5 Cool Things You Didn’t Know Spotify Can Do

With hundreds of millions of users, Spotify is one of the most popular audio streaming platforms available today. It hosts a seemingly endless number of songs, podcasts, videos, and audiobooks, and is a must-have service for mobile and desktop listeners. As the platform continues to add new features – and we can show you the best ones arriving in 2026 – it can be easy for users to lose track of everything that’s available. Don’t worry, though. We know of lots of cool things you can try on Spotify, from features that can help you sleep better at night to fun little Easter eggs that waste your time. Best of all, none of these services require a subscription, so those on a free plan can still have fun.

Remember, keeping Spotify up to date is one of the best ways to ensure you can access the latest and greatest features, such as the ability to share and save podcast clips. You can always check the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to see if an update is available. If you feel like your Spotify listening experience is missing something, see if any of the tips below might be the ticket to a fresher experience.

Many people like to fall asleep to a soundtrack of their choice. However, waking up to a random song coming from your sleep speakers or headphones because your playlist was never turned off may not be ideal. Those who have data restrictions on their internet plan may also be hesitant to use Spotify while they sleep. Although it’s only available on Android, iPhone, and iPad, Spotify offers a sleep timer that can be easy to miss.

To find this feature, you must already have music or a podcast playing, although setup is easy afterward. With the sleep timer, users have the option to listen for 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 minutes or an hour, and there is also an option for the sleep timer to stop playing at the end of the current track.

Follow these steps on mobile:

1. Open Spotify and start playing a song or podcast.

2. Tap the Now Playing bar at the bottom of the screen.

3. If you’re listening to music, tap the three-dot icon in the upper right corner. If you’re listening to a podcast, tap the clock icon next to the play button.

4. Scroll to the bottom of the menu that appears and select Sleep Timer.

5. Choose your time.

6. You will receive a notification when the timer stops playing.

7. To check how much time is left, tap the three-dot menu (or clock) and scroll down until you see the time next to the Sleep Timer logo.

From there, Spotify will automatically shut down based on the time you selected.

For those who like to tinker, Spotify offers a six-band graphic equalizer that users can adjust to their liking. Additionally, Spotify also offers a variety of presets, including Classic, Bass Booster, and Acoustic, among others. The feature isn’t on the main screen, so you have to navigate through some menus to access it. Once you find it, you can fine-tune your treble, bass, and midrange from iOS, Android, or desktop.

On iOS, you can find Equalizer by opening Spotify, tapping your profile icon at the top, and selecting Settings & Privacy. Then just press Play and select Equalizer. You will need to activate it. Android is essentially the same: select your profile icon, tap Settings & Privacy, then find Equalizer under Audio Quality. Desktop users select their profile icon, click Settings, then look for Equalizer under Playback. You can adjust the equalizer using the dots to increase or decrease any of the frequencies or choose one of the presets.

Be sure to take a look at the shape of the EQ before adjusting it in case you want to reverse it, but you can always turn the feature off if you don’t like your setting. Additionally, be aware that you cannot change the equalizer when connected to another device via Spotify Connect. Just like the free version of Spotify getting a much-needed upgrade, the equalizer can be a welcome addition for audio enthusiasts.

Even though Spotify had to develop a plan to eliminate AI errors on its platform, that didn’t stop the company from offering numerous AI features, including its own AI-assisted musical companion, known as DJ. While the DJ can make new music recommendations or listen to some of your favorites, the company has also partnered with ChatGPT for additional options. Users can request certain songs, podcasts, or playlists directly in ChatGPT, then the AI ​​platform can send you a link to get started with your new media on Spotify.

Getting started with this one on ChatGPT is simple, just make sure you are logged into the ChatGPT platform before you begin. Mention Spotify in the chat prompt window and ChatGPT will ask you to connect your account. You can then chat with the assistant to create a playlist for you curated by activity, genre, or mood, including podcasts or music. From there, ChatGPT will generate a playlist and all you have to do is tap or click on it to open it in Spotify.

Given the amount of new content that’s constantly being added to Spotify, having an assistant that can find new songs for you to listen to can make for a more streamlined listening experience. Plus, if ChatGPT creates a playlist for you, you can also edit and name it directly through your chat – it’s also based on your listening habits and history, so it (theoretically) knows what you like. Try this one with a prompt like: “Create me a high-energy Spotify playlist for a company party.”

If you’re unfamiliar, Spotify relies on algorithms to give you personalized recommendations, including when it creates your playlists like Discover Weekly or Release Radar. This can be great when you’re listening to something and want to hear more, but you may not want everything you listen to influence these algorithms. Luckily, if you’re using a mobile, tablet, or computer version of Spotify, you can use private listening to make sure Spotify doesn’t rate every track you listen to.

Here are the steps on mobile:

1. Open Spotify.

2. Select your profile photo at the top.

3. Choose Settings & Privacy.

4. Select Privacy & Social Media.

5. Use the toggle to start a private session. You’ll find it under Listening Activity.

From a computer, simply go to Spotify, select your profile picture, then tap Private Session. A padlock on your profile icon will confirm that you are in a private session. A private session lasts six hours, after which you will need to re-enable the feature.

While this feature might be great for those who use Spotify to listen to white noise or music while they sleep and don’t want the app to base its recommendations on those selections, it’s also useful for hiding your guilty pleasures. Additionally, when you’re active in a private session, people on your friends list won’t be able to see what you’re listening to. While we’re talking about hiding listening sessions, you can also verify that your Spotify playlists are actually private.

We’re going to end this list with a bit of silliness. It’s not uncommon for online businesses to add Easter eggs to their platform for users to explore, and Spotify is no exception. For example, listening to a track from the official “Star Wars” soundtrack on the desktop app can turn your progress bar into a lightsaber. It’s fun, though, there’s also a hidden feature on iPhones that turns any playlist into a classic “Snake” game where you eat pellets to grow.

In the Spotify version, you search for album art for songs in a selected playlist, and the song in question plays until you “eat” it. The game ends when you hit a wall or run into yourself, leaving the albums you’ve collected crashing to the bottom of your screen. It’s wacky, it’s fun, and it’s available with any Spotify playlist playing on iOS. Simply open the app, select one of your playlists, tap the three dots that appear, then choose Eat This Playlist from the list of options. You can tap the X in the upper right corner at any time to exit.

While Android users might be out of luck this time, those with iOS might end up wasting at least a few minutes binging their favorite songs. The hidden mini-game also ties your high score to your account in case you’re looking for bragging rights. It might be silly, but at least it’s not Google’s “6-7” Easter egg that likes to disrupt your web searches.