Spotify Halts Support for In-app Subscriptions on iOS

Spotify Halts Support for In-app Subscriptions on iOS

  • 06 Jul 2023
  • Brett Takken

In a significant recent decision, Spotify has officially announced that it will cease to support in-app subscriptions for its iOS application. This impactful change will not only affect new subscribers but also extend to those who already have an active Spotify subscription. This development is viewed by many as a significant shift in Spotify's subscription payment policy.

A few years ago, the music streaming giant had already disabled the option for new users to subscribe through in-app purchases on its iOS app. However, that decision did not impact those who were already active subscribers at that time and had opted for in-app purchases. Thus, the current move represents a considerable expansion of their earlier stance.

As per reports from Variety, users who continued to subscribe to Spotify through in-app purchases on iOS are receiving an email notification regarding this change. The message makes clear that Apple’s billing system will no longer serve as a valid payment method for the streaming service. As such, existing protocols linking Apple users and their subscriptions via in-app purchases are about to experience significant changes.

Consequently, users desiring to retain their Spotify Premium subscription will be required to undertake fresh actions. They will now have to re-subscribe via the official website of Spotify itself instead of going through the formerly convenient route of in-app purchasing within the iOS platform. This modification might prove inconvenient for some, while others might see it as a necessary adjustment reflective of evolving market dynamics.

In conclusion, while this move may take some getting used to for longtime users accustomed to managing their subscriptions via Apple's ecosystem, it aligns with Spotify's prior deviations from Apple-dependent transaction methods. With these changes taking effect soon, customers are advised to be conscious of this shift and alter their payment preferences accordingly when managing their premium music experience on Spotify.