Spotify Gives Users Full Control Over Video Content

New universal toggles allow Spotify listeners to suppress all video features across platforms and family plans.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:26am

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A visually striking 3D illustration depicting the Spotify music app interface, with glowing, illuminated audio components and visualizers, conveying the platform's embrace of user control over video content.Spotify's new video toggles empower users to customize their listening experience, signaling a shift towards modular design that respects diverse preferences.Today in Miami

Spotify has rolled out a new feature that gives users the ability to turn off all video content on the platform, including music videos, video podcasts, vertical clips, and artist messages. This update is seen as a surprising move by the company, as it acknowledges that not everyone wants a TikTok-like experience while listening to music. The new toggles allow users to customize their listening experience and apply the settings across all platforms, including mobile, desktop, and web.

Why it matters

The move reflects a larger trend in tech where advanced personalization is less about adding more features and more about providing the right features for the right moment. By giving users the ability to control their listening environment, Spotify is recognizing that different contexts demand different experiences, and that user preferences should steer product design.

The details

The new video toggles are located under the Settings > Content and display menu, and they apply platform-wide. This means users won't have to repeat the same preference on mobile, desktop, and web. For family plans, the manager can enforce these choices for everyone, creating a consistent viewing-audio environment across the household. The intent is to provide clarity and reassurance for users who dislike video, while still keeping the door open for those who want more multimedia in the app.

  • Spotify first introduced Canvas video loops on the Now Playing screen in 2018.
  • Video podcasts were added to the platform in 2020.
  • Music videos arrived on Spotify in 2024.
  • Artist clips that pepper creator-to-fan promos have also been a recent addition.

The players

Spotify

A popular music streaming platform that has been expanding its multimedia offerings in recent years.

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What they’re saying

“Personally, I think the move is less about user interface polish and more about respecting a spectrum of listening experiences. Not everyone wants a TikTok-ified sonic background while they study, code, or drive.”

— Otha Schamberger, Tech writer

What’s next

The new video toggles are expected to have a significant impact on how creators design and optimize their content for the platform. Shorter, more compelling clips that can work with or without video may become more prevalent, as creators adapt to the new user preferences.

The takeaway

Spotify's move to give users full control over video content is a significant shift in the platform's philosophy, reflecting a broader trend in tech towards user autonomy and modular design. By empowering listeners to curate their own listening environments, Spotify is acknowledging that different moments demand different experiences, and that user preferences should steer product development.