Device: Galaxy Watch 6 (44 mm)
Software Version: One UI 6.0
Paired Device: Samsung Galaxy A23
Issue Start Date: more then a year ago
Apps Involved: Spotify (uninstalled), Media Controller
Connection Method: Bluetooth
Description of Issue:
After updating to One UI 6.0, my Galaxy Watch began showing a persistent media playback notification at the bottom of the screen, falsely indicating that a Spotify podcast episode is playing — even though Spotify is no longer installed on the watch and no media is playing on the phone.
The media controller auto-launches and displays the last known Spotify session, and tapping it shows playback controls that do nothing. The phone shows no active media, no notification, and no app running. The watch insists playback is happening “on phone,” but there’s no way to stop or clear it.
Steps Taken (None Resolved the Issue):
1. Uninstalled Spotify from the watch and phone
2. Cleared Spotify cache and data on the phone
3. Rebooted both watch and phone multiple times
4. Removed and re-added the Media Controller widget
5. Played and stopped media from other apps (YouTube Music, Samsung Music)
6. Unpaired and re-paired the watch via Bluetooth
7. Cleared Bluetooth cache on the phone
8. Factory reset the watch — issue returned immediately after pairing
9. Tried switching media output via Quick Settings panel
10. Checked for “Media Audio” toggle in Bluetooth settings — not available
11. Tried Developer Mode — no access to running services
Expected Behavior:
The media controller should only activate when actual media is playing. It should not auto-launch with stale Spotify data, especially after the app has been removed and the watch reset.
Impact:
This bug is persistent and disruptive. I want to keep the media controller active for real playback, but the false Spotify session makes it unusable. It’s frustrating that even a factory reset doesn’t resolve it.
Request:
Please investigate and provide a fix or firmware update to clear cached media sessions and prevent auto-launch of phantom playback. A toggle to reset or disable stale sessions without disabling the entire media controller would be ideal.
