Your music is playing on the PC, the speakers are on the desk, and you're on the sofa. There are two good ways to control it from your phone, and they are good at different things. This guide covers both, then shows how to build a small Spotify page on a SofaDeck deck, with a section for Mac users.
Option 1: Spotify Connect (Spotify's own app)
If the Spotify app is on your phone and signed in to the same account as the desktop app, open it and pick your computer from the devices list. You can browse, search, queue songs and change the volume inside Spotify from the phone. It's the best choice when you want to pick what plays next.
What it doesn't do: control anything outside Spotify. It can't change the PC's system volume, pause a YouTube video in the browser, or open the app if it isn't running.
Option 2: a phone remote using the media keys
SofaDeck sends the same media keys a keyboard has (play/pause, next, previous) plus system volume and mute. Spotify's desktop app responds to those keys, and so does whatever else is playing. That makes it the better choice for "pause everything", for the room's overall volume, and when the Spotify desktop app isn't open yet. It doesn't show what's playing or let you browse your library.
| Spotify Connect | SofaDeck | |
|---|---|---|
| Browse, search, queue | Yes | No |
| Play/pause, next, previous | Yes | Yes, via media keys |
| PC system volume and mute | No (Spotify's volume only) | Yes |
| Open Spotify on the PC | No | Yes |
| Controls other players too | No | Yes (browser video, VLC and others) |
| Voice | Depends on your phone's assistant | Built in: "pause", "next track", "volume 30" |
Build a Spotify page in SofaDeck
After pairing your phone, make these buttons (all of them work in the free version):
- Open Spotify: import it from the Start Menu list (or your Applications folder on a Mac) and it gets its icon.
- Play/Pause, Next and Previous: media-key buttons.
- Volume up, Volume down and Mute: system volume buttons.
- Your playlists: a website button with a Spotify link opens it straight in the desktop app. In Spotify, use Share → Copy link on a playlist or album; a
spotify:link or anopen.spotify.comlink both work (the web link opens in your browser unless your system sends it to the app).
That's nine buttons, which leaves room on the free 12-button page. With Pro you can give each playlist button a custom voice phrase, such as "dinner music", and make a macro that opens Spotify, waits a moment and presses play.
Voice commands that work with Spotify
- "open Spotify"
- "play", "pause", "next track", "previous track"
- "volume 30", "turn it up by 20", "mute"
- the label of any button, such as "Road trip" for a playlist button
The full list is on the voice commands page.
On a Mac
SofaDeck for Mac controls Spotify the same way. Volume and mute work straight away; play/pause, next and previous are sent as media keys, which need SofaDeck allowed under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. Import Spotify from your Applications folder, and allow Local Network when macOS asks so the phone can reach the Mac.
If a button doesn't reach Spotify
- Start a song in Spotify once so the system treats it as the active player, then try the media buttons again.
- Close other players or paused browser tabs that may be grabbing the media keys.
- Check the phone and PC are on the same Wi-Fi network.
For more living-room setups, see the best HTPC remote and how to control your PC from your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control Spotify on my PC from my phone?
Yes, two ways. Spotify's own app can control the desktop app through Spotify Connect when both are signed in to the same account. A phone remote such as SofaDeck controls whatever is playing on the PC through the media keys, and can also open Spotify, set the system volume and open specific playlists.
Why doesn't Spotify respond to play/pause from my phone remote?
Media keys go to the app Windows or macOS treats as the current media player. If a browser tab or another player was used more recently, it may take the key instead. Start playback in Spotify once, then try again. On a Mac, media keys also need SofaDeck to have the Accessibility permission.
Can I say a song name to play it?
Not directly: SofaDeck doesn't search Spotify's catalogue. You can open Spotify, type words into its focused search box with "type …", or make a button (and custom voice phrase, with Pro) that opens a specific playlist or album link.