Pixel's new now playing app breaks third-party song tracking

Google's recent March feature update for Pixel phones has introduced a new Now Playing app, but the change has inadvertently crippled a popular feature for Android users: song scrobbling via third-party services.

Now playing app update disrupts music history tracking

The update, rolled out to eligible Pixel devices, consolidated the Now Playing functionality into a dedicated app. This seemingly simple shift has broken the ability for tools like Pano Scrobbler and MacroDroid to import recognized songs into platforms like Last.fm. These tools previously relied on monitoring the Now Playing notification to log played tracks.

The issue stems from Google apparently disabling a notification flag – NowPlaying__enable_notification_and_settings_redirect – within the app's code. Developer Kieron Quinn discovered this unused flag, suggesting Google could reinstate notification functionality in future updates. Until then, users are left without a seamless way to export their listening history.

While some users have reported limited success with alternative tools like Simplescrobbler, its reliability remains unverified. The situation highlights a recurring tension between platform consolidation and user customization – a sentiment often cited as a key reason for Android's enduring appeal over iOS.

The loss of this functionality may seem minor to some, but for dedicated music listeners who track their listening habits, it’s a significant inconvenience. Google's move underscores the complex ecosystem of features and integrations that define the Android experience.

The availability of workarounds, however unreliable, underscores why many users gravitate towards Android’s open nature. This isn’t a death knell for the feature, just a temporary setback.

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The fix could be days, weeks, or even months away. For now, users are left to navigate a frustrating situation – a stark reminder that even seemingly minor updates can have cascading effects on user experience.