Spotify has officially disabled its Car Thing device, which makes it easier to control in-car music and playlists. Device owners can request a refund by contacting the company until January 14, 2025. Car Thing users encountered the following message on the device’s screen:
“Car Thing has been deprecated and no longer works. Thank you for being with us on this journey, safe travels. For more information, visit carthing.com. Contact customer service no later than January 14, 2025 to discuss your refund options.”
Spotify announced in May 2024 that the device would be disabled in December. The company stated that users should contact customer service with their purchase documents for the refund process.
Disabling Car Thing has resulted in the device becoming electronic waste for many users. Spotify advises users to reset the device to factory settings and dispose of it safely in accordance with local electronic waste guidelines.
On the other hand, some technology enthusiasts are exploring ways to use the Car Thing device for different purposes. Although the hardware of the device is not enough to run a full-fledged Android operating system, it is possible to repurpose it as a desktop controller with projects such as “Desk Thing”.
Spotify Car Thing was released in 2021
Car Thing was released in limited quantities in April 2021 and was made available to a wider audience in October 2021. However, its production was stopped in July 2022 due to low demand and supply chain issues. The fact that the life of the device was so short led to disappointment among users.