Spotify keeps making choices that feel like a test of patience.
The interface is a maze. The tracking is relentless. And there’s a persistent, almost hostile energy against playing a clean, unbroken album from start to finish. You get the sense the designers want to corral you into a specific box.
For some, that box contains music videos. And let’s be honest: many of you are frustrated by that.
Videos launching automatically in the background isn’t just a preference issue. It burns through battery life and data. Sometimes the video audio differs significantly from the original track, adding unwanted sketches or sound effects. If you just want the song, it’s a distraction. Even if you like the visuals, having them play by default is annoying.
Then there are the quirks. On desktop, videos hide behind tiny album art unless you hunt down a microscopic “Now Playing” button. The library feels random. I still go to YouTube if I actually want to watch something properly.
The biggest gripe? Until recently, there was no obvious way to kill them all.
But there is a switch now. Here is exactly how to disable music videos in Spotify.
Mobile Users: The Settings Menu
This one is straightforward if you know where to hide.
- Open the Spotify app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top-left corner. This pulls out the side panel.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Look for Content and display.
Under the “Videos and Canvas” section, you will see three toggles.
Turn off:
– Music videos
– Canvas
– Videos (which covers video podcasts)
Switching off that last one means you get the audio-only feed for podcasts. Turning it all off saves data. Simple.
Desktop App: The Scroll
It is slightly different on the computer, mostly because they put things in weird places.
- Click your profile icon. On desktop, it is in the top-right corner.
- Click Settings.
- Scroll down until you hit the Videos and Canvas section.
Here, you’ll find the options to toggle music videos and Canvas off.
Does It Work?
Yes. I tested it.
The music video icon, which usually appears in playlists and albums, disappeared. The dedicated collections of clips on artist pages also vanished.
There is one remnant. You might still see a “Switch to video” button in the Now Playing bar below the album art. If you click it, the app will tell you videos are disabled in settings.
Weird? Sure. Effective? Mostly. Once this is off, you don’t have to think twice about music videos interrupting your session.
I wish Spotify had launched videos with a bit more respect for the listener. I am fine seeing a video sometimes. But I do not want to watch every track I play. Perhaps a separate playlist category for videos would make sense. Instead of hijacking the audio stream.
Right now, at least, the button exists. Use it.
