How to Turn Autoplay On or Off in Spotify

This guide shows you how to enable or disable Autoplay in Spotify on your phone, tablet, or desktop computer. Autoplay keeps similar music flowing after your playlist or album ends, which is handy for discovery but can be annoying if you prefer a hard stop. You’ll need a Spotify account and the app installed; the steps differ slightly between mobile and desktop.

What You’ll Need

A Spotify account (free or Premium)
The Spotify app installed on your device (iOS, Android, or desktop)
For mobile: the latest version of the app from your app store
For desktop: the Spotify app for Windows or macOS

Step-by-Step

On Mobile (iPhone, iPad, Android)

Open the Spotify app and log in if you haven’t already.
Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner of the home screen.
Tap Settings and privacy (on some versions it’s just Settings).
Scroll down to the Playback section.
Look for the Autoplay toggle. If it’s green/blue, it’s on; if it’s gray, it’s off.
Tap the toggle to turn Autoplay on or off as you prefer.
Exit settings – your choice is saved automatically.

On Desktop (Windows, macOS)

Open the Spotify desktop app and log in.
Click the ellipsis (…) menu in the top-left corner, next to your name.
Select Edit > Preferences (on Windows) or Spotify > Preferences (on Mac).
Scroll down to the Playback section.
Find the Autoplay checkbox. Check it to enable, uncheck to disable.
Close the Preferences window – your change is saved immediately.

Common Mistakes

Looking for Autoplay in the wrong place: It’s not under “Music Quality” or “Device” – it’s under Playback.
Confusing Autoplay with “Enhance” or “Smart Shuffle”: Those add songs to your current queue; Autoplay only starts after your playlist/album ends.
Forgetting to update the app: Older versions may not have the toggle exactly where described. Update Spotify first.
Assuming the setting is global: Autoplay is a single setting; it applies to all playlists and albums. You can’t set it per playlist.

Tips

If you often fall asleep to music, turn Autoplay off to avoid being woken by unexpected songs.
On mobile, you can quickly check the status: when Autoplay is on, you’ll see “Autoplay” at the end of your queue with a list of similar tracks.
Use Autoplay to discover new artists – it works best with playlists that have a consistent mood.
If you have a Premium account, you can also control Autoplay from the “Now Playing” screen by tapping the queue icon and looking for the Autoplay toggle at the bottom.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find the Autoplay toggle.
Make sure your app is updated. On mobile, go to the App Store or Google Play and check for updates. If you’re on desktop, restart the app or reinstall it. Also, check that you’re looking in the correct settings section – it’s under Playback, not under “Social” or “Storage”.

Autoplay is off but music still continues.
This can happen if you have a queue of songs already added. Autoplay only kicks in after the queue is empty. Also, check if you have “Crossfade” enabled – it doesn’t cause autoplay, but it can make the transition seamless. To be sure, clear your queue and see if music stops at the end of the playlist.

Autoplay is on but no similar songs appear.
Autoplay requires an internet connection and works best with playlists that have enough tracks to analyze. If you’re offline, it won’t work. Also, if you’re playing a very niche or local file, Spotify may not have similar tracks to suggest.

The setting doesn’t stick after restarting the app.
Log out and log back in, then change the setting again. If that fails, clear the app cache (on mobile: Settings > Storage > Clear Cache; on desktop: uninstall and reinstall). Your preferences are tied to your account, so they should sync across devices, but a fresh install can fix glitches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Autoplay work on the free plan?
Yes, Autoplay is available on both free and Premium accounts. However, free users may hear ads between songs, and Autoplay will still work after the playlist ends.

Can I turn Autoplay off for only one playlist?
No, Autoplay is a global setting. You can’t enable it for one playlist and disable it for another. You’d have to manually stop playback or use a different app.

Why does Autoplay sometimes play songs I don’t like?
Autoplay suggests songs based on the playlist’s overall characteristics. If your playlist is mixed-genre, the suggestions may be less accurate. To improve, create more focused playlists.

Does Autoplay affect my data usage?
Yes, because it streams additional songs. If you’re on a limited data plan, turn Autoplay off to avoid unexpected usage.

Can I control Autoplay from the lock screen?
No, the lock screen only shows playback controls. You must go into the app settings to change Autoplay.

Does Autoplay work with podcasts?
No, Autoplay is only for music. Podcasts have their own autoplay behavior (like playing the next episode) which is separate from this setting.

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

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