I found a way start Spotify from Versa 3

[rc211e]

I've understand that the Versa 3 is limited to remote controlling spotify on my phone and not playing through my phone. (Disappointing but I understand)

So it was a nice morning and I decided to take a walk with my phone in my backpack and headphones connected to my phone. 

Time for some music using my Versa 3 as a remote control.

First I tried through the watch's Google Assistant (seemed logical to me,) and boom I had Led Zeppelin playing through my phone headset......for about a minute.

OK try again into Versa 3 Google assistant and without me doing anything Led Zeppelin restarted for about a minute..... 😡  

OK forget Google Assistant

So what next? Remember I'm out walking with my phone in my backpack, and I just want my Versa 3 to remote control Spotify (as per the advertised feature). 

This time I navigate on Versa 3 to Spotify App and press that with following result

So it appears I cannot start spotify on my Versa 3. I need to stop take off my backpack and get my phone out....... Foiled again by Versa 3 idiosyncrasies  😡

So I am frustrated. I can't have music on my phone at reasonable cost and I reluctantly accept that but I thought I could remote control my premium Spotify while out walking but no I have get the phone out to do even that!!!!!

Have I missed something, is there a way to truly remote control Spotify on Versa 3?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit]

Hey there, @rc211e. Thanks for sharing the details about the issue with your Versa 3 as well for the image attached. I understand why you're feeling frustrated.

To use Spotify, note the following requirements:

• The Spotify app on your Fitbit device doesn’t support offline music playback, so your paired phone must remain nearby with the Fitbit app running in the background and connected to the internet.
• A Spotify Premium subscription is required. For information on Spotify Premium, see spotify.com.
• You must have the Spotify app open on the device playing music. For more information on Spotify Connect, see spotify.com.

With that said, please note that you'll need to pair/connect the headphones or the ear buds to you phone and not to your watch as when using Spotify the music is saved into your phone not the other way around. The Spotify app on your Versa 3 will only help you to control the music on the phone app. 

For more information, see How do I control music playing on Spotify and Why can't I control music on my phone with my Fitbit device?

On the other hand, if you're running into issues with Google Assistant, see What should I do if my voice assistant doesn't work on my Fitbit smartwatch? 

Hope that helps. 

[rc211e]

@MarreFitbit 

Thanks for all that I've read it before. Unfortunately you answered questions I had already answered myself.

What I really wanted to know and the question asked in the  post above was

Have I missed something, is there a way to truly remote control Spotify on Versa 3?

The answer I now know from other community users posts is NO![edit] I found a way that works for me using Google assistant. See next post for details

You have to decide in advance and start spotify on your phone just in case you decide you might want to use it.

Don't buy this watch if you want to listen to your own music and if you have Spotify premium be prepared to bring your phone and prestart a playlist on your phone before you have any control through Versa 3 

[rc211e · Accepted solution]

I previously wrote

"Time for some music using my Versa 3 as a remote control.

First I tried through the watch's Google Assistant (seemed logical to me,) and boom I had Led Zeppelin playing through my phone headset......for about a minute.

OK try again into Versa 3 Google assistant and without me doing anything Led Zeppelin restarted for about a minute..... 😡

OK forget Google Assistant"

Well I couldn't let that idea go so I did some more research and it turns out in my case I needed to make sure the Spotify App on my phone was configured to run in background mode and the operating system could not put it to sleep. For my Note 8 that meant configuring the "App power monitor" setting to exclude Spotify from the list of apps it put to sleep automatically to save battery. (That was the reason Spotify was stopping after a minute). So far it's working, i've tested a few scenarios, so maybe, just maybe for the moment. You can start a spotify session from a Versa 3 using the Versa 3 Google assistant. You can continue to control with versa 3 Google assistant or open Versa 3 Spotify App and use that as remote control.

Maybe someone else will find this useful. 

[Pumbaa1]

So please can you tell me step by step how you did this because I'm sick of signing into Spotify on app just to play my music without touching my phone. 

[TNickFit]

MarreFitbit,

I realize that Fitbit no longer allows Pandora to be played back on its devices.  It appears as if you can subscribe to Spotify which will be able to played back on the device.  However, do I need to have my phone nearby or can I download stations on my Fitbit Versa similar to what what I was doing for the Fitbit Ionic and Versa.  I really do not want to carry a phone while I am running.  I appreciate your time.  Thanks

[Guy_]

Hi all  - you need your phone to play music however just double press the button* on your watch, select the built-in Music Controls and play or control any music playing on your phone, you can even adjust the volume without stopping the app or clock face running on the watch. 

You don't need Spotify premium or to login to Spotify in the Fitbit App either.

*For older watches pull down on the watch face, once, and again, to select built-in Music Controls .

[rc211e]

Thanks for that @Guy_     

Is that a new feature ?

[Guy_]

Hi @rc211e  - thanks, Music Controls has been available built-in on Fitbit watches but was dropped from the Sense 2 and Versa 4 watches which don't have any music abilities.