Spotify Launches Video Controls for All Users, Letting Listeners Choose Audio-Only or Visual Experience

Spotify has introduced new video control settings that allow every user on its platform, from free-tier listeners to Family Plan subscribers, to decide whether video content appears in their app. The update, announced on April 9, 2026, marks one of the broader user-facing control expansions the company has made to its interface, giving individuals direct authority over how they consume content across all devices.

The new settings let users switch Canvas looping visuals and videos for music or podcasts on or off through Settings > Content and display, with preferences carrying over to mobile, desktop, web, and television. The change is designed to accommodate listeners who prefer a purely audio experience as well as those who want a richer, visually enhanced one.

The most notable element of the update relates to family account management. Family Plan managers can now switch video content on or off for any member on the plan, an expansion of a control that Spotify previously restricted to managed accounts for users under 13 years of age. The broader rollout means that parents or account managers can apply video preferences to adult members of a shared plan as well, without those members needing to adjust their own settings.

Spotify confirmed the settings update will roll out to all users globally throughout April 2026, covering those on Individual, Duo, Family, and Student Premium plans, as well as users on the Basic tier and the free service. The scope of the rollout is notable in that it applies uniformly regardless of subscription level, an approach that positions the feature as a platform-wide standard rather than a premium benefit.

Users who opt out of video content will still encounter video advertisements, as well as Canvas-like visuals on certain audio ads. Spotify did not indicate any plans to extend video-off preferences to advertising inventory.

The announcement is accompanied by internal data pointing to user appetite for greater personalisation. According to a Burson survey of 8,400 respondents across 19 markets, conducted between late August and early October 2025, 93% of Spotify users said they were excited about features that give them more control, while 92% said Spotify brings them closer to the things they love. Separately, Edison Research found that 86% of Gen Z listeners use music or podcasts to improve their mood, a statistic Spotify cited as context for its continued investment in user-directed listening tools.

The video controls follow a sequence of personalisation updates Spotify has released in recent months, including Taste Profile, Prompted Playlists, Smart Filters, and expanded managed account features under Family Plans. Together, these features reflect a deliberate product direction toward giving individual users more agency over what they see and hear on the platform, rather than relying solely on algorithmic defaults.