The music player widget on the iPhone’s lock screen is helpful in most scenarios. It allows the users to control music, play/pause your music, adjust the volume, and skip tracks without unlocking iPhone. However, this can be nerve-racking because it tends to stay on the iPhone’s lock screen even when not streaming music. But worry not; you can remove the music player from the lock screen. Here are seventeen ways to remove stuck music player widget from the iPhone lock screen.
How to Remove Music Widget From iPhone Lock Screen
No matter what is the cause behind the issue, here are different ways to fix music player.
Solution #1. Force Quite the app that previously streamed the music
First and foremost solution, you must try to remove music player from lock screen iOS 17 force quit the app that you previously streamed the music on. That’s because if you pause a video or track on streaming platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, etc., the Widget will remain on the lock screen. And unfortunately, most of the music streaming app doesn’t include the stop button in their Widget. So, all you need to do is force-close the specific music streaming app.
- Swipe up from the bottom and hold in the center.
- Now, swipe left to search for a particular App Card. Then, swipe it up to force close it.
Solution #2. Open and force-quite music app
Open the problematic streaming app on your iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, and hold in the center. After this, swipe up the music app card to force-quit it.
Solution #3. Resume/Stop Track
As we all know, the iOS Music widget appears only when a song is playing via Apple Music or other music streaming apps. A constant music widget on iPhone lock screen doesn’t mean you can’t interact with it. Perhaps the easiest way to remove the music player from the iPhone lock screen is by playing the track for a few seconds and then turning it off.
For this, tap on Play Button, wait for a while, and then tap on the Pause Button to stop the playback. After this, press the Side Key and leave it as it is. Hopefully, this will remove the Widget from iOS lock screen.
Solution #4. Restart your iPhone
Another effective solution you can try when you want to stop Spotify from showing up on iPhone lock screen is restarting your device. To do so, follow the steps below.
Restart your iPhone with Face ID: Press the either Volume Buttons & Side Button simultaneously until you see Power-Off screen. Drag the Power-Off slider and let your device turn off. Hold for 30 seconds, then press the Side Key to turn the device back on.
Restart your iPhone with Home Button: Press the Side Key until you see Power-Off screen. Drag the Power-Off slider and let your device turn off. Hold for 30 seconds, then press the Side Key to turn the device back on.
Solution #5. Force Restart your iPhone
If a normal restart doesn’t work for you, at this point, you must try force restarting your iPhone.
- Press and immediately release the Volume High Key.
- Press and immediately release the Volume Low Key.
- Press and hold the Side Key. until the Apple logo appears, release the Side Key.
Solution #6. Close All Safari Tabs
It’s possible that the website in the Safari Browser is playing the audio file that is causing the music player icon to keep appearing on your iPhone’s lock screen. To prevent it, you only need to disable all Safari Tabs.
Access the Safari App on your iPhone and choose all current open tabs. This will ensure that any Tab playing audio track is closed. Once the Tabs are closed, press the Power Key on your iPhone to get the lock screen.
Solution #7. Disable Notification for Music App
It’s rare, but if the Widgets appear on the iPhone lock screen even after performing the above-mentioned tricks, you might need to turn off notifications for Music App. Here’s how.
1. Go to Settings App on your iPhone. Tap on Notifications.
2. Select the problematic streaming app. For instance, Apple Music.
3. After this, turn off the toggle next to the Allow Notifications.
Remember, this is just a trial-and-error method. And their are low chances of positive outcomes.
Solution #8. Remove Music Widget
After all you need to do is remove the Music Widget from your iPhone’s home screen, in case it’s added earlier. This is not a done-deal solution, but it works sometimes. To remove it from your home screen, swipe right on your iPhone home screen. Press and hold the Music Widget and then select Remove Widget.
Solution #9. Disconnect Bluetooth device
Another known reason iOS randomly shows the recent soundtrack on your iPhone’s lock screen is when you connect your device with Bluetooth devices, like car stereo, Bluetooth Headset, and speaker. So check whether your device is connected to another Bluetooth peripheral. If so, then immediately disconnect it.
The best way to disconnect your iPhone from Bluetooth peripheral is by accessing the Control Center and then tapping on Bluetooth Icon to deactivate it.
Solution #10. Check if the Streaming App is updated to its latest version
- Go to the App Store. Search for a streaming app in the search bar.
- Tap on the app when you see it.
- Select the Open Button.
Solution #11. Uninstall and install Streaming App
Reinstalling the streaming app that causes an issue on your iPhone’s lock screen might also work for you. However, this solution works when you find the application buggy and keeps popping up the Widget randomly. In this scenario, deleting and re-installing the streaming app will work for you. But before that, jot down the ID and password of the streaming app, as it will forget all your login credentials.
1. Press And Hold the Spotify App. Tap on Remove App on your iPhone.
2. Click on Delete App in the Spotify app, then select Delete on the home screen.
3. After this, head to the App Store. Search for the streaming app in the search bar. Tap on the app when you see it.
4. At last, tap on the Install Button to re-install.
Solution#12. Turn off today’s view and search on the Lock Screen
Today’s view feature shows you the previous activities on your iPhone. These activities include streamed tracks as well. Thus, turning off today’s view feature might help you to fix iPhone music app that pops up on lock screen when not playing. To turn off the feature, follow the steps below.
- Go to the Settings App. Tap on Face ID & Passcode on your iPhone.
2. Jot down your lock screen passcode.
3. Disable the toggle next to Today View And Search in the Allow Access When Locked menu.
Solution #13. Turn off Siri Suggestions for the app
A lot of iPhone users have found that music widget on the lock screen includes suggestions to listen. However, this recommendation keeps appearing regardless of what track you are playing on your iPhone.
Remember, this isn’t a bug, but it’s Siri Suggestion that appears when it’s enabled. Fortunately, iOS lets you disable Siri Suggestion for that app. Here’s how.
1. To turn off Siri Suggestions on your device, head to the Settings App.
2. Tap on Siri and search.
3. From this screen, disable the toggle next to the Show When Listening.
4. In addition to this, search and select the problematic app from the Siri & Search screen. For instance, Music App.
5. From this screen, disable the toggle next to the Suggestions Notifications.
Solution #14. Update iOS
Is your iPhone updated to the latest OS iteration? If not, then it could be why does now playing keep showing up on iPhone. Follow the steps below to update your device to the latest iOS version.
1. Go to the Settings App. Select General Tab on iPhone.
3. Tap on Software Update. Now, let your device check for updates.
4. If available, tap on Download & Install.
Solution #15. Reset All Settings
If no iOS update is available, and you are facing a persistent problem, then factory resetting all settings is an effective solution. Doing so will bring your device back to default settings. Besides this, make sure to create a backup of your iPhone, as it can affect your data as well.
- Head to the Settings App on your iPhone.
- Select General.
- Hit Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap on Reset.
- Select Reset All Settings.
- Enter your Lock Screen passcode.
- At last, select Reset All Settings.
Solution #16. Restore your iPhone as a new
No solution work for you? The solution left around is to restore your iPhone as new. Remember that doing so will wipe out your entire device and clear everything, including media and data. Thus, remember to create a backup of your data.
- For this, connect your iPhone to a Mac computer or PC.
- Then, open Finder or iTunes. Select your Device and tap on the General Tab.
- If you have not created the backup yet, click Restore Backup…
- After this, select Restore iPhone.
5. Select the Backup Choose the iPhone date or time now next, Restore on Mac.
Once the restore procedure is finished, set up your iPhone as new. During the setup procedure, the screen will prompt option to restore your backup. Restore the backup and finish up the setup procedure.
Solution #17. Contact Apple Support
Hopefully, the solution mentioned above in the list will help you to remove the music player from iPhone lock screen. But if the issue persists, it’s time to Contact Apple Support Team. They will help you to diagnose the problem.
Final Thought!
However, I’m sure one of these troubleshooting tips might have helped you close Music player from iPhone lock screen. If that’s so, do let us know which solution really worked for you.
