Spotify has rolled out a new messaging feature that allows users to share music, podcasts, and audiobooks directly in-app.
The streaming giant is strengthening its social element, giving listeners a central space to connect and keep track of recommendations without switching platforms.
For years, users have relied on WhatsApp, Instagram, or Snapchat to share Spotify links. Now, that experience is being brought inside the app itself.
Conversations are one-on-one and limited to people with whom you already have a Spotify connection, through shared playlists, a Jam, a Blend, or a Family/Duo plan. Once a request is sent, the recipient must approve it before a conversation begins.
Outside Spotify, links received through other platforms can still trigger a chat request. Users can also send invite links directly from their contacts.
Once approved, messages will appear under the new Messages section, accessible by tapping on the profile picture. Listeners can react with emojis, reply to specific content, and revisit their history of shared tracks and shows.
Spotify says the in-app messaging feature complements, rather than replaces, external sharing. “Whether you’re sharing a new audiobook with a friend for book club, bonding over your new favourite song, or swapping history podcasts with Dad, the right recommendation can spark a great conversation,” Spotify stated.
On privacy, Spotify confirmed that conversations are encrypted at rest and in transit, but not end-to-end. The company will proactively scan chats for harmful or illegal content, while users retain the right to report and block accounts. Settings also allow people to disable messages entirely if they prefer not to use the feature.
Spotify’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, Gustav Söderström, recently hinted at a “much more interactive” consumer experience. The launch of messaging aligns with that vision, following earlier moves such as podcast comments and a redesigned, video-heavy feed.
The rollout is gradual, with the feature now available to users over 16 in select Latin American markets, with expansion planned for the US, Canada, Brazil, the EU, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand in the coming weeks. Both free and premium users will have access on mobile devices.
While the update could make recommendations more seamless, not everyone may welcome it. Some listeners already feel Spotify is weighed down by too many features.
A user stated, “There’s an overwhelming display of visual clutter from the time it takes to navigate from Spotify’s home page to the music you’re looking for.”
