Spotify has accused Apple of potentially violating European regulations by discontinuing a technology that allowed Spotify users to control the volume on their connected devices. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires big technology companies, known as “gatekeepers,” to provide interoperability. Previously, Spotify users on iOS could adjust the volume using the physical buttons on their iPhones when streaming through Spotify Connect. However, Apple’s recent change means this is no longer possible.
To address the issue, Spotify iOS users will now need to use the volume slider in the Spotify Connect menu within the app to control the volume on connected devices. This change only affects Spotify Connect on iOS and does not impact users controlling volume on iOS Bluetooth or AirPlay sessions, nor users on Android.
Spotify believes that Apple’s discontinuation of the technology could be a violation of the DMA, specifically article 6(7), which states that gatekeepers must allow free and effective interoperability with the same hardware and software features accessed or controlled via the operating system. Spotify argues that Apple should provide a similar solution for third-party developers, as it already does for users of Apple HomePod or Apple TV devices. However, Apple has informed Spotify that apps must integrate with HomePod to access the volume control technology on iPhones, preventing Spotify from using the same technology as Apple Music on iOS. In contrast, other companies like Google and Samsung offer access to similar technology without such restrictions.
Spotify claims that the technology it was using for Connect was already degraded before its discontinuation, with the iPhone volume buttons often resulting in unstable experiences and volume spikes during sessions. The new in-app volume slider aims to provide more consistent volume control.
Apple has yet to respond to Spotify’s allegations. To learn more about the change, Spotify has provided additional information on its Customer Support page.