I’m working on an Android app using Kotlin that combines features from Spotify and Instagram. I’ve added the Spotify SDK and created an in-app player that syncs with Spotify’s playback.
The app works fine when it’s running, playing songs from my custom playlist on repeat. I’ve set up buttons for play, pause, next, and previous that work with my playlist.
But there’s a problem when the app is closed. The music keeps playing through Spotify, but it doesn’t follow my custom playlist anymore. I can’t control what plays next or previous using Spotify’s media controls.
Is there a way to:
Handle Spotify’s media control callbacks in my app?
Or send my custom playlist to Spotify so it plays my songs even when my app is closed?
I’ve looked through the SDK docs but couldn’t find a clear solution. Any ideas on how to keep my playlist going, even when the app isn’t running? Thanks for any help!
hey, i’ve dealt with this before. try using a foreground service with a persistent notification. it’ll keep ur app alive in the background. use MediaSession to handle media controls. u might need to mess with the Spotify API to create a playlist on their end too. it’s a bit of work but should do the trick. good luck!
I’ve faced a similar challenge when developing a music-related app. From my experience, handling Spotify’s media control callbacks in your app when it’s not in the foreground can be tricky. The Spotify SDK doesn’t provide direct support for this.
However, I found a workaround that might help. Instead of relying solely on the SDK, you could create a foreground service in your app. This service can stay alive even when the app is closed, allowing you to continue managing playback and responding to media controls.
In the service, you can implement a MediaSession and use it to handle media button events. This way, when a user presses next or previous on their device or headphones, your service can intercept these actions and control Spotify accordingly.
As for sending your custom playlist to Spotify, you might want to look into Spotify’s Web API. You could potentially create a playlist on the user’s account and set it as the current context before closing your app. This approach requires some extra setup but could provide a seamless experience for your users.
Remember to handle battery optimization settings, as they might interfere with your service running in the background. It’s a complex solution, but it should give you the control you’re looking for.
I’ve tackled this issue in one of my projects. Here’s what worked for me:
Instead of relying solely on the Spotify SDK, I implemented a foreground service with a sticky notification. This keeps your app alive in the background and allows you to maintain control over playback.
For handling media controls, I used a MediaSession component. It intercepts media button events even when your app isn’t in the foreground. You’ll need to register a MediaSessionCompat.Callback to handle these events.
To maintain your custom playlist, I found it effective to use Spotify’s Web API to create a playlist on the user’s account before the app closes. This way, your playlist continues playing through Spotify even when your app isn’t running.
One caveat: make sure to handle battery optimization settings, as they can interfere with background services. Also, be mindful of battery drain and data usage when implementing these features.
It’s a bit complex, but once set up, it provides a seamless experience for users. Let me know if you need more details on implementation!
Having worked on similar projects, I can suggest an alternative approach. Consider implementing a background service that maintains a connection with Spotify’s API even when your app is closed. This service can monitor playback state and intervene when necessary to keep your custom playlist intact.
You’ll need to use Android’s WorkManager or JobScheduler to set up periodic tasks that check the current playback and adjust if needed. This method consumes less battery than a constant foreground service.
For media controls, register a BroadcastReceiver to capture media button events system-wide. This receiver can then communicate with your background service to handle next/previous actions according to your playlist logic.
Lastly, explore Spotify’s Connect Web API. It allows for playback control without the full SDK, which might be more suitable for background operations. Remember to thoroughly test for various scenarios and optimize for battery usage.