You can't control YouTube Music playback from Google Maps anymore
What's the story
Google Maps is missing the media playback controls for YouTube Music and Spotify on Android devices. The change was first spotted in the latest stable (25.28) and beta (25.29) versions of the app. The feature, which allowed users to control music directly from Google Maps while navigating, was particularly useful after the removal of Assistant Driving Mode earlier this year.
Feature details
How the facility worked
The media playback controls were designed to work with apps like YouTube Music and Spotify. When a user was navigating, the feature would expand the bottom sheet with a bar showing the album art, song name, and artist on the left side. On the right side, there were playback controls and an option to browse nine suggestions for quick switching between tracks. There was also a shortcut to open YouTube Music directly from Google Maps.
Removal
What's happened to the feature?
The media playback controls have been missing for the past week or so, as per reports from users. The settings to enable these controls and set a default media app in Google Maps have also disappeared. This has left many users wondering if it's a bug or an intentional removal by Google. Notably, the feature is still available on iOS devices, adding to the confusion over its absence on Android.