What does the blue dot mean on Spotify?

Spotify originally had a blue dot on the bell icon that indicated whether new songs or episodes had been released since your last visit. Dubbed What’s New, it was the easiest place to find relevant releases without relying on Spotify’s algorithm or suggestions. Although Spotify is one of the best music streaming services, overreliance on suggestions is one of the main reasons users left Spotify. When the What’s New notification first launched, it was based on the creators or artists you follow. Today it means something a little different.

Spotify has changed its app UI on most platforms (especially tablets), moving the What’s New feature to the Music & Podcasts tab, while removing the section from your profile menu altogether. From now on, to find the latest releases from the artists and creators you follow, you must access the dedicated page. Music and podcasts tab to find the Following subsection, which then allows you to scroll down to Latest versions. This is where you might come across the blue dot now, next to one of your favorite songs or podcasts that you haven’t listened to yet.

Although the blue dot icon alerts you to unplayed Spotify content you’re following, it sometimes persists after you check it. Generally, the blue dot should disappear when you open the song or podcast it suggests as new and start listening to it. Otherwise it might be a bug. Some users have reported that even after listening, the blue dot has not disappeared from recently released podcasts. This means it is a back-end issue with the platform. The best way to resolve this issue is to contact Spotify Support or visit community threads that have already reported the issue.

When posting to the community thread, be sure to include information like the specific device you’re using, the version of the Spotify app you’re using (be sure to update it before submitting your request), and some example podcast episodes that have blue dots. Also provide screenshots showing this will be beneficial as well. However, when doing so, remember to avoid including your personal information, as this is a public thread available to anyone.