Spotify Bricked My WiiM AMPs

T

techmattr

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Jan 15, 2024
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So in a recent Spotify Update they now don't allow you to use Spotify Connect if the device is capable of Google Cast. Even if Google Cast is disabled on the device. I have multiple WiiM AMPs around the house. None of them have ever had Google Cast enabled. However, in Spotify my ONLY option to stream to these devices is with Google Cast even though its disabled and always has been. Effectively bricking the devices as they are now just paper weights for my use case.

Has anyone found a way to force Spotify Connect instead of Google Cast? I'm baffled as to why Spotify would force Google's protocol over its own.
 
techmattr said:
So in a recent Spotify Update they now don't allow you to use Spotify Connect if the device is capable of Google Cast. Even if Google Cast is disabled on the device. I have multiple WiiM AMPs around the house. None of them have ever had Google Cast enabled. However, in Spotify my ONLY option to stream to these devices is with Google Cast even though its disabled and always has been. Effectively bricking the devices as they are now just paper weights for my use case.

Has anyone found a way to force Spotify Connect instead of Google Cast? I'm baffled as to why Spotify would force Google's protocol over its own.
Click to expand...
Yup, it is a mess currently, but not necessarily WiiM's fault and the issue is not with the device itself.

Me too, I just noticed that I can only see the cast option, even though I've explicitly disabled in the Ultra's options. All this is happening on my main phone - Pixel 6 with Android 16.

On my backup phone (OnePlus 7 Pro with Android 16 based LineageOS) everything seems to work as expected.
 
Yeah I know its a Spotify issue but the thread on Spotify's forum has gone nowhere for months. I didn't realize this issue was that old as I have just been impacted over the most recent update. Which doesn't give me hope for Spotify fixing it as it seems to be getting worse.
 
we only own the 'paper weight' .. all the software is part of a EULA and with all 'connected devices' updates can add or remove facilities and options you thought were part of the 'device' you purchased. Wait till they start switching off optional over the air extras on your car .. new world new shite 🤬
 
techmattr said:
So in a recent Spotify Update they now don't allow you to use Spotify Connect if the device is capable of Google Cast. Even if Google Cast is disabled on the device. I have multiple WiiM AMPs around the house. None of them have ever had Google Cast enabled. However, in Spotify my ONLY option to stream to these devices is with Google Cast even though its disabled and always has been. Effectively bricking the devices as they are now just paper weights for my use case.

Has anyone found a way to force Spotify Connect instead of Google Cast? I'm baffled as to why Spotify would force Google's protocol over its own.
Click to expand...
I can cast to my WiiM Amp using Connect if GoogleCast is disabled. I only have Spotify free if that makes a difference.
Screenshot_20260226-174244.png
 
From reading through several other threads across various forums it seems turning off Google Cast within the WiiM App was a workaround until the latest update. Which is why the issue only just now started occurring for me. None of my WiiM devices have ever had Google Cast enabled. Which again leads me to believe this is only getting worse from the Spotify side. Seems like they are going all in on destroying their own far superior protocol in favor of possibly the worst streaming protocol ever created.
 
techmattr said:
From reading through several other threads across various forums it seems turning off Google Cast within the WiiM App was a workaround until the latest update. Which is why the issue only just now started occurring for me. None of my WiiM devices have ever had Google Cast enabled. Which again leads me to believe this is only getting worse from the Spotify side. Seems like they are going all in on destroying their own far superior protocol in favor of possibly the worst streaming protocol ever created.
Click to expand...
Which Spotify version do you have? Mine is
9.1.24.1739
 
As far as I can see my Android Spotify (free) connects using the Spotify Connect protocol independent of having Google Cast enabled or not.

@techmattr How can you see it's using Google Cast?
 
You can see in my Spotify cast menu the WiiM Mini shows up as Spotify Connect because it is not compatible with Google Cast. My WiiM AMPs show up as Google Cast with no option to switch to Spotify Connect even though as you can see in the next screen shot Google Cast is disabled on my WiiM AMPs.

Spotify Cast Settings.jpgWiiM Cast Settings.jpg
 
techmattr said:
You can see in my Spotify cast menu the WiiM Mini shows up as Spotify Connect because it is not compatible with Google Cast. My WiiM AMPs show up as Google Cast with no option to switch to Spotify Connect even though as you can see in the next screen shot Google Cast is disabled on my WiiM AMPs.

View attachment 34456View attachment 34457
Click to expand...
I have GoogleCast enabled in the screen you show but not allowed in the screen that appears after GoogleCast is enabled. Maybe that is the difference.
Screenshot_20260226-190638.png
 
techmattr said:
@slartibartfast you are still stuck in the same boat as me though with not being able to use Spotify Connect?
Click to expand...
No. If I disable GoogleCast in the screenshot I posted in post #13 then I can use Spotify Connect as shown in post #6
S

Post in thread 'Spotify Bricked My WiiM AMPs'

techmattr said:
So in a recent Spotify Update they now don't allow you to use Spotify Connect if the device is capable of Google Cast. Even if Google Cast is disabled on the device. I have multiple WiiM AMPs around the house. None of them have ever had Google Cast enabled. However, in Spotify my ONLY option to stream to these devices is with Google Cast even though its disabled and always has been. Effectively bricking the devices as they are now just paper weights for my use case.

Has anyone found a way to force Spotify Connect instead of Google Cast? I'm baffled as to why Spotify would force...
Click to expand...
 
slartibartfast said:
No. If I disable GoogleCast in the screenshot I posted in post #13 then I can use Spotify Connect as shown in post #6
S

Post in thread 'Spotify Bricked My WiiM AMPs'

techmattr said:
So in a recent Spotify Update they now don't allow you to use Spotify Connect if the device is capable of Google Cast. Even if Google Cast is disabled on the device. I have multiple WiiM AMPs around the house. None of them have ever had Google Cast enabled. However, in Spotify my ONLY option to stream to these devices is with Google Cast even though its disabled and always has been. Effectively bricking the devices as they are now just paper weights for my use case.

Has anyone found a way to force Spotify Connect instead of Google Cast? I'm baffled as to why Spotify would force...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Ahh OK. I guess that's worth a shot. My only concern with that is in the Spotify forums people had mentioned that they had Google Cast Enabled on their AMP and they had to do a factory reset just to get it disabled again. I guess a factory reset isn't really much of a hassle but still.
 
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