How to fix Spotify not showing on lock screen iPhone (iOS 18/17.7)

Key Takeaway: To resolve Spotify not showing on the lock screen of an iPhone, ensure that permission for notifications is enabled, turn on lock screen widgets, unlink focus mode, enable Spotify open in car mode, allow devices lock screen in Spotify, enable Spotify notifications in Do Not Disturb, sign out and sign back in, update the Spotify app, reinstall the app if needed, and ensure the iPhone's iOS is updated. If the issue persists, contact Apple Support for further assistance.



Having a Spotify controller on your iPhone’s lock screen makes it handy to play/pause and skip track your Music. Hence, it can be nerve-racking when Spotify not showing on the lock screen iPhone. In this guide, we’ll introduce some troubleshooting tricks you need to perform to resolve the same. So let’s get started.   

Here are 11 ways to fix Spotify not showing on the lock screen of iPhone. We suggest performing each troubleshooting step without ignoring any one of them.

Solution #1. Turn on Permission for Spotify

One common reason Spotify is not showing on the lock screen is you’ve turned off notification permissions for the Spotify app. Thus, the first thing you need to do is enable permission by following the steps below.

  1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. 
  2. Search and select Spotify.
  3. Tap Notifications.
Open the settings app swipe down and scroll spotify tap on notifications on iphone
  1. On the next screen, enable the toggle next to the Allow Notifications.
  2. Below the Alert menu, check the box next to the Lock Screen. 
How to fix Spotify not showing on lock screen iPhone

That’s It!

Solution #2. Turn on the Lock Screen Widgets

Spotify music player may not show on your iPhone’s lock screen if you’ve turned off lock screen widgets. To cross-check it, follow the steps below.

  1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Search and select Face ID & Passcode.
Open settings search and scroll face ID & passcode on iphone
  1. Jot down the passcode.
  2. On the next screen, enable the toggle next to Lock Screen Widgets.
Enter your passcode next screen, enable the toggle next to lock screen widgets on iphone

Hopefully, turning on the lock screen widgets will resolve your problem.  

On iOS 16 & later versions, there is an option to link focus mode on iPhone’s lock screen. This feature seems useful for many users, but it can cause the Spotify lock screen to stop working on your iPhone lock screen. 

So you must try unlinking focus mode from the lock screen to make it work. For this, long press on your Lock Screen and then select Focus Profile located at the bottom. Hit on the linked profile to unlink from the lock screen. 

Note: If your iPhone isn’t showing lock screen controls for Spotify, hit on the lock screen album to reveal them.

Solution #4. Enable Spotify Open in Car Mode

Some aspects, like keeping Spotify open in card mode and the device lock screen in Spotify, enable you to listen to music when locking your iPhone. If such features are turned off, you can stick with Spotify not showing on the lock screen of your iPhone. You try turning on such settings and then check for problems.

  1. Go to the Spotify App on your flagship.
  2. Tap on Settings Gear Icon at the screen’s top right corner.
Go to spotify app tap on settings gear icon on iphone
  1. Choose Car under the devices section.
  2. Turn the toggle to the right side next to Keep Spotify Open.
Choose car toggle on keep spotify open on iphone

Solution #5. Enable Devices Lock Screen in Spotify

  1. Open the Spotify app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on the Settings Gear icon at the screen’s top right corner.
Go to spotify app tap on settings gear icon on iphone
  1. In the Settings menu, tap Devices.
  2. Enable toggle next to the Devices Lock Screen
Tap devices enable toggle next to the devices lock screen on iphone

Solution #6. Allow Spotify Notifications in Do Not Disturb

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Search and select Focus.
Open the settings app search and scroll focus on iphone
  1. Hit Do Not Disturb.
  2. Choose Apps.
Tap do not disturb choose apps on iphone
  1. Allow Notifications From.
  2. Tap Add Apps. 
  3. Search for Spotify in the list of apps
Check allow notifications from tap on add apps scroll the select spotify on iphone
  1. Continue to hit Done.
Check on spotify tap on done on iphone

Solution #7. Sign Out and Sign In

At times, there are chances where the issue lies within the Spotify account itself. Signing out and signing back in will resolve such a problem. Here’s how you can do it.

  1. Open the Spotify App on your iPhone.
  2. Hit on the Gear Icon in the screen’s top right corner.
  3. Go to Settings Menu.
  4. Swipe down and tap Log Out. After this, restart your iPhone. 
  5. Now, head back to the Spotify App and log in with the same credentials. 
how to log out spotify on iphone

That’s It!

Solution #8. Update Spotify App

Apps receive frequent updates for various reasons, such as fixing bugs, performance enhancement, adding new features, and more. At the same point, the main issue is most users, including myself, neglect updating apps.

This ultimately leads to incompatibility between an app & a device and causes issues, including Spotify not showing on the lock screen iPhone. To solve this hitch, make sure the Spotify app is updated to its latest version.

  1. Open the App Store.
  2. Go to Apple ID by clicking your image in the upper right corner. 
  3. Here, you will find a list of apps; search for Spotify.
  4. Tap on the Update Button.
Open the app store tap on search are Spotify click on update on iPhone

If there is a Spotify update available, move forward to the next solution. 

Solution #9. Delete and reinstall the Spotify App

If there is no Spotify app update available, you can try reinstalling the application. Try deleting and reinstalling the Spotify app by following the steps below.

  1. Long press on the Spotify App icon. 
  2. Tap Remove App or the “– Minus” icon.
Press and hold on the home screen tap on “– Minus” Icon on iphone
  1. Hit Delete App, then select Delete for further confirmation.
  2. Tap Done.
Hit delete app then select delete spotify on iphone
  1. Wait for a while, then navigate to the App Store.
  2. Search for the Spotify App in the search bar.
  3. At last, hit the down arrow with the cloud icon button
Open the app store tap on search then search for spotify app at next hit get button on iphone

Solution #10. Update iOS

If Spotify controls not showing on the lock screen, there’s a good chance an operating system will fix it. So, ensure your iPhone is updated to its latest iOS version. For this, please read our guide on how to update your iPhone. 

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Search and select General Tab.
Launch the settings app tap on general on iPhone

3. Tap Software Update.
4. Now, let your iPhone load a new update. 
5. If available, tap Download & Install. 

Click Software Update Tap on Update Now On iPhone

Final Thought!

If the issue continues on your iPhone even after performing the abovementioned solution, then it’s time to contact the Apple Support Team. Report the issue to the team, and they will offer you a solution accordingly.

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Karly Wood

Karly Wood is a journalist based in Ohio who specializes in covering Apple and technology trends. With a varied experience in reporting on public safety, government, and education, her insights bridge multiple disciplines, providing readers with a well-rounded perspective on today's technological advancements. If you need to contact me, you can reach me at [email protected] or through (Facebook)

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