A Spotify Canvas has to be 3 to 8 seconds long. Spotify's specs also ask for a vertical 9:16 video or image between 720px and 1080px tall, saved as an MP4 or JPG.
Canvas is the short looping visual that replaces your album art on the Now Playing screen in Spotify's mobile app. Get the specs slightly wrong and the upload simply fails, so here's everything in one place, from Spotify for Artists.
The specs
| Spec | Spotify's requirement |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 to 8 seconds |
| Shape | Vertical, 9:16 |
| Height | Between 720px and 1080px tall |
| File type | MP4 or JPG |
Who can add a Canvas
Spotify says you can add a Canvas to any track, including upcoming releases, if you're the first main artist on the track, or the main artist on both the track and the release, and you have the Admin or Editor role on the team. If the option's missing, your role is the first thing to check.
How to add one, step by step
- Log in to artists.spotify.com.
- Go to Music.
- Select your track.
- Click Add Canvas and upload your file.
You can do the same from the Spotify for Artists mobile app.
What makes a good Canvas
Spotify's guidelines are more useful than most third-party advice, because they explain the why:
- No talking, singing or rapping. A clip of 3 to 8 seconds won't sync with your lyrics, so mouths moving out of time look wrong.
- No rapid cuts or intense flashing. Spotify says they can overwhelm the viewer.
- Keep the edges clear. Some phones cut them off, so keep text and faces towards the middle.
- Tell a complete story. With only 8 seconds, a trimmed-down music video can feel unfinished.
Where Canvas shows up
Spotify says Canvas replaces your album art in the Now Playing View on the Spotify mobile app. That's worth thinking about when you design it: people see it while the song plays, often on a small screen, so a simple image or slow movement reads better than detail. Because the edges may be cut off on some phones, treat the outer part of the frame as a bleed area and keep anything important in the centre.
Planning a Canvas, step by step
- Pick a moment that suits the song's mood rather than its lyrics.
- Film or design it vertically at 9:16, so you don't have to crop later.
- Keep it between 3 and 8 seconds, and check the height is between 720px and 1080px.
- Export as MP4, or JPG for a still.
- Test the loop by watching it repeat several times before you upload.
Pick the right loop
Spotify describes loop types, including a Continuous Loop, where the end flows straight back into the start, and Rebound, which plays your clip forwards and then in reverse. Rebound is the easy way to get a smooth loop from almost any footage, because the reverse always lands back where it began. A Continuous Loop takes more planning, since the last frame has to match the first, but when it works it's the most hypnotic option. Whichever you choose, watch it repeat a dozen times on a phone before you upload; a jump that looks small on a laptop is obvious on a small screen.
My verdict
Eight seconds is short, so shoot for the loop, not for the edit, and keep the file inside the specs exactly, down to the pixel height. A slow, simple moment that repeats well beats a busy montage every time. Add one to your next release before it comes out, since upcoming tracks are allowed. For the bigger picture, my Spotify marketing strategy covers how Canvas fits with everything else, and here's how to change your Spotify username if your profile needs tidying.
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Frequently asked questions
How long can a Spotify Canvas be?
Between 3 and 8 seconds, according to Spotify for Artists.
What size is a Spotify Canvas?
Vertical 9:16, between 720px and 1080px tall, as an MP4 or JPG file.
Why can't I add a Canvas on Spotify?
Check your role and credit. Spotify says you need to be the first main artist on the track, or the main artist on both the track and release, with the Admin or Editor role.
What file types does Spotify Canvas accept?
MP4 for video or JPG for a still image, in a vertical 9:16 shape between 720px and 1080px tall.
Can I add a Canvas before a song is released?
Yes. Spotify says you can add a Canvas to any track, including upcoming releases.
