Spotify has introduced new controls that let users turn video content on or off across the platform. The change applies globally, including in Australia.
The update covers music videos, podcast videos and Canvas looping visuals, and is available to both paying users and those on the free tier. Family Plan managers can also manage video settings for all members on their plan.
Users can access the controls through subscription settings on mobile and choose whether video appears in the app. Once selected, the preference applies across mobile, desktop, web and TV.
That means listeners who want an audio-only experience can switch off visual elements across devices, while others can keep video features enabled. Video adverts will still appear, along with Canvas-style visuals on some audio adverts.
User control
The rollout expands an option that already existed for managed Family Plan accounts for users under 13, or the equivalent age threshold in each market. Under the broader change, Family Plan managers can now set video controls for any member account.
The setting is also being added across a wider range of account types. Premium and Basic users on Individual, Duo, Family and Student plans, along with free-tier users, will be able to control how video appears in the app.
Spotify presented the move as part of a broader effort to give listeners more choice in how they use the service, citing internal and third-party research to support that position.
According to a Burson survey of 8,400 respondents across 19 markets, 93% of Spotify users said they were excited about features that give them more control, while 92% said the platform brings them closer to the things they love. Spotify also cited Edison Research, which found that 86% of Gen Z listens to music or podcasts to help boost mood.
Video growth
The broader video controls arrive as audio platforms continue investing in video formats, particularly in podcasting. More than 70% of Spotify users report that video improves their experience, though the company acknowledged that not every listener wants the same set-up.
That reflects a wider shift in digital media, where services increasingly combine audio, video and short-form visuals in a single app. For some users, those additions deepen engagement; for others, they can make the experience feel less focused.
Spotify’s latest change gives users a clearer way to choose between those approaches. The aim, it said, is to let listeners tailor the service to how they want to spend time on the platform.
In describing the feature, Spotify said listeners can choose between an audio-first experience and one that includes video elements. The controls cover videos attached to music, podcasts and audiobooks, alongside looping visuals.
Family settings
The Family Plan element may be especially relevant for households seeking a more consistent listening set-up across users. Plan managers can now decide whether video is available to each member, rather than having each account configured separately.
For individual listeners, the controls work as a single account preference rather than a device-by-device setting. That reduces the need to repeat the same change on every screen.
The update comes as platforms face growing pressure to offer more granular controls over the user experience. In music and podcast apps, that can include recommendations, autoplay, filtering tools, and the balance between sound and visual presentation.
Spotify said: “Listeners can now choose exactly how they want to engage with the videos that amplify music, podcasts, and audiobooks on Spotify. Control changes everything. Time stops feeling wasted and starts feeling owned.”