Spotify Offline Listening on Apple Watch Now Available

Spotify and Apple Watch: A New Level of Integration

The dynamic between Spotify and Apple has frequently been marked by understandable friction. This is largely due to Apple's operation of a direct competitor in the streaming music market.

Despite this competition, both the Apple Watch and Spotify currently dominate their respective market segments with significant leads.

Ultimately, a collaborative approach serves the best interests of the substantial user base that overlaps between the two platforms.

Offline Listening Now Available

Spotify has announced the long-awaited addition of a highly requested feature for its smartwatch application.

Beginning today, Spotify Premium subscribers are able to download music and podcasts directly to their Apple Watch for offline playback.

This functionality allows users the freedom to enjoy their favorite audio content without needing to carry their smartphone, such as during a run or workout.

How the Download Feature Works

The download process mirrors familiar methods for downloading and sharing content within the Spotify ecosystem.

Users simply select the three-dot menu adjacent to an album, playlist, or podcast and choose the "Download to Apple Watch" option.

A visual indicator, in the form of green arrows, will then appear next to the title to confirm the download is complete.

Once downloaded, audio can be streamed directly to paired headphones via the watch itself.

Competition and Wider Availability

Samsung has previously implemented similar functionality on its Galaxy Watch series, offering users offline listening capabilities.

Furthermore, the feature is also slated for release on Google Wear OS watches, as revealed during the recent I/O conference.

Apple Music has long supported offline listening on the Apple Watch, and Pandora also provides this feature.

Notably, Deezer recently preceded Spotify in offering offline playback on wearable devices by a few days.