What do Spotify users desire most from their favorite music streaming platform? Enhanced controls and features! Spotify has been listening to its community and has added a range of new Spotify controls that empower music lovers to tailor their listening experience like never before.
1. Revamped Spotify Queue
Spotify has reimagined its queue functionality, providing users with a more intuitive way to view upcoming tracks. You can access these new controls by selecting the Queue icon, represented by three lines at the bottom right of any song screen.
With a simple tap on Shuffle, you can randomize the songs left in your queue or disable it entirely. The Repeat option allows you to loop through your playlist or replay a single track. Additionally, there’s a handy Timer feature for a more restful listening experience, eliminating the need to navigate through the three-dot menu to set one up manually.
Note: If you encounter issues where your shuffle or repeat settings appear grayed out, a quick app restart will typically resolve this. Keep an eye out for the Smart Shuffle button, which is being gradually rolled out to users. In the meantime, to activate Smart Shuffle, just double-tap the Shuffle button. Keep in mind that this feature is available exclusively for your personal playlists.
If Smart Shuffle isn’t your cup of tea, or if you’d rather not have Spotify suggest additional tracks after your playlist ends, go to your profile icon and navigate to Settings and Privacy -> Playback. From there, you can easily disable Autoplay and Include Smart Shuffle in play modes.
2. Transform Your Liked Songs into Playlists
If you prefer liking songs rather than curating various playlists, your Liked Songs list might feel cluttered and cumbersome when searching for the right tunes. Instead of manually crafting playlists, let Spotify automate the process for you!
This is one of my favorite new features! Simply tap on Your Library located at the bottom, then select Liked Songs. Choose a genre just below the play button, review the resulting tracks, and hit Make this a playlist. This method makes it incredibly easy to create customized playlists that resonate with your tastes.
3. Instantly Create Playlists from the Home Screen
Spotify has simplified the playlist creation process with a new Create button positioned at the bottom of the main screen. There’s no need to dive into Your Library or browse through songs to kick off a new playlist anymore.
Just select Create and choose your desired format right away!
Here’s what you can create:
- Playlist – Craft a standard playlist featuring your favorite songs or podcasts.
- Collaborative Playlist – Join forces with friends to build a shared playlist.
- Blend – Merge musical tastes with family and friends.
- AI Playlist – Generate a playlist based on prompts (premium-only feature).
- Jam – Experience a shared listening session, regardless of your location.
Remember that features may vary for free versus premium users, such as AI playlists being exclusive to premium accounts.
4. Streamlined Playlist Management
Spotify has unveiled new controls for your personal playlists, enhancing management capabilities. Right above the song list, you’ll find three new options: Add, Sort, and Edit.
Want to add tracks? Tap Add to manually search for songs or explore Spotify’s suggested tracks. Unlike before, where suggestions were limited, you now have access to an endless stream of suggestions!
Additionally, swipe through to discover suggested podcast episodes, recently played tracks, and songs you’ve liked for even more inspiration.
The Sort feature lets you organize your playlist by title, artist, album, or recently added tracks. Personally, I prefer the Shuffle or Smart Shuffle options near the Play button.
Passionate about customizing your playlists? Tap Edit to modify the cover image, title, description, or even reorder and delete songs. With Spotify’s cover creator tools, you can personalize your playlists like never before! Create unique cover art, adjust text, background images, and colors, then just hit Save when satisfied.
5. Hide and Snooze Songs
Spotify’s Hide feature is more accessible than ever! Now, you can easily hide a song while listening simply by tapping the X in the player interface. Alternatively, you can still find the Hide option by selecting the three dots next to any song title to remove it from that specific playlist.
The Snooze feature, which is slowly being rolled out to Premium users, allows you to hide a song for 30 days across all playlists. Just opt for this feature when prompted after you hide a song. It’s a beneficial way to take a break from songs that keep reappearing in your playlists!
If some of these features aren’t visible on your app, it’s a good idea to check for updates. Since Spotify rolls out improvements in phases, be patient if you don’t see everything immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I access the new queue controls on Spotify?
To access the new queue controls, tap the Queue icon located at the bottom right of any song screen. This will reveal options for shuffling, repeating, and setting a timer for your music.
2. What is Smart Shuffle and how do I enable it?
Smart Shuffle is a feature that adds unique tracks to your playlist, enhancing your listening experience. To enable it, double-tap the Shuffle button while viewing playlists you have created. However, note that it may not be available to all users just yet.
3. How do I turn off the Autoplay feature?
To deactivate the Autoplay feature, navigate to your profile icon, then go to Settings and Privacy -> Playback. From there, simply toggle off the Autoplay setting.
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