Disconnecting Spotify from your Tesla is a straightforward process, but it's important to understand the different ways Spotify can be linked to your car. Whether you're selling your car, want to use a different account, or are simply troubleshooting, these steps will guide you through the process. Let's get started!
Step 1: Identify Your Spotify Connection Type
Before you can disconnect, it's crucial to know how Spotify is currently linked to your Tesla. There are generally two main ways:
How To Disconnect Spotify From Tesla |
Sub-heading: Via the Built-in Tesla Spotify App
Many Teslas come with a pre-installed Spotify app that uses a Tesla-provided account, or you may have logged in with your own Premium Spotify account. This is the most common scenario for integrated music streaming.
Sub-heading: Via Bluetooth Connection from Your Phone
If you're simply streaming Spotify from your phone to your Tesla via Bluetooth, then disconnecting Spotify is as simple as disconnecting your phone from the car's Bluetooth or logging out of the Spotify app on your phone.
Step 2: Disconnecting Spotify from the Tesla Infotainment System
This step focuses on logging out or removing your Spotify account directly from the Tesla's touchscreen.
QuickTip: Repetition reinforces learning.
Sub-heading: Navigating to the Spotify App
Tap the "Music" icon: On your Tesla's touchscreen, locate and tap the music or media icon, usually found at the bottom of the screen.
Select Spotify: From the media sources, choose the Spotify icon. If it's not immediately visible, you might need to expand the media player or check the list of available sources.
Sub-heading: Logging Out of Your Account
Access Account Settings: Once in the Spotify app on your Tesla, look for an Account tab or a settings/profile icon (often in the top corner). Tap on it.
Find the Log Out Option: Within the account settings, you should see an option to log out or remove account access. Tap this to sign out of your Spotify profile.
Note: If your Tesla came with a pre-bundled Spotify account, Tesla has been transitioning these accounts. You might have been prompted to link an email address to keep the account. If you didn't do this, the account may revert to a free plan or become inaccessible in the future. Logging out of this type of account will essentially disconnect it from your car.
Sub-heading: Removing Spotify from Media Sources (Optional)
If you wish to completely hide the Spotify app from your media sources list, you can do so:
Go to Audio Settings: From the Media Player, tap the settings icon (often a gear or levels icon) to access audio settings.
Manage Sources: Look for a Sources tab. Here, you'll see a list of all available media sources.
Uncheck Spotify: Uncheck the box next to Spotify to hide it from your media player and app tray. You can always re-enable it later from the same menu.
Step 3: Removing Tesla's Access from Your Spotify Account (For Added Security)
While logging out from the car is usually sufficient, for maximum security or if you're selling your Tesla, it's a good practice to revoke access from your Spotify account settings on another device.
Sub-heading: Using Your Spotify Account Page
Log in to Spotify: On a computer or your phone, go to the Spotify website and log in to your account page.
Navigate to Apps: Look for a section related to Apps or Connected Apps. This might be under "Security and privacy" or "Account Overview."
Revoke Tesla Media Player Access: Find "Tesla Media Player" or a similar entry in the list of authorized apps and select the option to Remove Access or Revoke Access. This ensures your Spotify account is no longer linked to that specific Tesla.
QuickTip: Read with curiosity — ask ‘why’ often.
Sub-heading: "Sign out everywhere"
For a quick and comprehensive logout from all devices, Spotify offers a "Sign out everywhere" option on your account page under "Security and privacy." Be aware this will log you out of all active Spotify sessions (phone, computer, smart speakers, etc.), so you'll need to log back in on your preferred devices.
Step 4: Confirming Disconnection
After following the steps above, you can confirm the disconnection:
Check Your Tesla: Go back to your Tesla's infotainment screen and navigate to the Spotify app. It should prompt you to log in if the disconnection was successful.
Check Spotify on Other Devices: Ensure Spotify is still working as expected on your other devices (phone, computer). If you used "Sign out everywhere," you'll need to log back in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to: Reconnect Spotify to my Tesla after disconnecting?
To reconnect, simply open the Spotify app on your Tesla's touchscreen and follow the prompts to log in with your Spotify credentials.
How to: Use a different Spotify account in my Tesla?
Log out of the current Spotify account in your Tesla (as described in Step 2) and then log in with the new account's credentials.
QuickTip: Reread tricky spots right away.
How to: Fix Spotify not playing music in my Tesla?
First, ensure you have a stable internet connection in your Tesla (Premium Connectivity or Wi-Fi). Then, check if your Spotify Premium subscription is active. You can also try logging out and logging back into Spotify, or rebooting the Tesla's media control unit (hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel until the screen goes black).
How to: Check if my Tesla has Premium Connectivity?
You can check your Premium Connectivity status through your Tesla app under "Upgrades" or on your vehicle's touchscreen in the "Software" section.
How to: Update the Spotify app in my Tesla?
Spotify app updates on Tesla are typically tied to overall Tesla software updates. Check for new software updates in your Tesla's "Software" menu on the touchscreen.
How to: Stop Spotify from automatically playing in my Tesla?
There isn't a direct "auto-play off" setting for Spotify in Tesla. However, you can switch to another media source (like radio or Bluetooth) or simply pause the music before exiting the vehicle.
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
How to: Clear Spotify cache on my Tesla?
Tesla's infotainment system generally manages its own cache. A soft reset of the touchscreen (holding both scroll wheels) can sometimes help clear temporary data and resolve minor glitches.
How to: Use Spotify Free on Tesla?
As of Tesla software update 2024.38, Tesla users in North America can use Spotify with a Free account, though it will include ads and have limitations on skips and playback order. Previous Tesla-provided Premium accounts may also revert to Free if not linked to an email.
How to: Transfer my Tesla Spotify playlists to a new account?
To transfer playlists, you'd typically need to use Spotify's built-in "Export Playlists" feature (often found in third-party tools or Spotify API interactions) or manually recreate them on your new account. Some community solutions also exist for migrating data if you linked an email to a Tesla-provided account.
How to: Troubleshoot Spotify login issues in my Tesla?
Ensure your Tesla has a strong internet connection. If using Facebook login for Spotify, try converting your Spotify account to use an email and password directly. Rebooting your Tesla's infotainment system can also resolve temporary glitches.
For a visual guide on managing music apps in your Tesla, check out this video:
This page may contain affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
💡 Breath fresh Air with this Air Purifier with washable filter.