Spotify without videos: New options for pure audio use are coming
Anyone who uses the music app Spotify is familiar with the many videos that often start without being asked. The company is now distributing a function with which all moving images can be switched off globally. So the focus returns to pure audio playback.
Full control over videos
The Swedish streaming service Spotify is now distributing new settings for its app worldwide that allow users to deactivate all video content. No matter whether on a smartphone, a PC or a television: If you prefer usage that focuses purely on audio, you can now finally consistently hide moving images. The update affects both free accounts and all premium tariffs.
To customize the experience, listeners navigate to the Content and Display section in Settings. There are separate switches for different formats. This means you can specifically turn off Canvas background videos when playing music, official music videos for selected songs, as well as video podcasts and vertical short clips from artists. Once the preferences are set on one device, the platform automatically synchronizes the profile to all other devices.
Practical for families
Like the company in one Blog post explained, family plan administrators receive expanded options. You can centrally control video viewing for each individual member of the subscription. Previously, such a restriction was only available for child accounts under 13 years old. By expanding, parents have a better overview of media consumption within the family. In recent years, the platform has placed a strong focus on visual elements. The introduction of Canvas loops in 2018 and the launch of video podcasts in 2020 should increase user engagement. With the current U-turn, the provider is responding to the wishes of many users who prefer a classic interface without constant visual stimuli or overstimulation. Reducing moving images brings technical advantages. If you listen to music on the go, you use significantly less data volume without constantly loading video files.
At the same time, the smartphone’s battery benefits because the system works more resource-efficiently in the background. This means that users save data quotas in everyday mobile life and extend the running time of their devices. However, one aspect remains with the new display options. Advertising videos and animated audio adverts for users of the free version cannot be blocked using the new switches. The platform reserves the right to continue to display commercial content visually.
