- Spotify is rolling out a refreshed Wear OS app.
- The app finally brings offline playback support to devices.
- Devices running Wear OS 2.0 or newer will benefit from the update.
Update: August 23, 2021 (11:52 PM ET): Spotify is now rolling out support for offline playback on its Wear OS app, the company confirmed to The Verge. Your smartwatch will need to be on Wear OS 2.0 or a later version to enjoy offline playback. This means the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 should also be getting the feature.
Original article: August 12, 2021 (4:51 AM ET): Spotify launched its Wear OS app back in 2018. It brought rudimentary remote control features to users’ wrists but little else. Three years later, Spotify is finally bringing one of the most eagerly requested features in a new update, namely offline playback.
In an announcement coinciding with Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 reveal, Spotify confirmed that users would be able to download their playlists, albums, or podcasts to their smartwatch and listen to the files directly from the watch. The feature also means that users will no longer need to lug their smartphones around to play tracks. It’s a massive benefit to runners or those seeking more independent smartwatch functionality.
There are some caveats, though. To download and listen to music offline, you will need a Spotify Premium plan. Free users are only allowed downloaded podcasts on their devices, but they “will be able to stream their tunes in Shuffle Mode using a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.”
More reading: 15 tips to get more out of your Spotify Premium or free account
Thankfully, the update won’t just impact Wear OS 3 devices. Spotify confirmed that devices running Wear OS 2.0 would also benefit from the updated app and functionality. Fossil, Suunto, and Mobvoi watches will be among the first to see the update, too.
Once the update lands, users can find the music and podcasts they want to download from their watch. Downloaded files will wear a green arrow alongside their names. You’ll also need a pair of Bluetooth headphones or earbuds paired with your smartwatch.
Spotify didn’t confirm a specific date for the launch of the refreshed app but did note it will arrive in the “coming weeks.”