Spotify’s Android Auto app gets a smarter makeover with offline mode and jam support

Spotify

Spotify is rolling out a fresh update for Android Auto users, giving its in-car experience a meaningful upgrade with better offline access, smarter controls, and a collaborative feature that could be a game-changer for road trips.

Announced at Google I/O 2025, the update taps into Android Auto’s new flexibility for media apps. Now live as part of version 9.0.58.596, the redesigned Spotify interface brings a cleaner layout, a dedicated Search button, and — perhaps most notably — support for Spotify Jam on the car display.

Jam, which lets multiple users queue songs in real time, now comes to the driver’s dashboard. When activated from the Now Playing screen, it shows a QR code that passengers can scan to join in. The driver remains the host and can boot unruly guest DJs with a tap — a small but thoughtful control that prevents your playlist from turning into chaos halfway through a highway cruise.

Also new is a more visible Downloaded section in your Library — a practical upgrade for those heading into patchy signal zones. Downloaded tracks are now marked clearly while browsing playlists or albums, taking some guesswork out of offline listening.

Search also gets a long-overdue improvement. Instead of relying solely on voice commands via Google Assistant, users can now type or tap through a dedicated search interface. It is finally giving users back some control over what plays next.

With Android Auto’s upgraded media toolkit now in place, expect rivals like Amazon Music and YouTube Music to follow suit in the coming months.