Spotify Car Thing: What Happened and What Now
Spotify's Car Thing stopped working on December 9, 2024. What it was, the timeline, the closed refund window, DeskThing, and how to play Spotify in your car.
Car Thing was Spotify's only gadget: a small screen with a dial that played Spotify in your car. It went on sale in the US for $89.99 in February 2022, and it stopped working on December 9, 2024. After that date, the device showed a message that it was "discontinued and no longer operational." Today it's only usable if you load community software on it, and Spotify points drivers to Bluetooth, CarPlay and Android Auto.
We read Spotify's two newsroom posts on Car Thing and two dated reports on its shutdown on October 24, 2026. Spotify's old Car Thing help pages now answer "page not found."
"Spotify car thing" still gets about 18,100 searches a month.
What was Spotify Car Thing?
A smart player that mounted in your car and ran Spotify through your car's speakers. You controlled it with "Hey Spotify" voice commands, "simple taps, turns, and swipes," and preset buttons.
Spotify explained why it built one in 2021. People had made "over 70 million user-generated driving-related playlists on Spotify," it said, and many cars didn't play them well.
How did Car Thing end?
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 13, 2021 | Limited release to eligible US users |
| October 2021 | Wider limited release to Premium users |
| February 22, 2022 | On sale in the US for $89.99 |
| About July 2022 | Spotify ended production, five months after launch, RouteNote reported |
| May 2024 | Spotify announced Car Thing would stop working |
| December 9, 2024 | Car Thing stopped working |
| January 14, 2025 | Last day to contact Spotify about a refund, per the device's message |
Spotify Newsroom (April 13, 2021 and February 22, 2022), Android Authority (May 30, 2024) and RouteNote (December 11, 2024), read October 24, 2026.
The shutdown news didn't go down well. Spotify had said earlier it would keep supporting the devices, and a class action followed. Android Authority reported that Spotify then started "a refund process for Car Thing, provided users have proof of purchase." Some owners were offered months of Premium.
RouteNote reported that Spotify took a $31.4 million loss on the device.
Can you still get a Car Thing refund?
Probably not. The message on each device told owners to "contact customer service by no later than January 14th, 2025 to discuss your refund options." That's in the past now. If you never asked and you still have your receipt, Spotify's customer support is the only place to try.
What can you do with an old Car Thing?
Spotify's advice was to reset it to factory settings and recycle it "following local electronic waste guidelines," RouteNote reported.
Some owners give it a second life. RouteNote describes DeskThing, "an open source project" that turns the device into a desktop companion. It isn't a Spotify product, so you're on your own if something breaks. "Deskthing" gets about 1,000 searches a month, and that number's growing.
What's the best Car Thing alternative?
Spotify's Car Thing site listed the official options, RouteNote noted:
- Bluetooth from your phone to the car stereo
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
- Your car's own infotainment system, if it has a Spotify app
Many newer speakers and players also work with Spotify Connect, which lets your phone control playback on another device. Planning a long drive without signal? You'll be able to download playlists on Premium before you leave. Our guides to the Spotify web player and Spotify lossless cover more ways to listen.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Spotify Car Thing?
Spotify ended it. Car Thing stopped working on December 9, 2024, less than three years after it went on sale.
Does Car Thing still work?
Not with Spotify. Since December 9, 2024, it shows that it's discontinued. Some owners run the open source DeskThing on it.
Can I still get a Car Thing refund?
The device told owners to contact Spotify by January 14, 2025. That window has closed, so it's too late now.
What can I do with my old Car Thing?
Reset it and recycle it as electronic waste, or try DeskThing, a community project, at your own risk.
What's the best Car Thing alternative?
Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or your car's built-in system, which Spotify itself pointed owners to.
How much did Car Thing cost?
$89.99 in the US when it went on sale on February 22, 2022.
Hclout sells Spotify plays, followers and monthly listeners on its Spotify page, so weigh our advice the way you'd weigh any seller's.
Sources
- Spotify Newsroom, "Car Thing, a Smart Player for Your Car" (April 13, 2021) and "Car Thing From Spotify Is Now Officially Available in the U.S." (February 22, 2022), read October 24, 2026
- Android Authority, "Spotify will refund Car Thing owners" (May 30, 2024), read October 24, 2026
- RouteNote, "Car Thing: Your last chance to claim a refund" (December 11, 2024), read October 24, 2026
- A web search for coverage of Car Thing's discontinuation, October 24, 2026
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 24, 2026
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