Spotify Tests Untethered Apple Watch Streaming for Some Users - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Spotify Tests Untethered Apple Watch Streaming for Some Users

In November 2018, Spotify released an accompanying app for Apple Watch that allows iPhone users to access and control their favorite Spotify music and podcasts from their wrist.

spotify streaming

Image via iPhone-Ticker.de

One of the limitations of the app is that it doesn't allow users to stream music directly to their Apple Watch without an iPhone connection, which effectively makes it a wrist-based remote control for Spotify on iPhone.

That could be set to change, however, as iPhone-Ticker.de reports that some users of the app are seeing dedicated support for direct audio streaming to Apple Watch without being connected to iPhone.

Users with the feature report that they can stream Spotify through connected Bluetooth headphones or through the Apple Watch's built-in speaker over LTE or Wi-Fi. The function appears in the app as a blue beta icon, suggesting it's still an experimental feature with limited rollout.

There's no indication that the appearance of the beta feature is tied to a particular version of watchOS or iOS, but hopefully it won't be long before the ability to stream Spotify from the wrist will be available to all subscribers. That should come as good news for Apple Watch LTE owners who regularly leave their iPhone at home to go for a run, for instance.

Having said that, the Spotify app for Apple Watch still has no option to store music locally on your wrist for offline listening, so hopefully that's something the company is also working on behind the scenes.

Tag: Spotify

Popular Stories

General Spotify Feature

Spotify Launches Fitness Hub With 1,400+ Peloton Workouts

Monday April 27, 2026 11:05 am PDT by
Spotify today launched a new Fitness hub, bringing over 1,400 on-demand Peloton workout classes to Premium subscribers alongside a range of free content from independent wellness creators. The Peloton classes span strength, cardio, yoga, pilates, barre, meditation, stretching, and outdoor run and walk, and require no specialist equipment. Peloton's bike workouts are not included. The catalog ...
airpods pro 3 design

'AirPods Ultra' Rumored to Feature a Major Upgrade Over AirPods Pro

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:40 am PDT by
In a social media post this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Apple is planning to release new AirPods with cameras "for Siri." Last month, Gurman said these AirPods will likely be priced above the current AirPods Pro 3, which Apple sells for $249. As a result, he said Apple is likely considering using "AirPods Ultra" branding for the camera-equipped AirPods. "AirPods Ultra"...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro to Launch in September With These 10 New Features

Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:35 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...

Top Rated Comments

73 months ago
I still only really care about being able to store a playlist locally so that if I am biking or out for a hike etc. I don't have to carry a iPhone
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
73 months ago
I'd much rather just download songs for offline playback. How is this not standard for Apple Watch by now?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
73 months ago
About time
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ChrisMoBro Avatar
73 months ago
Maybe by 2025 they’ll release offline playback
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maerz001 Avatar
73 months ago

This exact feature made me move to Apple Music years ago... This is just beyond lazy from Spotify and too little, too late!
Before watchOs 6 is was not possible by apple restrictions not because of laziness ;)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
73 months ago

Serious question - why listen to music emitting from your wrist on a tinny speaker?
It’s more about pairing it with AirPods and being able to leave the phone behind if you want to go for a run or simply listen to streaming music directly without having the phone on you. It’s just for device independence.

I gave up on Spotify 2 months ago and switched back to AM mostly for this feature. Not having to carry the phone in my pockets when I go work out is a small thing, but genuinely a relief.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)