- Blocking an artist on Spotify with Don't play this artist
- What blocking an artist does on Spotify, and what it doesn't
- Hiding a song on Spotify when you don't want the whole artist gone
- Snoozing a Spotify track for 30 days
- Keeping tracks out of your Spotify taste profile
- Blocking an artist on Spotify for businesses and creators
- Frequently asked questions
To block an artist on Spotify, open their page in the iPhone or Android app, tap the three-dot menu and choose Don't play this artist, as Engadget reported. Spotify's help centre doesn't cover it, but it does confirm hiding songs, snoozing for 30 days and taste profile controls.
We all have that one artist who ruins the mood. Maybe a song from a bad day keeps surfacing in your mixes, or an ex's favourite band turns up in every road-trip playlist. Spotify has an answer for it, but I want to be straight with you about where the information comes from, because it matters.
Spotify's own help centre has pages for hiding songs and for managing your taste profile, but I couldn't find a help article that walks through blocking a whole artist. The steps below for that come from a named tech-press report, and I'll flag where the menu may have moved since. The official options I can confirm are covered further down.
Blocking an artist on Spotify with Don't play this artist
Engadget reported in 2019 that Spotify's iOS and Android apps had added an option called Don't play this artist. According to that report, you use it like this:
- Open the Spotify app on your iPhone or Android phone.
- Search for the artist and open their page.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Choose Don't play this artist.
- Look for the confirmation message saying Spotify won't play music from this artist.
Menus vary by app version and that report is several years old, so if you don't see the option, check the artist page again rather than assuming it's gone. Spotify hasn't published a help page on it that I could find, so I can't promise it looks the same today.
What blocking an artist does on Spotify, and what it doesn't
Engadget's report says that once you block an artist, their songs are kept out of your library, playlists, charts and radio stations. It also notes the catch: the artist can still turn up when they're featured on another artist's track. So a collaboration you didn't expect may still play.
I haven't confirmed whether the option works on the desktop app or the web player, and Spotify's help pages don't say. If you're on a computer and can't find it, try your phone.
Hiding a song on Spotify when you don't want the whole artist gone
Often it's one track, not a whole catalogue, that you can't stand. This one is in Spotify's own help centre. For a playlist made by Spotify or another user, the steps for the mobile app are:
- Open the playlist.
- Tap the dots next to the song.
- Tap Hide this song.
The song is dimmed and skipped. Spotify's help says this applies only to that playlist, and the song can still play in other playlists where you haven't hidden it. On the desktop app, the help says to click the Remove icon next to the song, and to click it again to unhide. For your own playlists, Spotify suggests simply removing the song.
Snoozing a Spotify track for 30 days
If you're only sick of a song for a while, Spotify's help describes a gentler option on mobile. Hide a track in one playlist and tap Don't suggest this song anywhere for 30 days. It's a handy middle ground for the song you played to death at the gym. To undo it, tap Remove to unhide the track.
Keeping tracks out of your Spotify taste profile
Another official tool deals with recommendations rather than playback. Spotify's help explains that you can exclude a playlist or a track from your taste profile through the three-dot menu. It says you can only exclude playlists or tracks, not artists, so it won't block a name outright.
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Excluding something reduces how much those listens shape your recommendations and taste summaries. Changes can take up to 48 hours, and songs you play outside the excluded playlist still count. If a kids' playlist has taken over your Discover Weekly, this is the cleaner fix.
| Spotify option | What it does | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Don't play this artist | Keeps the artist out of library, playlists, charts and radio | Engadget's report on the phone apps |
| Hide this song | Skips a track inside one playlist | Spotify help |
| Snooze for 30 days | Stops suggestions of a track for a while | Spotify help |
| Exclude from taste profile | Reduces the effect on recommendations | Spotify help |
Blocking an artist on Spotify for businesses and creators
If you run background music for a shop, a studio or a coworking space, being able to skip certain artists is useful for keeping the atmosphere right. But Spotify's help centre doesn't spell out business use here, so I'd check Spotify's own terms before you rely on a personal account for a public space.
If your own brand plays music in videos, it's worth understanding how Spotify positions artists and listeners, and I explain that in my guide to the Spotify marketing strategy. And if you're a podcaster thinking about where your audience listens, this list of social media podcasts is a good place to browse.
Frequently asked questions
Can you block an artist on Spotify?
Engadget reported that Spotify's iOS and Android apps added a Don't play this artist option on the artist page's three-dot menu. Spotify's own help centre doesn't have a page on it that I could find, so menus may vary.
Does blocking an artist on Spotify stop featured tracks?
According to Engadget's report, no. The artist can still show up when they're featured on another artist's track.
How do I hide one song on Spotify?
In a playlist made by Spotify or another user, tap the dots next to the song and tap Hide this song. Spotify says it applies only to that playlist.
Can I exclude an artist from my Spotify taste profile?
Spotify's help says you can only exclude playlists or tracks from your taste profile, not artists. Changes can take up to 48 hours.
How do I undo a hidden song on Spotify?
On mobile, tap the Remove icon next to the song or use the dots and tap Show in this playlist. On desktop, click the Remove icon again.
