Spotify subscribers who own an Apple Watch are able to download playlists, podcasts, albums, and songs straight to the smartwatch - and listen offline.
You can also access custom playlists, use Spotify Connect, and harness playback control via LTE or Wi-Fi straight from the wrist, making it a pretty complete experience.
In this guide, we'll explain how to use the Spotify Apple Watch app to its full potential.
You'll learn how to download playlists, control your music, browse through menus, and even ask Siri to play something.
2. In the 'My Watch' tab and under the heading 'Installed on Apple Watch', check if Spotify is already downloaded. If it isn't installed already on your Apple Watch, scroll down to the 'Available Apps'section and hit 'Install' on Spotify.
3. 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.
Download music and podcasts for offline listening
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You can easily download content from Spotify to store on your Apple Watch, letting you listen to it on the move without needing to be connected to your phone - or having to use LTE, either.
What you will need is an Apple Watch Series 3 or later that's running on watchOS 7 or later, an LTE or Wi-Fi connection, and an iPhone running iOS 12 or later - along with a Spotify Premium subscription, of course.
Follow these steps to download Spotify songs, playlists, or podcasts to your Apple Watch:
1. 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.
2. In the Spotify app on iPhone, find a playlist or album you want to download, hit the three-dot menu button, and choose 'Download to Apple Watch'.
3. In the Spotify Apple Watch app, swipe right to find the 'Downloads' folder.
4. If successful, downloaded playlists will be indicated by a green arrow.
Browse Spotify playlists and tracks
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The Apple Watch's Spotify app offers pretty extensive control over playback and browsing.
A swipe to the left shows your library and recent playlists that you've interacted with. From here, you can scroll with your finger or the digital crown and change the playlist.
You can also hit Library and swap between playlists, podcasts, artists, and albums and browse options within, playing any track you feel like.
You won't get all the options in your library, but you'll get an extensive list of the most recently played 20 or so.
If you swipe to the right, you'll get a list of tracks within the currently selected playlist, allowing you to select the exact song you want to listen to.
Add songs to your Spotify library
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You can add music to your library straight from the Apple Watch screen.
The prominently placed heart can be tapped, turning green, and the track will be added to your account's Liked Songs.
As on other devices, re-tapping the heart will also remove it from your library and Liked Songs.
Stream over LTE
Spotify enables users to stream music without their iPhone present, but they'll need an LTE connection if the playlist, song, album, or podcast hasn't been downloaded to the Apple Watch previously.
If you have a cellular plan set up for your Apple Watch, the smartwatch's Spotify app will stay connected even when away from your iPhone and allow you full control over the experience. You don't need to do anything.
Control Spotify on Apple Watch using Siri
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Spotify also gives you hands-free control via Apple's smart assistant, Siri, giving you easier access.
To get Siri to play something from your Apple Watch, you can ask it to help you out 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
Control playback on other devices
Whether you're listening on your phone, a wireless speaker or even using the Spotify app on game consoles, you can automatically control playback from your linked account through the smartwatch.
Even if you're playing something from your phone, for example, the Apple Watch Spotify app will automatically open when you raise-to-wake - providing you do the following things:
Make sure you have the latest version of the Spotify app downloaded on your Apple Watch, as well as on your phone, laptop, or tablet.
Make sure your Apple Watch and the device you're trying to control are on the same Wi-Fi connection.
Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.
He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.
Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech.
Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.
