How to Set a Sleep Timer on Spotify for Android

This guide shows you how to set a sleep timer in the Spotify app on Android so your music or podcast stops automatically after a set amount of time. You’ll need the Spotify app installed and an active internet connection (or downloaded content). The sleep timer works for both free and premium accounts, and you can set it from 5 minutes up to 1 hour, or until the end of the current track.

What You’ll Need

An Android device with the Spotify app installed (latest version recommended).
An active Spotify account (free or premium).
Content playing or paused in the app (the timer can be set even when paused, but it only starts counting when playback resumes).

Step-by-Step

Open Spotify and start playing something. Play any song, playlist, podcast, or album. The sleep timer is accessible from the “Now Playing” screen, so you need to have something loaded.
Tap the “Now Playing” bar at the bottom of the screen. This is the bar that shows the track title and artist. It expands to the full-screen player view.
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the full-screen player. This opens a dropdown menu with options like “Add to playlist,” “Share,” and “View album.”
Select “Sleep timer” from the menu. It’s usually near the bottom, above “Report a problem.” A new window or bottom sheet appears with timer options.
Choose your desired duration. You’ll see preset options: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, and “End of track” (for podcasts, this might be “End of episode”). Tap one to select it. The timer starts immediately when you make the selection.
Confirm the timer is set. After tapping, the window closes and you return to the player. You’ll see a small countdown timer icon (a clock with a checkmark) in the top-right corner of the player screen, near the three-dot menu. This indicates the timer is active.
To see remaining time or cancel, tap the timer icon. Tapping it opens the same timer window, showing the remaining time. To cancel, tap “Remove timer” or “Turn off timer” (the exact wording may vary). The timer will be removed and playback continues normally.

Common Mistakes

Looking for a timer in the main settings. The sleep timer is not in the app’s general settings (gear icon). It’s only accessible from the Now Playing screen’s three-dot menu.
Setting the timer while paused. If you set the timer while playback is paused, the countdown doesn’t start until you press play. This is useful for planning, but if you forget to play, the timer won’t do anything.
Expecting the timer to stop at a specific time of day. The sleep timer counts down from the moment you set it, not to a calendar time. For example, setting 30 minutes at 10:15 PM stops playback at 10:45 PM, not at 11:00 PM.
Using the timer on a podcast and expecting it to stop mid-episode. For podcasts, the “End of episode” option stops after the current episode finishes, not at a fixed time. If you want a specific duration, choose a time option instead.
Assuming the timer works with Spotify Connect. If you’re playing on a speaker or other device via Spotify Connect, the sleep timer on your phone still works—it stops the playback on the connected device. However, if the phone loses connection to the device, the timer may not function as expected.

Tips

Use “End of track” for a single song. If you only want to fall asleep to one specific song, select “End of track” so it stops after that song finishes.
Combine with a playlist. Create a calming playlist and set a 30-minute timer. That’s a common sleep routine.
Set the timer before you get comfortable. Once you’re in bed, it’s harder to fiddle with your phone. Set the timer right before you put your phone down.
Check the timer icon before sleeping. A quick glance at the top-right of the player confirms the timer is active. The icon shows a clock with a checkmark.
Use for podcasts to avoid long episodes. If you listen to a 2-hour podcast at night, set a 20-minute timer so you don’t wake up hours later with the episode still playing.

Troubleshooting

Timer option is missing. If you don’t see “Sleep timer” in the three-dot menu, make sure your Spotify app is updated. Go to the Google Play Store, search for Spotify, and tap “Update” if available. If it’s already updated, try restarting the app (swipe it away from recent apps and reopen).
Timer doesn’t stop playback. If the music keeps playing after the timer should have ended, check that the timer was actually set (look for the timer icon). Also, make sure the app is running in the background and not force-stopped by Android’s battery optimization. Go to Settings > Apps > Spotify > Battery, and select “Unrestricted” or “Optimize” (depending on your device) to prevent the app from being killed.
Timer resets or disappears. If you switch to a different audio app or restart Spotify, the timer may be lost. You’ll need to set it again. Also, if you change the playback source (e.g., from phone to speaker), the timer may reset.
Timer works but stops at the wrong time. For podcasts, the “End of episode” option stops after the episode ends, which might be longer than you expected. If you wanted a specific duration, choose a time option instead. Also, note that the timer counts down in real time, not in playback time (so pausing playback pauses the countdown).
Can’t find the timer icon after setting. The timer icon is small and appears in the top-right corner of the full-screen player, next to the three-dot menu. If you don’t see it, you might have accidentally canceled the timer. Tap the three-dot menu and check if “Sleep timer” shows a remaining time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a sleep timer for a specific time, like 11:30 PM?

No, the sleep timer only counts down from the moment you set it. It doesn’t support setting an absolute end time. You’ll need to calculate the duration yourself.

Does the sleep timer work with Spotify Free?

Yes, the sleep timer is available for both free and premium users. It’s a standard feature in the app.

Can I set a sleep timer for a playlist?

Yes, the timer works regardless of what you’re playing—a single song, a playlist, an album, or a podcast. It stops the entire playback session.

What happens if I skip a track while the timer is running?

Nothing changes. The timer continues counting down from the original set duration. Skipping tracks doesn’t reset or extend the timer.

Does the timer work if my phone screen is off?

Yes, the timer works in the background. You can lock your phone and the music will stop at the set time.

Can I set multiple timers?

No, only one sleep timer can be active at a time. If you set a new one, it replaces the previous one.

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

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