We all know the frustration of listening to a carefully curated Spotify playlist, only to have the service start playing tracks that aren’t on the list. Thankfully, Spotify offers a few ways to prevent this from happening and stick to the songs you’ve chosen. In this article, we’ll explore the steps you can take to stop Spotify from playing tracks that aren’t on your playlist.
Why Does Spotify Play Songs Not on My Playlist?
There are a couple of reasons why you may hear songs that aren’t on your selected Spotify playlist:
- Autoplay – Once your playlist ends, Spotify automatically queues up recommended songs based on your listening history and taste profile. This autoplay feature is turned on by default.
- Radio – Spotify’s radio feature will play tracks similar to the songs in your playlist, including some you may not have added yourself. This expands on your selection.
- Shuffle – With shuffle turned on, Spotify will jump around and play tracks from your playlist in random rather than sequential order. This means you may hear songs you added to the playlist, but not the one you expected to play next.
How to Prevent Spotify from Playing Recommended Songs
Here are a few simple steps you can take to stop Spotify from playing tracks not on your playlist:
Turn Off Autoplay
Autoplay is the main culprit behind Spotify queueing up songs you didn’t pick. Luckily, it’s easy to disable:
- Open your Spotify app on desktop or mobile.
- Click on the Settings icon.
- Select the Playback option.
- Uncheck the toggle next to “Autoplay.”
This will stop Spotify from automatically playing recommended tracks when your playlist ends.
Disable Radio
You may also be hearing unrelated songs if you have Spotify’s radio feature enabled for your playlist. To turn this off:
- Open the playlist you don’t want radio for.
- Click on the 3 dots beside the playlist name.
- Select “Turn off Playlist Radio.”
Now Spotify will no longer augment your playlist with extra tracks in radio mode.
Turn Off Shuffle Mode
Using shuffle mode will play your playlist out of order, sprinkling in unexpected songs. Stop shuffle by:
- Opening your playlist.
- Selecting the Shuffle icon near the top (it looks like crossing arrows).
Your playlist will now play straight through the way you arranged it without jumping around.
Additional Ways to Control What’s Played
Here are some bonus tips for further limiting Spotify to your selected playlist:
- Remove recommended songs – When unwanted tracks come on, you can click the 3 dots next to them and choose “Remove from this playlist” so you don’t hear them again.
- Hide songs – Don’t like a song that keeps getting recommended? You can right-click it and choose “Hide song” so it won’t play at all.
- Create radio from liked songs – Start radio based on your liked tracks rather than a specific playlist to hear music similar to your tastes.
- Download playlist for offline play – Downloaded playlists prevent random songs from being added since no internet connection is required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
How do I find my Spotify playback settings?
The playback settings are located by clicking the gear icon for Settings, then choosing Playback within the app.
Can I undo hiding a song?
Yes, you can unhide songs to play them again. Go to Settings > Playback and select “Unhide songs.”
Is autoplay available for free Spotify users?
Autoplay is available for all Spotify listeners, including free users. Simply disable it as outlined above.
What other options are in playback settings?
You can also set crossfade duration between songs, control volume leveling, stereo width and more in playback settings.
Take Control of Your Playlist
Spotify has great features for music discovery, but sometimes you just want to hear the tracks you carefully picked out. By turning off autoplay, radio and shuffle, you can enjoy your custom playlist without surprises. Give these tips a try to stop Spotify playing songs not on your playlist and take back control of your listening experience.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m happy to help explain how to customize Spotify to your preferences.