Spotify has finally lifted one of its biggest restrictions for free users, giving them a taste of the Premium experience by letting them pick and play songs on demand.
TLDR:
- Free Spotify users can now choose and play specific songs, instead of being limited to shuffle-only playback.
- New features called Pick & Play, Search & Play, and Share & Play are rolling out globally.
- There’s a daily time limit on this feature before restrictions return.
- The move could help Spotify boost ad revenue by increasing user engagement.
What Happened?
Spotify is rolling out new features globally that allow free-tier users to play any song they want, search for specific tracks, and instantly listen to music shared on social media. These updates mark a big change from the platform’s long-standing shuffle-only limitation on mobile devices for non-paying users.
However, there’s a limit. Free users will only have a daily allocation of on-demand playback time before the app returns to its usual shuffle mode. After that, they’re limited to just six skips per hour.
Spotify will now allow free users to search for and instantly play any track they want, instead of having to shuffle through songs to find the one they want to listen to pic.twitter.com/oTlqQi8v0O
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) September 15, 2025
Spotify Expands Control for Free Users
The new experience, dubbed “Pick & Play,” “Search & Play,” and “Share & Play,” is Spotify’s attempt to strike a better balance between giving free users more control and nudging them toward its paid subscription tier.
Here’s what free users can now do:
- Pick & Play: Choose and play any song directly from the Spotify app.
- Search & Play: Search for your favorite track and play it without being stuck in shuffle.
- Share & Play: Listen to tracks shared by friends or artists on platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp.
Spotify spokesperson Luke Mackay confirmed the changes, telling The Verge, “Each user has a daily allocated amount of on-demand time. Once this limit is reached, users will then be limited to six skips per hour.”
More Features Still Reserved for Premium
While this is a noticeable improvement for the free tier, Premium users still enjoy a fully unrestricted experience. Features like lossless audio, AI-generated playlists, and Mix remain locked behind the subscription wall.
Meanwhile, ads will continue to run for free users, and once their on-demand time is up, the traditional shuffle experience resumes.
Personalized Playlists and Discovery Tools
Spotify isn’t just offering more control. It’s also adding ways for users to personalize their listening experience, even without paying:
- Custom playlist covers can now be created directly in the mobile app.
- The daylist feature adapts to your daily mood with a rotating selection of songs.
- Discovery tools like Discover Weekly and Release Radar continue to suggest new music based on listening habits.
The updates are being introduced in over 128 markets, ensuring that a global audience of free users can benefit from the changes.
Spotify’s Ad Strategy and User Engagement
These new features could be part of Spotify’s broader effort to improve its struggling ad business. CEO Daniel Ek recently said the company has been “moving too slowly” in the advertising space. Currently, ad revenue makes up only 11% of Spotify’s total earnings, with a goal of reaching 20%.
By boosting engagement among free-tier listeners, Spotify increases the number of users exposed to ads, which could help drive ad revenue growth.
What TechKV Thinks?
I think this is a smart, if slightly overdue, move by Spotify. Giving free users more freedom while still keeping a clear line between free and Premium is a clever balancing act. It allows casual users to enjoy a better experience and might convince some of them to eventually upgrade.
That said, the time limit feels like a bit of a bait-and-switch. You finally get to choose your song, only to be pushed back to shuffle mode soon after. Still, being able to listen to a song your friend shared without fumbling through a playlist is a real win.
It’s also encouraging to see Spotify focus on personalization and discovery even for non-paying users. This update doesn’t close the Premium gap, but it makes the free version feel less frustrating and more engaging.
