the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.3.1 comes two weeks after Apple released iOS 18.3. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.5 for those still running...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple

Apple Increases Mac Trade-In Values for a Limited Time

Sunday February 9, 2025 3:53 pm PST by
Apple today increased its estimated trade-in values for select Mac models in the United States, with the full changes outlined below. Apple says the extra trade-in credit for select Macs is available with the purchase of an eligible new Apple device through April 2. The trade-in values increased by between $10 and $50. Model New Value Old Value MacBook Pro Up to $925 ...