Add music controls to Charge 6

[VasVadum]

The music controls on your new Charge 6 are just some advertisement to most. Its for a paid service only and was the only feature that may have convinced me to get the device till I saw. Switch this to use generic commands, to control any music playing on your phone. Generic controls exist on lots of Bluetooth headphones, surely Charge 6 could too.

[CosmicRazberry]

Yeah I am currently in a really frustrating position where the Charge 6 checks all the categories I am looking for in a new fitness band EXCEPT the ability to control various media from the watch. I need the watch to be able to control Audible, Youtube, Music App on Phone, Spotify, Amazon music etc with some sort of generic media controller.

So now I am looking elsewhere at options like Galaxy Fit 3, Huawei Watch Fit 2, and others that have this very basic media control functionality. Even if their heart-rate, health, and sleep monitoring aren't quite as good. It just seems so crazy to me that you have limited media control to Youtube music only. Like its unreal, I would say it's Google pushing people to subscribe to their services, but the Pixel Watch 2 has generic media control?! So seems more like laziness or bad feature management. I would just bite the bullet and spend more to get the Pixel Watch but I have no interest in a charge every night watch and I have no need for the extra smart watch features over a fitness band.

[Mandylivfit]

Is getting Spotify on the Charge 6 even a possibility with future updates? Just purchased this and didn't realize it wasn't compatible. Will hold out if it's going to happen, but will probably return if not. Anyone know?

[jdryan]

This is the primary reason that I haven't purchased a Charge 6 at this point. I have had 3 Fitbits until I lost my Versa 2 recently and am currently in the market to purchase a new watch that has all the new fitness sensors and is fully compatible with my Pixel 7 pro phone. That leaves you and Garmin. I don't care for the current selection of watch faces (and have read many complaints about that as well) but can likely get past that. The lack of generic music control is a much more important issue that I can't get past. Music is VERY important for my workouts and I do use the music controls regularly. I use Spotify for music because I find it far superior to YouTube Music. The fact that the Charge 6 is only compatible with YouTube Music is really hard for me to wrap my head around to be honest, and I'm sure you will continue to lose customers until you resolve this. If you fixed this I would most likely be purchasing a Charge 6 right away. Until then, my next purchase will likely be one of the more affordable Garmin models.  

[FlippySlip]

This also stops me from getting a Charge 6. It ticks all the boxes except media control.

[ccomerford]

Purchased a Charge 6 today. I didn't research this specific feature because I assumed it was a given that any modern wearable would support this. Really stunned to see it doesn't and thinking of returning the watch. I have no interest in YT Music and will absolutely not be signing up just to use it this watch.

[ChrisFit24]

It's hard to believe that this is still not solved. I talked to a colleague a few days ago and she was really interested in the neat fitness band I was wearing. When I told her "It's a Charge 6" she actually went "Nah, heard that you can't control your music with it". 
Seriously guys, you're missing out on new customers!

[OscarKashima]

A year since this comment was posted and still no change...great. I bought my Charge 6 just a few days ago as I'm still on my trip in the US.

I figured it wouldn't be that big of an issue that I can't pause my music while using the watch but it's starting to become a nuisance.

Was looking into alternatives since there seems to be no fix in sight for this particular watch, but the Galaxy Fit 3s sensors are so bad I just can't bring myself to return the Charge 6 just to go hunt for one, and the issue with the Pixel Watch 2 is that the battery is only rated at 24h. Please add general media controls or even just Spotify so I don't have to return this amazing watch, thank you.

[Lirkiko]

So I was about to buy the charge 6 and was going over the features and the media controls part was missing, so I googled it and got here... Opened an account just to write about it, looked so promising at first but without media controls not so sure I'll make this purchase now

[Shape77]

It's a shame that after a lot of time, there's not a serious reply from developers despite the high number of votes for this simple feature.

I'll never buy a fitbit product again. 

[Ahaigher]

Not having other music controls like Spotify or Apple Music is ridiculous. 

[OffTheCouch]

Come on Google - this is a blatant push for a Google services that, quite honestly, lacks what Spotify. this is 2024 - give us some audio controls. I made my buddy aware of this and he ended up opting for Amazon device that did both music and camera control...for a lot less!

[ticktok]

Seriously, even if you have the youtube music 'app', you should still have generic audio controls. It's just patently absurd.

[RanyiTeku]

Yes this is a very much needed feature. I agree not everyone uses youtube music. I myself use Spotify for my music needs as this is where a lot of the artists I like to listen to have their old as well as newest releases at. Having the ability to control Spotify with my Fitbit Charge 6 would be great as I wouldn't have to then pull out my phone to either play, pause, rewind, or skip a song everytime I want to listen to music.

[Vsbat]

That was my major out of the box disappointment. Indeed, how could it be not obvious to add generic music control

[XD12c]

I gave my Versa 2 to my GF and got a charge 6 not even thinking about not being able to use it to control my music. I use Spotify and Audible and it's mine boggling that I can't use either with this Fitbit.

[Fitlearn]

Honestly, this is insane, every fitness tracker I know has simple Bluetooth music controls for any app, even some that are less than $30 bucks! This type of cash grab and greed is unsurmountable from Google. It's a super easy feature to implement (newsflash, no one I know has Youtube premium or cares for it), a weather app that a lot of people care to have, alongside the option of turning off the Bluetooth which people have been asking for (SUPER easy feature to implement) since the original Charge came out. Doesn't Google know anything about the fitness industry? Most like to use Audible/podcasts and music on their preferred music or apps subscriptions, not YT. Why would anyone want to pay Fitbit Premium which costs $10 AND then $14.99 for JUST the music and music feature? $25 monthly for these features? Are you kidding me? How and WHY are these separate? And also have no third-party app integration? Super disappointed in Fitbit and you lost my loyalty. It seems Fitbit cares more about ripping people off than what their actual customers want. I'll be telling everyone I know how disappointed I am with this watch, cause such basic controls and features should be accessible for a $150+ watch!

[kevvvvver]

Just got my first Fitbit (charge 6) and am enthralled. However, I'm really disappointed there's no option to either install my own music player (for audiobooks) or streaming service (like Spotify free). Please add this feature.

Yes, I can use the homescreen on my phone, but it'd be cool to have the option on my wrist too. If YouTube music had a free option I wouldn't mind using it, but it doesn't.

[lofgrenade]

I just finished setting up my Charge 6 and am considering returning it. It might be a deal breaker if I can't skip 15 seconds forward on Spotify podcasts. It is unfortunate to see this has been a product request for so long. 

[ShadowSkill001]

I just bought myswlf and my wife charge 6's and im fuming that it doesnt allow spotify or a generic music control, im actually tempted to return them. In todays modern age i understand the need to focus on your products but the consumer should still have the choice to change the base settings to use an alternative. 

[BManAU]

Having moved from a Charge 4 to a Charge 6 removing Spotify functionality in favour of YouTube Music strikes me as anti-competitive.

Please add universal music control app (this shouldn't be hard using Bluetooth AVRCP). I use Spotify (and occasionally Deezer, and Amazon Music), as well as other non-streaming apps (such as Planning Center Services), and universal control would be a seriously winning feature.

[VeganKrys]

Thank you! I never have and never will be paying a monthly fee to use YouTube Music. I listen to podcasts on Spotify and yes, sometimes long YouTube videos, but I'm not going to pay for another subscription. The music controls absolutely should be generic, and the fact that it's only for YouTube Music comes across like a big red flag saying "Ha ha, Google owns this now, say goodbye to everything that made this product worthwhile."

 @JRod0064 I also took a break from FitBit to try an Apple Watch, and I am completely in the same boat- I should have done more research when purchasing the Charge 6. I am SO disappointed that everything that was wonderful and better than the competition about FitBit is being lost, because Google is folding FitBit into their Pixel smartwatches and wants to completely get rid of this brand. It's SO sad. 

[Scallop0106]

Ah yes, let's promote the users to pay for youtube music so we can market the idea that there are media control capabilities on our product. smh

Such a basic functionality that's a must in any smartwatch and you decided to take a decision just because your agenda benefits your partnership with streaming services. There is no way you can release a product without a simple feature like this. What about volume controls for your phone as well?

This is unacceptable. This is the last fitbit product I'll ever get.

[shpigi]

+1 to all that's been said here. I use Spotify, Audible and various podcast apps. 

[TheWakingHat]

I'm a new FitBit user and I find it really strange that I cannot use Spotify with it. I know that FitBit may want to push their own product (YT Music), but this situation reminds me of the whole "Facebook is installed on every new phone which unfairly squashes competition" debacle form a couple of years ago. I understand that FitBit as. Google product want to promote their own app, but if it wasn't for my main reasons to get my FitBit not being for training purposes, this would probably be a dealbreaker.

[IwanttouseSpoti]

Mother bought me a charge 6 for Christmas, I was rather excited until I realised I can ONLY use YouTube Music - I had no idea this was even a thing. I don't really want to subscribe to this as I pay a subscription with Spotify and ALL of my music is on this platform.

From reading previous comments, adding controls for all music providers when playing from your phone would be ideal and the fairest way.

I'm disappointed with the huge oversight and wondering how it passed through various gateways to be sent to market. 

How much traction do you require to update the Charge 6?