Spotify Now Lets Everyone Turn Off All Videos in Its App

Spotify is finally giving users a much-anticipated feature: the option to turn off all videos in the app and enjoy a fully audio-only experience. If you’re fed up with autoplaying music videos, TikTok-style clips, or video podcasts interrupting your listening, you can now disable them all with a single setting.

What Changed

Over the last few years, Spotify has been adding more video content to its platform. Music videos autoplay for certain tracks, video podcasts feature hosts on camera, and the app even tested a TikTok-style vertical video feed called Discover. For those who just want to listen to music, this can feel overwhelming.

The new controls, now accessible to everyone, allow you to choose between an “audio-first” experience and a “video-enhanced” one. By toggling to audio-first, every video in the app disappears. Music plays without any accompanying visuals, podcasts revert to audio only, and the feed stops displaying video content altogether.

Previously, these options were only available to a limited number of users for testing. Now, everyone can use the full video-off toggle across the platform.

How To Turn It Off

You can find this setting in the app’s preferences. On mobile, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, and look for the video playback option. The exact wording might differ a little between iOS and Android, but the toggle should be easy to locate once you’re in the right section.

Think of it like disabling autoplay on Netflix—just one switch, and the app stops showing visual content that you didn’t ask for.

Why Spotify Added So Much Video in the First Place

Spotify’s move into video responds to its competition. YouTube leads the market for music video consumption, and platforms like TikTok have conditioned listeners to expect visuals with their audio. Spotify wants to be a comprehensive entertainment hub, not just a music player.

The company has secured deals for video podcasts and encouraged creators to film their sessions. For creators, video content boosts engagement. For Spotify, it means users spend more time in the app, which is attractive to advertisers and helps support subscription prices.

However, not all users signed up for this shift. Many people listen to Spotify with their phone in their pocket, through car speakers, or while working—where video isn’t necessary and can slow down the app or drain battery life.

Community Reaction

“Finally. I don’t want YouTube, I want Spotify. Just play the song.”

“This should have been default from the start. Video in a music app is a solution to a problem nobody had.”

What This Means For You

If you’ve noticed Spotify feeling sluggish or cluttered lately, this toggle is worth checking out. Turning off video can lead to faster load times on slower connections, less battery drain on mobile, and a more streamlined interface that resembles the app you first downloaded.

This is especially important for podcast listeners. Video podcasts are common on Spotify, and if you listen while commuting or exercising, a video playing in the background is just wasted data. Audio-only mode solves that issue.

If you enjoy music videos and video podcasts, don’t worry—nothing changes for you. The default experience remains video-enhanced. This update simply offers an easy out for those who prefer audio.

Sources: TechCrunch | Engadget

What To Watch

• Creator response: Video podcast creators who built audiences on Spotify may push back if audio-only adoption impacts their view counts. Keep an eye on any changes to how Spotify reports metrics to creators.
• Default settings: Currently, video is enabled by default. If enough users turn it off, Spotify might reconsider which mode is standard.
• Competitor moves: Apple Music and Amazon Music have focused more on audio. If Spotify’s video toggle gains popularity, it could indicate that the industry’s video push has outpaced what listeners actually want.