Key Points:
- Widespread Bug: Google Pixel 6, 7, and 8 series users are experiencing crashes while using Spotify.
- Playing the Blame Game: Unclear culprit – Spotify app update or software conflict?
- Temporary Fixes: Clearing Spotify cache or disabling notifications might offer a reprieve.
A perplexing issue has surfaced for some Google Pixel owners, causing their phones to crash while using the popular music streaming service, Spotify. This unexpected behavior manifests as a continuous loop where the system crashes upon attempting to play a song. Notably, the phones don’t shut down entirely, but rather display an error message stating “system UI is not responding,” sometimes reverting to the lock screen. Fortunately, a manual reboot (holding the power button) breaks this crash cycle.
While the exact cause remains under investigation, reports suggest the problem affects Pixel devices from the 6th, 7th, and 8th generations. It’s unclear at this point which software versions are susceptible. Testing with the latest Android 14 update and Spotify version 8.9 on a Pixel 8 Pro yielded no replication of the issue.
Some users have found temporary relief by clearing Spotify’s app data and cache. This points towards the Spotify app as a potential culprit. Spotify acknowledges user reports on its forums and is actively seeking a solution. Interestingly, Android Authority highlights a recent Spotify app update rolled out on July 2nd as a possible cause, although user reports surfaced as early as July 1st, making the exact cause difficult to pinpoint. Past occurrences of similar, albeit less widespread, issues have also been noted.
A permanent fix is likely on the horizon, but in the meantime, several workarounds offer some respite. Uninstalling Spotify and sideloading an older version or a beta might bring some relief for some users. Additionally, disabling Spotify notifications has also been reported to provide a temporary solution, the reason for which remains unclear.
With both Google and Spotify investigating the issue, a resolution shouldn’t be far off. Until then, the aforementioned workarounds offer some reprieve for affected Pixel users.
Pixel 7 crashes when I play a song on Spotify.
byu/gruffedwards inGooglePixel
