- Finding podcasts on Spotify that you can watch
- Playing a Spotify podcast episode and its video
- Checking your Spotify video settings if podcast videos don't show
- Why a Family plan member may not see Spotify podcast videos
- Ads and creator messages in Spotify video podcasts
- Saving and following Spotify video podcasts
- Using video podcasts as a creator or business
- If you still can't watch a podcast video on Spotify
- Frequently asked questions
To watch Spotify podcast videos, search for a podcast in the Spotify app, open an episode and play it: Spotify says some episodes feature video too. If you don't see video, check your Videos and Canvas settings under Content and display, because Spotify lets you switch 'Other videos', which includes video podcasts, on or off.
Plenty of podcasters now film their episodes, and Spotify lets you watch some of them without leaving the app. If you listen to shows about business, marketing or your hobbies, being able to see the host and the screen share can make a real difference. If you make a podcast yourself, it also matters for how your audience finds you.
I've gone through Spotify's help pages for this. They say some episodes have video, and they explain the settings that control it. They don't give a dedicated step-by-step guide for 'watching' a video podcast, so I'll stick to what's confirmed and tell you where menu wording may differ on your device.
Finding podcasts on Spotify that you can watch
Start by finding the show. Spotify's help gives these steps for browsing podcasts:
On a phone or tablet
- Tap Search.
- Under Browse All, tap Podcasts.
- Browse featured episodes, or scroll down to browse by category.
- Select a podcast to view its page and all available episodes.
On desktop and the web player
- Click Search.
- Under Browse all, choose Podcasts.
- Browse featured episodes, or scroll down to browse by category.
- Click the cover art to see the available titles, then play an episode.
Spotify says some episodes feature videos. It doesn't say how to filter the list down to only video shows, so open an episode to see whether it has video.
Playing a Spotify podcast episode and its video
Play the episode as you would any other. Spotify's help says that on a phone you can skip forward or back by 15 seconds and change the play speed, and that desktop has the same controls.
For music videos, Spotify's help describes a Switch to video button above the song title in the Now Playing view. That page is about songs, not podcasts, so I can't promise the same button on a podcast episode. If you see a video button or video appears on screen for an episode, you're set. If not, the show may be audio only.
Checking your Spotify video settings if podcast videos don't show
This is the most useful fix. Spotify has video settings that control whether video plays on your account across all your devices. One of the three settings is called Other videos, and Spotify describes it as vertically scrolling videos and videos from creators and authors, such as video podcasts, fitness videos and audiobook trailers.
Changing video settings on mobile
- Tap your profile picture at the top.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Tap Content and display.
- Under Videos and Canvas, switch the settings you want on or off.
Changing video settings on the web player
- Click your profile picture at the top.
- Select Settings.
- Under Videos and Canvas, switch the settings you want on or off.
Spotify says these settings apply across all platforms and devices where the account is used. So if you switched video off on your phone once, it may be off on your laptop and TV as well.
Why a Family plan member may not see Spotify podcast videos
Spotify says Family plan managers can turn video settings on or off for plan members. If you're a member and videos aren't showing, it's worth asking your plan manager whether they've changed it.
If you're the manager, on mobile tap your profile picture, then Your Premium, then Manage, select a member, tap Videos and Canvas and switch the settings you want. On the web, go to your account page, then Manage members.
Ads and creator messages in Spotify video podcasts
Spotify's help explains that the ads you hear or see depend on your listening tier. Premium listeners get video podcasts without Spotify ads, but may still see creator messages. Free listeners may get both Spotify ads and creator messages on video podcasts.
It also says video ads can't be turned off in the video settings. That matters if you're expecting the setting to remove every ad.
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Saving and following Spotify video podcasts
Once you find a show you like, follow it so new episodes are easy to find. Spotify's help says to select Follow on the podcast's page to save it to Your Library under Podcasts, and to select Following to unfollow.
On mobile you can also tap Home, then Podcasts, then Following to find the latest episodes of the shows you've saved. Following a show doesn't change whether an episode has video, but it keeps your favourites in one place so you can open them quickly.
Using video podcasts as a creator or business
If you run a podcast or are thinking about starting one, video gives your audience a way to connect with you. It's also worth reading about the wider habit: my post on why podcasts help people relax and sleep shows how people use audio shows day to day, and how many podcasts exist today gives context on the competition.
Keep in mind that not every listener will watch. Plenty will have the app running in the background, so make sure your episodes work as audio too.
If you still can't watch a podcast video on Spotify
Update the Spotify app, restart it and check your internet connection, as Spotify advises for general playback problems. If you're on a TV, remember the video settings include TV. When the same episode plays video on your phone but not elsewhere, the device itself may not support video. Contact Spotify support if nothing helps.
Frequently asked questions
Can you watch podcasts on Spotify?
Yes. Spotify says some podcast episodes feature videos too.
Where are the Spotify video settings?
On mobile, tap your profile picture, then Settings and privacy, then Content and display, and look under Videos and Canvas. On the web player, use your profile picture, then Settings.
What does the Other videos setting do?
Spotify describes it as covering vertically scrolling videos and videos from creators and authors, such as video podcasts, fitness videos and audiobook trailers.
Can I turn off video ads on Spotify?
No. Spotify says video ads can't be turned off in the video settings.
Can a Family plan manager control video settings?
Yes. Spotify says Family plan managers can turn video and Canvas settings on or off for plan members.
Do all Spotify podcasts have video?
No. Spotify says some episodes feature videos, so many shows are audio only.
