Allow Spotify offline on Versa series and Sense

[Giampi71]

After long time Fitbit released a Spotify app for Ionic/Versa (for now only on Versa 2). See this suggestion now marked as solved.

However this app does not allow to download music for offline listening (for example while working-out).

Hence this new suggestion.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[SunsetRunner]

While I applaud Fitbit for delivering a feature within 2 years since originally requested, the team most definitely missed the mark. The hallmark feature should have been offline playlists, not a glorified remote app. I literally have no use for this app as delivered and it has not value on my wrist.

I second the use case from GrazzA.  As a Fitbit user, I want to run using GPS and Bluetooth earphones connected to my Ionic to listen to Spotify playlists offline, so that I can leave my phone behind.

That should be the new user story.

Moderator edit: format

[KenAnd]

I totally support this.

This is the ONLY reason why I would consider buying something else like a Garmin product.

Getting rid of my phone for exercise is a big part of my decision making when I decided to get the Ionic.

But since it doesnt support offline Spotify music, it doesnt really cover my most important needs.

PLEASE consider implementing this.

And if you have some kind of agreement with Deezer, please consider getting out of it somehow 🙂 .

[Agdijk]

• A couple of years ago, most people stored their music in files on their computer, however today it has become normal to stream music via Spotify or a similar app. I hardly know anyone who still has music downloaded on their computer. As a result the option to store music on your ionic / versa is not used very often. Recently, Spotify has been added to the watch, which is awesome, because now it's possible to listen to music without having to download songs. Unfortunately it's not possible to listen offline. So the benefit of having the Spotify app on your watch is gone. You still need your phone nearby. I speak for many users when I say that the added value of having a watch such as the ionic is that you can track your runs and listen to music without having your phone. If I can't use it on my runs without my phone, the ionic is just a fancy watch that has some cool features, but not the right ones. I very much enjoy having a Fitbit, so I hope this option will be added soon.

[EdsonFitbit]

Hi @Agdijk, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us, this feature suggestion already exists so I’ve moved your post here to maintain this board organized.

[Connor158910]

It took what felt like forever to get a Spotify app and functionality on Fitbit. Now that we have a Spotify app I honestly found it quite lacking. There aren't many features nor much control over the app. I use the new Versa 2 and was disappointed at the poor design of the Spotify app. Everyone loves to listen to music while working out, but the fact that we have to carry a phone around is very counterproductive and unreasonable. Why would I bring my phone when my watch can track everything for me? I believe that those who already pay for a Spotify membership should have the ability to sync our songs to our devices for offline. I hope the community also expresses my concerns and helps band together to fix this.

Thanks!

[Connor158910]

I agree! Offline usage and volume controls for the Versa 2 would be great!

[EdsonFitbit]

Hi @Connor158910, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us, this feature suggestion already exists so I’ve moved your post here to maintain this board organized.

[gravydan]

@Connor158910 .....totally agree and as I can't vote up your post I'll just repeat it and the facts and sentiment in it.

............There aren't many features nor much control over the app

............poor design of the Spotify app

............the fact that we have to carry a phone around is very counterproductive and unreasonable

............those who already pay for a Spotify membership should have the ability to sync our songs to our devices for offline

............I hope the community also expresses my concerns and helps band together to fix this.

[mascos]

The decision to support Spotify on Fitbit devices, but preclude downloading is truly bewildering. Fitbit doesn't need suggestions to know that downloading is really the only useful feature of a music app, and that every Spotify subscriber would want it. If their intent is to anger all Spotify subscribers who own Fitbits, then they have succeeded admirably.

[mrjaco]

Hi Fitbit team! First of all thank you for bringing Spotify as an official app for Fitbit devices.

Unfortunately the main feature, downloading music, is still missing.

[roastbeefalo]

Th Spotify app is completely useless without an offline feature. The reason why I bought the Versa 2 was for the Spotify app, and now I feel misled. Please add offline support for Spotify. 

[Darkmaster66]

Having got an iconic for my Christmas present from my wife I was looking forward to using my watch to play my offline music via Spotify only to find it's not currently available in offline mode.  Can someone from FitBit actually confirm this is being rectified/worked on to provide offline mode? As its currently pointless to even have the app installed and I feel as though I've been bought an item that has false and misleading information. Having back tracked through all the spotify posts I can see this has been going on for years now with very little feedback which is disappointing to see.

[SunsetRunner]

Got the Versa 2 for Christmas and am already disappointed that I need to have my phone within 30 feet for Spotify. I thought I would be able to leave my phone in the locker room and work out without it, but that’s unfortunately not the case. Get with the program FitBit, stop being lazy and cheap, and give us a real app to listen without our phones, not just remote song control. 

[Connor158910]

Any update from fitbit on the development of this fix?

[EliotH]

Hi Fitbit team! I recently got a ionic for Christmas, and one of the main features I was looking forward to was being able to listen to spotify tracks on my watch. We are past the time of storing music on computers as mp3 files, and one of the main reasons I bought the ionic instead of the versa 2 was that I don't want to bring my phone with me when I run. Can we get an update on adding the download feature to spotify for the ionic and all versa models? Thanks, Eliot

[GrazzA]

We keep asking for this, the only thing they have done is allow the App on Fitbit to control the phone? Maddening

[Jonowibbs]

It's misleading. Offline songs needs to be added. Not going to use pandora or "deezer"....

[Espanolito]

Yes, please! Add offline support for Spotify.

Seems a bit useless if, for example, I am on a treadmill listening to a Spotify playlist but still need my phone with me and all I can do with the Versa is control. I can do that by clicking the forward and back buttons on my wireless earbuds ... 

Would be great to be able to 'download' a playlist to Spotify on the watch and leave the phone in the locker. Otherwise, the Versa, in terms of listening to Spotify, is just an unnecessary piece of equipment between the phone and the earbuds.

[StevieA]

Can someone from the Fitbit team confirm:

1. You are developing capabilities to listen to spotify music offline as per every single request in this feature request?
2. What are the estimated timelines to deliver for each watch and version (where appropriate)?

I am an Ionic user, but all your users of different watches also want the same information.

As this has been requested for over 2 years and you have delivered a Spotify capability that is pretty much worthless for nearly every user, at least an update on what you are working on and roughly when I think is the least that your users should be told.

[GrazzA]

Here here, well said !

Fitbit, what is happening re Spotify and music downloads?

[Jonowibbs]

Even when I have spotify open and fitbit app open it rarely connects. Often says need to reconnect so I log out and back in. All that for just a controller function- which I can skip rewind etc on my headphones just like everyone else does I'm sure.

[SunsetRunner]

Commented a few weeks ago after getting the Versa 2 for Christmas. Still no progress update from anyone at Fitbit and a moderator hasn't even made a comment on this thread for 2 months now. I have until January 14 to return my fitbit to the store of purchase, and frankly it's looking like I won't be a fitbit owner for much longer. Extremely disappointed in misleading advertising on Spotify and my sleep tracking hasn't been as accurate as expected.

Researching Garmin, as another user has mentioned on this thread that they switched over

[Espanolito]

Likewise am considering Garmin.

Purchased two Fitbit products for Christmas (Versa 2 for myself and Charge 3 for my spouse). Purchased the Versa 2 partly for the Spotify app. But I still need my phone with me at the gym for Spotify as the app is just a controller, which I can already do with my earbuds. Not sure of what use it is if you can't download music to the app. 

Garmin or another product is looking good.

[Connor158910]

So sad to see so many comments from Fitbit users just to be ignored by the Fitbit team.

You know its bad when people are thinking of returning their product upon realizing that Fitbit won't implement a feature that was deceptively advertised. Telling us we would have a full-fledged Spotify app just to give us a remote control without the use of one of the most important features of Spotify. Not impressed team.

[GrazzA]

No really NOT impressed and no response by Fitbit .........