Spotify Keeps Disconnecting From Bluetooth? (Solved)

If Spotify keeps disconnecting from Bluetooth, try to re-establish the connection between your Bluetooth device and the device you’re playing Spotify from. If that doesn’t work, do this:

On mobile, make sure you allow background activity for Spotify.
On Android, disable the “Optimize battery usage” feature for Spotify.
On Windows, disable both the “Handsfree Telephony” and “Remote Control” options.
On iOS, turn off automatic switching and choose a Bluetooth device to play audio.

Learn how to fix Spotify that keeps disconnecting from your Bluetooth speaker or headphones. These tips work whether you are using an iPhone, Android, MacBook, or Windows computer.

I’m not going to share generic tips like restarting your phone, clearing the cache, or reinstalling the Spotify app. I’m going to assume you have done basic troubleshooting.

Table of Contents

1. Re-establish Bluetooth connection

If the Spotify app (on your phone or computer) keeps disconnecting from your speakers or headphones, you should try to unpair the Bluetooth device, then reconnect it again.

Go to your device’s Bluetooth settings, then delete the information of the other device. This setting can be called Forget or Unpair. On both devices, switch Bluetooth off, then back on.

Switch ON Bluetooth on both devices, then pair both devices. Check your device’s user guide for instructions. Then, open Spotify and play. The sound now comes from your chosen device.

Spotify recommends that you close the Spotify app while establishing a Bluetooth connection. Make sure both devices are in range, ideally within 3 feet (1 meter) of each other.

2. For mobile: Allow background activity

One of the main reasons why Spotify keeps disconnecting from Bluetooth is because the app has not been given permission to run in the background of your mobile device.

How to allow background activity on Android

It’s important to allow Spotify to run in the background if you want the app to function properly. To do this, all you have to do is to allow the background activity of the Spotify app.

Here’s how to allow background activity on Android:

Go to Settings.
Select Apps.
Select Spotify from the list of apps.
Under Usage, tap Battery.
Turn on the toggle for “Allow background activity”.

Now you have allowed the background activity for Spotify.

There are 2 more things you should do. Go back to the Spotify “App info” page. Tap on “Mobile data” and allow both “Allow background data usage” and “Allow app while Data saver is on”.

Now you have allowed Spotify to use mobile data while running in the background without restrictions, even while the Data saver is on. Keep in mind that you will use more data.

How to allow background activity on iPhone or iPad

If you’re using an iPhone or an iPad, the term is called “Background App Refresh”. This feature refreshes apps that are running in the background by downloading updates and new content.

Here’s how to allow Background App Refresh on your iOS device:

Go to Settings.
Select General.
Select the “Background App Refresh” tab.
Select the “Background App Refresh” option again.
Choose “On”.

Once you have allowed Spotify to run in the background, the app can run to its maximum potential and should be able to maintain a consistent Bluetooth connection.

3. For Android: Disable “Optimize battery usage”

You also need to disable the “Optimize battery usage” feature on your device. This setting is only available if you are using an Android smartphone. It’s not available on iOS devices.

The feature is designed to preserve battery life by limiting what apps can do in the background. This includes maintaining a stable connection with a Bluetooth device.

Here’s how to disable “Optimize battery usage”:

Go to Settings.
Select Apps.
Select Spotify from the list of apps.
Under Usage, tap Battery.
Select “Optimize battery usage”.
Select “Apps not optimized” then switch it to all.
Search for Spotify.
Turn off the toggle.

Make sure the toggle is turned off. When the toggle is turned on, some functions, such as those that use mobile networks, sync data, or Bluetooth, will be restricted to save battery power.

5. For Windows computers: Disable “Handsfree Telephony” and “Remote Control”

This troubleshooting tip is for you if you use a Bluetooth speaker or headset connected to a Windows computer. The trick is to disable “Handsfree Telephony” and “Remote Control”.

Here’s how to disable “Handsfree Telephony” and “Remote Control”:

Click Start on your Windows Computer.
Go to the Control Panel.
Select Hardware and Sound.
Select Devices and Printers.
Right-click on your Bluetooth device, then select Properties.
Go to the Services tab.
Uncheck Handsfree Telephony and Remote Control.
Click OK.

The “Handsfree Telephony” feature often stops some apps from transmitting audio to a Bluetooth device. It’s because the apps interpret the Bluetooth connection as a phone call.

The “Remote Control” feature activates your Bluetooth device’s control like play and pause. You don’t want your Bluetooth speaker or headset to confuse itself trying to control Spotify.

By disabling both options, the Spotify app should be able to transmit audio to your Bluetooth speaker or headset, and your Bluetooth device won’t control the Spotify app randomly.

6. For iPhone and MacBook: Turn off automatic switching

AirPods are connected to your iPhone and MacBook at the same time. By default, the sound switches between them automatically unless you turn off automatic switching.

A friend of mine had this issue. Apparently, his MacBook and iPhone were fighting over who gets control of the AirPods. As a result, the AirPods keep disconnecting whenever Spotify is on.

You need to turn off automatic switching and switch between Bluetooth devices manually. I’m going to assume you are using AirPods to listen to music, but it works on all Bluetooth devices.

Here’s how to do it on your iPhone:

Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
Tap the blue (i) icon next to your AirPods in the list of devices.
Tap Connect to This iPhone.
Tap When Last Connected to This iPhone.

Here’s how to do it on your Mac:

Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone.
Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Bluetooth.
Click the Options button next to your AirPods in the list of devices.
From the Connect to This Mac menu, choose When Last Connected to This Mac.

Now, your AirPods won’t switch automatically between the two devices. You have to manually switch between the two sources, but now Spotify will know where to play your songs.

7. Connect to one Bluetooth device at a time

Some Bluetooth devices only let you have one connection at a time. If you have multiple Bluetooth devices connected when playing Spotify, try disconnecting other devices.

Then, unpair the device you want to listen from, and reconnect again. You should only have one Bluetooth device connected to Spotify. Now, try playing a song from Spotify.