If you’ve ever wanted your streaming app to behave like, well, a music app, Spotify just handed you a neat little lever.
Spotify announced a new set of video controls that let listeners turn off most on‑platform videos and keep the experience audio‑first. The company says the update begins rolling out globally this month and will apply across mobile, desktop, web and TV once you set it.
What you can toggle
Open Settings > Content and display and you’ll find three switches: Canvas (the short looping visuals), Music videos (the full music video playback), and “All other videos” (vertical creator clips and video podcasts). Flip them off and many clips will fall back to audio-only playback; music videos and even live performance streams will play without the picture. The toggles sync across devices tied to your account, and if you manage a Family Plan you can change video settings for other members from your subscription settings.
Spotify notes some limitations: video ads and Canvas‑style motion in certain audio ads will still appear. For the company’s full explainer, see the official announcement on the Spotify newsroom.
Why Spotify is offering this
Video has been woven into Spotify over the years — from Canvas loops in 2018 to video podcasts in 2020 and music videos in 2024 — and the platform says many users enjoy that richer experience. But not everyone wants motion when they just want sound. Spotify frames the change around control and personalization: surveys cited by the company show listeners welcome options that let them shape how they spend their time.
There’s also a regulatory and child‑safety angle. The company previously offered parental video controls for accounts under 13 and says roughly 60% of those managed accounts already had video switched off. Expanding control to all family members and to individual users helps address concerns about how video formats affect younger listeners — a conversation that overlaps with broader discussions about kids and digital experiences, like those explored in reporting on teens and AI companions Teens, Role‑Play and the Rise of Chatbot Companions.
How this fits into a bigger personalization push
Spotify’s move isn’t just about removing visuals; it’s part of a push to let people tailor time on the platform. The company points to features like Taste Profile and Prompted Playlist as other ways it’s handing users control. That trend toward letting listeners sculpt their experience sits alongside changes across devices and platforms — for example, recent OS updates that tweak music and AI features — as services push toward more user‑driven discovery and playback (iOS 26.4 lands: security fixes, AI playlists, new emoji — and a reason to update now).
If you prefer to let videos enhance your listening, nothing changes. If you find motion distracting or simply want the app to act like a soundtrack instead of a feed, the switches are there. Go to Settings, look for Content and display, and decide whether you want to watch or just listen — Spotify says it’s up to you.
