How to create a private session on Spotify

It’s exhausting to have to perform for your Spotify followers all the time. Take a break and listen to all your guilty pleasures in a private session.

By default what you’re listening to on Spotify is broadcasted to all your followers under friend activity on desktop — it’s that scrolling column on the right side of the app. Personally, Spotify is my favorite form of social media because wow, you can learn a lot about a person’s headspace based on their listening habits (if you’re listening to Blonde I will be texting you to check in). But I understand wanting some privacy, because no one needs to know you’re listening to your crush’s playlist.

Private sessions allow you to listen to music for as long as you want without your listening activity being displayed to your followers. The music you listen to in a private session also will not influence your music recommendations like your Discover Weekly. A private session automatically ends when you close the app or after a long period of inactivity.

Follow the steps below to listen to whatever you want in peace.

How to create a private session on desktop:

1. Open Spotify

2. Click the arrow in the upper right corner next to your name

Click the arrow.
Credit: screenshot: Spotify

3. Select “Private Session”

Select “Private Session.”
Credit: Screenshot: Spotify

When you are in a private session, a blue lock will appear next to your profile picture.

The blue lock indicates that you’re in a private session.
Credit: screenshot: spotify

To end a private session repeat the steps.

How to create a private session in app:

1. Open Spotify

2. Tap “Home” in the bottom left hand corner

3. Tap the settings icon in the upper right corner

Tap the gear in the upper right hand corner.
Credit: screenshot: spotify

4. Select “Social”

Select “Social.”
Credit: Screenshot: spotify

5. Turn private session on by tapping the white circle next to “Private session”

Tap the white circle to turn on and off private sessions.
Credit: screenshot: spotify

To end a private session repeat the steps or close the app.

Check out other fun Spotify features.