New Delhi: Spotify is turning up the music experience inside your car with its latest Android Auto update. The company has added its real-time group listening feature, Jam, to vehicles, making road trips and city drives a lot more collaborative. This is the first time Jam has been made available on an in-car display.
Earlier, users could only access Spotify Jam on phones or desktops. Now, with version 9.0.58.596 of the Spotify app, the feature is available directly from the Now Playing screen in Android Auto, according to reports. This update went live for Android users just a few days ago.
Spotify Jam in the car: how it works
Jam on Android Auto works just like it does on your phone, but with a new twist for passengers. When music is playing, the car’s display shows a QR code. Anyone in the car can scan it and join the session. Once they’re in, they can start adding songs to the shared queue.
The driver acts as the host and has full control. They can remove anyone from the Jam or skip tracks, keeping things in check without needing to pull out their phone.
There’s a catch, though. Only Spotify Premium users can host or start a Jam session. Free users can join and add songs, but they can’t kick things off. So if you’re driving and want full control, you’ll need to be on Premium.
Part of a bigger Android Auto upgrade
This is part of a larger Spotify redesign for Android Auto, which was announced at Google I/O 2025. The new update also brings two more helpful features:
- A “Downloads” section right on the main screen, making it easier to listen to saved tracks when you’re driving through patchy network zones.
- A floating Search button, letting users quickly find songs or playlists without digging through menus.
These changes seem aimed at making Spotify more useful and less distracting while driving. With offline music access now more visible, and easier search options, the app feels more thoughtful for everyday drivers.
What this means for users
The new Jam feature may not be for everyone, but it’s a neat way to keep everyone in the car involved during a drive. Whether you’re heading out with friends or family, you don’t have to fight over the AUX cable anymore. Everyone can pitch in, at least until the host says otherwise.
As Spotify continues to evolve its car experience, this update shows how the company is slowly bringing more social and interactive features to the in-car setup. The Android Auto update comes just weeks after Google confirmed more in-car experiences are on the way, especially for vehicles with built-in Google services.
Version 9.0.58.596 is now available on Android. If you’re using Android Auto, make sure your Spotify app is up to date. This could be one of those updates that actually makes car rides a bit more fun, or chaotic, depending on your friend group’s music taste.