Learn how to download music for offline listening and more.
Spotify subscribers with an Apple Watch can download playlists, podcasts, albums, and tracks straight to the smartwatch for offline listening.
You can also access Spotify Connect and control playback via LTE or Wi-Fi directly from the wrist, creating a seamless listening experience. If you own the Apple Watch Series 10 or Apple Watch Ultra 2, you can even use the speaker to play Spotify tunes out loud.
This guide will explain all these tricks in detail, helping you maximize the use of the Spotify Apple Watch app.
- 50 essential Apple Watch tips to master
- The Apple Watch apps we actually use
- How to add music to the Apple Watch
How to download the Apple Watch Spotify app
Before we get into our set of tips on mastering the Spotify app on Apple Watch below, let’s cover the basics.
Here’s how to download Spotify to the Apple Watch:
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- In the ‘My Watch’ tab, under the heading ‘Installed on Apple Watch’, check if Spotify is already downloaded. If it isn’t installed on your Apple Watch, scroll down to the ‘Available Apps’ section and hit ‘Install’ on Spotify.
- On your Apple Watch, open the app grid and find Spotify. The app will also open automatically when you start playing music from your iPhone.
Don’t forget that most models won’t play music out loud. Instead, you’ll need to learn how to connect Bluetooth headphones to the Apple Watch.
1. Download Spotify content for offline listening
You can easily download content from Spotify to your Apple Watch, allowing you to listen on the go without needing a phone connection or LTE.
Besides having an active Spotify Premium subscription, there are a few requirements.
For Spotify on the Apple Watch to work, you need an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer running watchOS 7 or later, an LTE or Wi-Fi connection, and an iPhone with iOS 12 or later.
Follow these steps to download Spotify content to your Apple Watch:
- Make sure you’re running the latest version of the Spotify app on your phone or tablet; this will ensure your Apple Watch is also up to date.
- In the Spotify app on iPhone, find a playlist or album you want to download, hit the three-dot menu, and choose ‘Download to Apple Watch’.
- In the Spotify Apple Watch app, swipe right to find the ‘Downloads’ folder.
- Downloaded content will be indicated by a green arrow if successful.
2. Browse Spotify playlists and tracks
The Spotify app on the Apple Watch provides comprehensive playback and browsing controls.
Swiping right opens the ‘Home’ dashboard, similar to the smartphone or desktop app, showing your recent listens and Spotify recommendations. You can scroll through the page using your finger or the digital crown.
You can also swipe left to find ‘Your Library’ and view saved playlists, podcasts, artists, and albums, or browse options within, playing any track you want.
3. Quickly add songs to your Spotify library
You can add music to your library directly from the Apple Watch screen.
The prominently placed tick can be tapped, turning green, and the track will be added to your account’s Liked Songs.
Just like on other devices, re-tapping the tick will remove it from your library and Liked Songs.
4. Go phone-free and stream over LTE
Spotify allows users to stream music without their iPhone nearby, but they will need an LTE connection if the playlist, song, album, or podcast hasn’t been downloaded to the Apple Watch beforehand.
If you have a cellular plan set up for your Apple Watch, the smartwatch’s Spotify app will stay connected even when you’re away from your iPhone and will give you full control over it. You don’t need to do anything.
5. Control Spotify on Apple Watch using Siri
Spotify provides hands-free control via Apple’s smart assistant, Siri, offering easier access.
To have Siri play something from your Apple Watch, just ask it to assist you with the following:
- Play your favorite songs, playlists, podcasts, artists, and albums
- Adjust volume, play/pause, and skip tracks
- Play Discover Weekly
- Add songs to your library by ‘liking’ the current track
6. Control playback on other devices
You can automatically control playback from your linked account using the smartwatch, whether you’re listening through your phone, a wireless speaker, or a gaming console.
Even if you’re playing something from your phone, the Apple Watch Spotify app will automatically open when you raise your wrist – providing you do the following things:
- Ensure you have the latest version of the Spotify app downloaded on your Apple Watch, phone, laptop, or tablet
- Ensure your Apple Watch and the device you’re trying to control are connected to the same Wi-Fi network
