How to Block Bands on Spotify

Blocking a band on Spotify can stop its artist profile and music from appearing in your listening recommendations, and may prevent its tracks from playing for you. Spotify’s controls vary by app and account, and the option may be labeled “Don’t play this artist” rather than “Block.” Have the Spotify app or website open and make sure you are signed in.

What You’ll Need

A Spotify account and access to the app or web player.
The band’s exact name, so you can choose the right artist profile.
An up-to-date Spotify app if you are using a phone or tablet; feature availability can differ across devices and versions.

Step-by-Step

Search for the band. Open Spotify and select Search. Enter the band’s name, then check the results carefully. Several artists can have similar names, and a band may have more than one profile or spelling.
Open the artist page. Select the result that matches the music you want to avoid. Check the profile name, image, albums, and tracks before changing anything. Blocking the wrong artist could affect recommendations you want to keep.
Find the artist menu. On the artist page, look for the three-dot menu. In the mobile app it is commonly near the Follow button or at the top of the profile. On desktop or the web player, it may appear beside the artist controls. The precise layout can change.
Choose the listening restriction. In the menu, select an option such as Don’t play this artist or Don’t play this, if shown. Read the wording before confirming. Spotify may not call this “Block,” and the available action can depend on the account, platform, and type of content.
Confirm the change. If Spotify asks you to confirm, do so. The artist menu may then show a different option, such as allowing the artist to play again. That change is a useful sign that the restriction was applied.
Repeat for other artist profiles if necessary. If the band has separate pages for alternate spellings, collaborations, or related projects, apply the setting to each relevant profile. Do this only where the profile is genuinely the artist you want to restrict.
Remove individual tracks separately when needed. If the artist-wide option is unavailable, open the track’s three-dot menu and look for an option to hide or exclude that song. A track-level control is not the same as restricting the entire artist.
Check the result in recommendations. Use Spotify normally and see whether the artist’s music stops appearing in eligible recommendations. The change may not remove songs from every place immediately, and it does not necessarily erase tracks you saved or add to your own playlists.

Common Mistakes

Looking for a button literally called “Block.” Spotify has used wording such as “Don’t play this artist.” Look in the artist’s three-dot menu rather than expecting a universal block button.
Restricting the wrong profile. Search results can include similarly named artists, tribute acts, or individual members. Verify the profile before selecting the restriction.
Assuming one action removes all traces. Artist restrictions primarily affect Spotify playback and recommendations. They may not delete saved music, clear playlist entries, remove concert information, or hide the artist from search.
Confusing a hidden song with an artist restriction. Hiding one track normally affects that track only. If you want to avoid the band as a whole, use the artist-level control where it is available.
Expecting every Spotify surface to behave identically. A song might still be visible in a playlist, search result, or another person’s shared playlist even if Spotify will not play it for you in supported listening contexts.

Tips

Use the Spotify app when possible. Artist controls may be easier to find there than on a TV, speaker, car interface, or other connected device.
If the menu is missing, update Spotify, close and reopen the app, and check the artist page again. You can also try the web player or desktop app.
For a one-off interruption, skip the track or hide that track rather than restricting the whole artist.
Review your own playlists if you want a clean listening queue. An artist restriction may not automatically remove tracks you added yourself.
Remember that Spotify’s controls and recommendation behavior can change. Follow the label shown in your current app instead of relying on screenshots or instructions for a different device.

Troubleshooting

The artist menu has no restriction option: Confirm you are on the artist profile, not a song, album, or playlist page. Try Spotify on a phone, desktop, or the web player, and update the app. If the option remains unavailable, it may not be offered for that account or platform; hiding individual tracks may be the available alternative.

The artist’s music still appears: Check whether you selected the correct artist profile and whether Spotify shows the restriction as active. A visible playlist entry or search result does not necessarily mean playback is allowed. Try playing a track from a recommendation, then check whether the restriction is honored. If not, restart Spotify and sign out and back in only if ordinary app refreshing does not help.

You cannot find the band: Search a track title, album, or alternate spelling, then open its artist link. Some artists have multiple profiles; use the music itself to identify the right one.

You restricted the wrong artist: Return to that artist’s page, open the three-dot menu, and choose the option to allow or play the artist again, if displayed. Then find the intended profile and apply the restriction there.

The control changes but recommendations do not: Recommendation changes may take time and may not apply to every Spotify feature. Keep using Spotify and use track-level hiding for specific songs that continue to appear. If the control does not persist after restarting, check Spotify’s help pages or contact Spotify Support for account-specific guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Spotify let me block a band?
Some Spotify apps and accounts offer an artist-level option such as “Don’t play this artist.” Availability and wording can vary.

Will blocking an artist delete its songs from my playlists?
Not necessarily. Check your playlists and remove any tracks yourself if you do not want them there.

Can I block a band on Spotify for desktop?
Look for the three-dot menu on the artist profile. If the control is missing, try the mobile app or web player; menus can differ by platform.

Can I undo the restriction?
Yes, if the artist menu offers an option to allow or play the artist again. Open the same profile and select that option.

Does hiding one song block the whole band?
No. Hiding a song generally applies to that track, while an artist-level control applies to the artist where Spotify supports it.

Will a blocked artist still show up in search?
It may. The restriction is mainly about playback and recommendations, not necessarily making the profile invisible throughout Spotify.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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