How to Use Siri with Spotify on iPhone: Full Guide

This guide shows you how to control Spotify with Siri on your iPhone, covering setup, voice commands for playback, and fixes for when Siri won’t cooperate. You’ll need an iPhone with Siri enabled and the Spotify app installed and logged in.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone running iOS 13 or later (SiriKit for Spotify requires this)
The Spotify app installed from the App Store
An active Spotify account (free or Premium works)
Siri enabled in Settings > Siri & Search
Internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular)

Step-by-Step

Update your apps. Make sure both iOS and the Spotify app are updated to the latest versions. Go to Settings > General > Software Update, and check the App Store for Spotify updates.
Enable Siri for Spotify. Open the Spotify app, tap the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner. Scroll down to “Siri & Search” and toggle on “Use Siri & Search.” If you don’t see this option, your iOS version may be too old or the app needs updating.
Check Siri is active. Go to Settings > Siri & Search. Make sure “Listen for “Hey Siri”” and “Press Side Button for Siri” are both enabled. If you’ve never set up Siri, follow the on-screen prompts to train your voice.
Grant microphone access (if prompted). When you first use Siri with Spotify, iOS may ask for permission. Tap “Allow” so Siri can send commands to Spotify.
Test basic playback commands. Say “Hey Siri, play my Discover Weekly on Spotify” or “Hey Siri, play Spotify.” Siri should open Spotify and start playing. If nothing plays, try being more specific: “Hey Siri, play [song name] by [artist] on Spotify.”
Use control commands. While Spotify is playing, you can say:
- “Hey Siri, pause Spotify”
- “Hey Siri, skip this song”
- “Hey Siri, go back”
- “Hey Siri, turn up the volume” (this controls system volume, not Spotify’s in-app volume)
Play specific content. Try “Hey Siri, play on Spotify” or “Hey Siri, play [album name] by [artist] on Spotify.” For podcasts, say “Hey Siri, play [podcast name] on Spotify.”
Use Siri Shortcuts for deeper control. Open Spotify, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Shortcuts. Here you can create custom phrases for actions like “Play Liked Songs” or “Resume last playlist.” Tap “Add to Siri” next to an action, record your phrase, and it’ll work going forward.
Control from the lock screen or Control Center. Even without Hey Siri, you can press and hold the side button (or home button on older iPhones) and say “Play Spotify.” Also, the Control Center’s music widget will show Spotify controls when it’s active.

Common Mistakes

Not including “on Spotify” in the command. If you just say “play [song],” Siri may default to Apple Music. Always add “on Spotify” or “using Spotify” to route the request correctly.
Expecting Siri to control Spotify’s equalizer or in-app settings. Siri can only handle playback, pause, skip, and volume. It cannot change audio quality or shuffle settings.
Assuming Siri works when Spotify is fully closed. Siri can launch Spotify, but if the app is force-quit, it may take a few seconds to start. Keep Spotify running in the background for fastest response.
Using vague playlist names. If your playlist is called “Chill Mix 2024,” Siri may not find it if you say “play my chill playlist.” Use the exact name.
Forgetting to update iOS. Older iOS versions have limited Spotify-Siri integration. Update to at least iOS 13, but newer versions work better.

Tips

Set a default music app. While iOS doesn’t officially let you change the default music app, you can train Siri by always saying “on Spotify.” After repeated use, Siri often learns your preference.
Use Siri Shortcuts for complex actions. Create a shortcut that plays a specific playlist and sets shuffle on. Then trigger it with one phrase.
Say the artist and song together. “Hey Siri, play [song] by [artist] on Spotify” is more reliable than just the song name, especially for common titles.
Use “resume” instead of “play” when Spotify is paused. Saying “Hey Siri, resume Spotify” often works better than “play Spotify” when you were mid-playlist.
Check Spotify’s Siri settings after app updates. Updates sometimes reset permissions. Revisit Settings > Siri & Search in Spotify if commands stop working.

Troubleshooting

Siri says “I can’t do that with Spotify.” This usually means the Spotify app doesn’t have Siri permissions. Open Spotify > Settings > Siri & Search, toggle off and on “Use Siri & Search,” then restart the app.
Siri plays Apple Music instead of Spotify. Be explicit: “Hey Siri, play [song] on Spotify.” If it still defaults to Apple Music, try “Hey Siri, ask Spotify to play [song].” If that fails, delete and reinstall Spotify, then re-enable Siri permissions.
Nothing happens when you say “Hey Siri, play Spotify.” Check that Spotify is installed and logged in. Then test Siri with a basic command like “Hey Siri, what time is it?” If Siri doesn’t respond at all, go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle “Listen for Hey Siri” off and on.
Siri says “I can’t find that playlist.” Make sure the playlist is public or at least available on your device. Try playing it manually first, then ask Siri to “resume Spotify.” Also, use the exact playlist name as it appears in the app.
Spotify plays but there’s no sound. Check your iPhone’s volume (side buttons) and make sure Do Not Disturb or Silent Mode isn’t on. Also check if Spotify’s in-app volume is muted by opening the app and adjusting the volume slider.
Siri works but only for one song, then stops. This happens when Spotify’s background audio is restricted. Go to Settings > Spotify > Background App Refresh and enable it. Also, make sure Low Power Mode is off, as it can interrupt background audio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Siri to control Spotify on my iPhone without a Premium subscription?

Yes, basic playback commands like play, pause, skip, and volume work with a free account. Some features like downloading or offline playback won’t respond to Siri, but streaming commands work fine.

Why does Siri always use Apple Music instead of Spotify?

iOS doesn’t have a system-wide default music app setting. You need to explicitly say “on Spotify” in every command. After consistent use, Siri may learn your preference, but it’s not guaranteed.

Can Siri shuffle my Spotify playlist?

Yes, try “Hey Siri, shuffle on Spotify.” If that doesn’t work, create a Siri Shortcut in Spotify’s settings that enables shuffle and assigns a custom phrase.

Does Siri work with Spotify on CarPlay?

Yes, if Spotify is installed and you’ve used Siri with it on your iPhone, the same commands work through CarPlay. Say “Hey Siri, play [song] on Spotify” while connected.

Can I ask Siri to play a specific podcast episode on Spotify?

Yes, say “Hey Siri, play [episode name] on Spotify.” If the episode name is common, include the show name: “Hey Siri, play [episode] from [show name] on Spotify.”

Why does Siri say “Spotify isn’t responding”?

This usually means Spotify crashed or is stuck. Force-quit the app by swiping up from the bottom and swiping away Spotify’s card. Then reopen it and try again. If it persists, restart your iPhone.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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