Spotify launched the feature of "Smart Shuffle" in 2023, aiming to further optimize playlists. This feature will add other songs that Spotify's algorithm deems in line with the tone and "atmosphere" of your current listening content to your random playlist. It seems considerate, but it has triggered a "teasing storm" among a large number of users.
So, how do you turn off Spotify's smart shuffle feature and truly return to a pure playlist that is under your control?
What is Spotify's "Smart Shuffle"?
Smart Shuffle is an advanced play mode launched by Spotify, which automatically mixes in songs recommended by the platform on the basis of normal shuffle . It tries to "intelligently expand" the playlist for you based on your current music preferences.
You may find that:
Unfamiliar singers or styles suddenly appear in the carefully curated playlist.
Even if you don't "like" any of the recommended songs, they will still be inserted into the playback sequence.
You cannot control the playback queue in the traditional way, you can only "passively receive".
Why do many users want to turn off Smart Shuffle?
Although Spotify tried to improve the personalized experience through recommendation algorithms, this feature caused dissatisfaction among many users for the following reasons:
Disrupt the original atmosphere : For example, meditation, fitness, work focus, etc. playlists need to maintain a specific rhythm.
Mismatched music styles : Recommended content often has an abrupt style or even has nothing to do with the original playlist.
Increased data consumption : Recommended songs need to be loaded dynamically, which may increase data usage.
Interfere with album listening experience : Many music lovers like to listen to albums in sequence, and smart interludes destroy the integrity.
Users lack the right to know : Many people don’t even know that this feature has been automatically enabled, let alone how to turn it off.
Tutorial: How to turn off Spotify's Smart Shuffle feature
Mobile (iOS / Android)
Open the Spotify app and go to any playlist.
Click the "Now Playing" card at the bottom of the screen to enter the playback interface.
Look at the Shuffle icon (two crossed arrows) in the lower right.
If there is a star (⭐️) in the icon, Smart Shuffle is enabled .
Keep clicking the icon until the stars disappear and the icon turns to normal random state or gray (to turn random off completely).
If you are a Premium user, you can continue to click until the random play is completely turned off to achieve sequential play.
Desktop (Windows / Mac / Web version)
Open a playlist or album.
In the bottom control bar, click the Shuffle button.
Observe whether there is a star icon (⭐️) :
With stars: Indicates that "Smart Shuffle" is turned on.
No stars: normal random play.
Icon is grayed out: Shuffle is completely turned off.
How to verify that Smart Shuffle is turned off?
You can confirm this in the following ways:
Check the icon changes : If the "Shuffle Play" icon has no stars or has turned gray, it means that it has been turned off successfully.
Whether the playback order matches : Try playing the first few tracks to see if they are strictly in the order listed.
Is the play queue clean : Click the "Play Queue" button in the lower right corner of the play interface to check whether there are any recommended songs inserted.
Tips: Tips to fully control the playback order
Want to play your playlist in a completely customized order ? Try the following:
Click the sorting option in the upper right corner of the playlist and select "Custom Sort".
Press and hold the three-line icon on the left side of the song and drag it freely to adjust the order.
Turn Shuffle off, and turn on the Repeat icon (two looping arrows) to cycle the current list.
FAQ
Q1: I don't see the star icon, is the feature disabled?
A: It's possible that you are using a non-Premium account, or the playback mode is not currently enabled. It's also possible that Spotify is testing different versions for different user groups.
Q2: Can free users turn off smart random play?
A: Unfortunately, free users cannot completely turn off random play on mobile phones, and cannot control the inclusion of recommended songs. Upgrading to Premium is the only way.
Q3: Can I still use the recommendation function after turning off smart shuffle?
A: Of course you can. Spotify's "Daily Recommendations" and "Discover Weekly Report" are still available, but they will not be forcibly inserted into the playlist you explicitly selected.
Q4: Will Spotify re-enable this feature after each update?
A: Some users reported that the settings were reset after the update. It is recommended to check the playback settings after each update.
Q5: There are recommended songs in the play queue. Did I fail to turn it off?
A: Maybe you have turned on smart random play, or the playlist itself has saved the recommended songs. Please clear the queue and play again to verify.
Conclusion
Although Spotify's "Smart Shuffle" feature is an innovative attempt at algorithmic recommendation, it is not suitable for all users. If you want to restore the most original manual playback control experience , just remember the following two points:
Check if the random play button has a “⭐️” and turn it off immediately
Enter the play button from the "Play" button instead of the "Shuffle" entry
Have you ever been bothered by Spotify's smart play mechanism? Have you tried turning off the smart shuffle feature? How was your experience?
