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How to Use Spotify: The Ultimate Guide

Years ago, the war against illegally downloaded songs seemed like a lost battle.

Today, Spotify it’s here to stay.

  Oliver Karen

Spotify came to change the music industry for good by providing a music streaming service that actually works.

Nowadays, the Spotify experience is bigger than ever before, and more than 172 million premium users all over the world can confirm it.

It’s never too late to start your Spotify journey playing the music you love.

Streaming music, selecting a playlist, and sharing your favorite song are just some of the things that can be achieved through Spotify.

That’s why today, GrowFollowing is going to act as your guide into the Spotify universe.

Keep reading this complete blog post to get the latest information about the following topics:

  • How to use Spotify;
  • All you need to know about Spotify features;
  • How to get started with your Spotify account.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Spotify

For many, Spotify is just another music streaming application on the market. For others, and this is for most people, Spotify is an enormous platform that transformed the way we look at music.

Spotify first launched back in 2008, but it wasn’t until recent years that people realized that Spotify was meant for more than just playing music or creating your own playlist.

Today, most successful artists all around the world track the success of each song by checking out Spotify statistics. Likewise, users tend to look for new music directly on Spotify instead of doing it from other platforms.

What is Spotify?

Spotify is defined as a mobile or desktop streaming music application that offers many classic functionalities related to the music world.

For instance, you can play songs, add songs to a playlist, get an individual list with saved songs, and more.

It’s the way-to-go service for listening to music with exceptional audio quality without downloading music directly to your device.

Spotify Algorithm

One of the secrets behind Spotify’s success is its algorithm. Spotify gives their users curated playlists based on their listening habits.

Therefore, when users randomly play music on Spotify, the algorithm makes sure that they are listening to music that matches their interests.

Personalized content is a feature enjoyed by all users, which creates a unique environment where everyone has the chance to dive into their own soundtracks in no time.

Chapter 2: How To Use Spotify

Now that you know what Spotify is and what it is for, it’s time to learn how to use it.

Worry not - both the mobile app and the desktop version are really intuitive and straightforward to manage.

Connect your Bluetooth headphones, and let’s listen to music right away!

Get Started with the Spotify App

First, you need to download Spotify on your mobile device.

Spotify is available for a wide variety of devices, so you’ll most likely find a version that fits your needs.

If you use an Android, just go to the Google Play Store. If you have an iOS device, download the app from the Apple App Store.

Alternatively, you can just go to the official Spotify website and find the version you like the most.

It’s possible to use your Facebook account to get connected Spotify with your favorite social media platforms.

In any case, after you install Spotify, the registration process will be effortless. At any time, you will be able to change Spotify email.

Spotify Mobile App Data Usage

There might be a main question in your head right now: should I use my Wi-Fi network to play the top songs on Spotify, or can I just use my mobile data?

Well, depending on the streaming quality you choose, data usage will vary.

Nonetheless, keep in mind that only premium users of the app can actually enhance the song quality at their will.

That means that with high-quality listening, you’ll consume 1 GB in 15 hours, and with extreme-quality listening, your phone will use 1 GB in 7 hours. Better set up that Wi-Fi then!

On the other hand, if you just have a free account, you’ll consume 1 GB in 24 hours, which seems like a lot of song listening time.

Pro Tip: Spotify has a data saver feature that you can enable so you don’t face major problems when listening to your music library.

You can activate it by clicking on the gear icon of your account and looking for the Data Saver option in the pop-up window.

Spotify Playlists and Songs

We know why you are using Spotify: you want to play your favorite individual songs!

As soon as you set up the app, you’ll find three main features:

  • Home: here, a chosen list of daily mix playlists will appear. There’s also a Discover Weekly feature that presents you with songs you might like;
  • Search Tab: the search bar is meant to look for the songs you like. Use the search bar or search box to unleash all of your musical potentials;
  • Your Library: this Spotify tab stores each song, track, or playlist you have saved on your account. The library tab allows you to properly manage the files you like the most at your will.

Users can create playlists and share them with their friends, or make Spotify playlist private if they please.

The social features of the Spotify app go way beyond simply creating a new playlist, since the customizations levels on your Spotify account are simply top-notch.

You can change Spotify playlist picture, add all the music you like, manage the name of the playlists, and invite friends to a public playlist you have created with your effort.

There are no limits on Spotify playlists!

Spotify Web Player and Desktop App

If you are not a fan of using Spotify on your mobile phone, you might as well do so on the web player or desktop app.

It works very similarly to the mobile Spotify app; you won’t have any major problem finding trending, interesting, or public playlists.

You’ll find all the options you need on the left side of the screen on the web player.

You might as well just tap shuffle play and let Spotify surprise you with a brand new playlist that you didn’t expect!

Read Also: Having problems trying to set up the Spotify Web Player? Worry not - we’ve written a complete guide that helps you with everything you need to know about the Web Player feature. Check it out!

Spotify History

Did you just listen to a song or playlist that you absolutely loved, but can’t find it anymore? Check your Spotify listening history!

It doesn’t matter if you have the paid version or the free version of the app, you can always check each previous playlist or track you’ve listened to recently.

Having all the playlists stored in a single place is much appreciated by those who use this app on a daily basis.

Chapter 3: Spotify Premium

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Spotify Premium.

Yes, you can simply use Spotify Free, and you’ll still be able to select the playlist you like or look for the tracks that match your mood.

Nonetheless, having a Spotify Premium account unlocks many features that regular Spotify users will surely appreciate having.

What’s more, other services, such as Apple Music, have also created premium subscriptions in order to compete against Spotify.

Download Music, Ad-Free listening, and More

Among the main features offered by Spotify Premium, we have the following:

  • Ad-Free listening: you’ve probably noticed that when you play a playlist, ads will pop out every 3 or 4 songs. Say goodbye to ads with premium!;
  • Offline listening: do you want to listen offline to your favorite songs? Offline listening is one of the greatest features of the premium membership;
  • Unlimited skips: after using Spotify for a while, you’ll realize that you can’t skip songs freely. Forget about these limitations, thanks to the premium membership.

Read Also: If you want to learn more about how to download songs, skip playlists, and use all Spotify Premium features, take a look at the complete article we’ve written about this membership!

Chapter 4: Spotify Additional Features

It’s pretty clear now: Spotify is meant for much more than just surfing through playlists. Among the additional features of this amazing platform, we have the following.

Spotify Connect

Spotify Connect allows you to play Spotify on multiple devices with the same account.

Each playlist you save can be later played on your tablet, TV, game console, and more.

Play Spotify on Discord and Consoles

Due to the widely accepted standardization of Spotify, users can play Spotify on Discord and other platforms, such as PlayStation and Xbox.

Just download the main Spotify app from your preferred platform and connect it - it’s elementary.

You’ll be able to use your phone as a remote control to control the playlists and songs on your newly connected device.

Spotify Codes

Did you find some dope new music and want to share it with your friends? Do it through a Spotify Code!

Spotify Codes are QR codes that users can customize in order to share their favorite playlists with others.

It’s necessary to tap on the camera icon and scan the code so the other person can get access to the unique album, podcast, playlist, or music you are sharing.

Learn more about Spotify codes here.

Spotify Wrapped

The year is coming to an end, and it’s time to analyze your favorite playlist.

Spotify Wrapped is a newly implemented social feature meant to share your top songs with your friends.

Did you check your Spotify Wrapped already? What are you waiting for?!

Upload Your Own Song to Spotify!

You can add local files to your Spotify profile for others to listen to them.

Creating a playlist with your songs is very easy, and you can learn how to do it by checking this official Spotify guide.

Pretty much all the options and settings related to your account can be found by tapping or clicking on your profile icon located at the upper left corner of the screen.

Let the world know your potential or simply upload those mp3 files for you to listen to!

Chapter 5: Troubleshooting

Do you have a problem with a playlist or another feature? Don’t Delete your Spotify account just yet!

Spotify’s Support can help you manage all the issues you might face in no time.

If Spotify is not working, it’s fundamental to understand what’s happening with the platform so you can find an efficient solution to any problem.

Usually, solving issues on Spotify is elementary, which is yet another of the positive things that this platform has to offer.

Pro Tip: Are you trying to listen to a playlist but Spotify keep pausing? You might be facing cache problems or connectivity issues.

In any case, we’ve written a guide for solving this matter within minutes - go and give it a good read.

Final words - Spotify was made for much more than just listening to playlists.

There’s a big universe of possibilities provided by Spotify that all users must get to know before engaging on the platform.

The best part is that you can always count on GrowFollowing to be your trustable source of Spotify-related content!

FAQ

Can I Listen to Radio Stations on Spotify?

Yes, you can! Besides just playing playlists, the radio tab on Spotify allows you to listen to your favorite radio stations from anywhere in the world.

Can I Share Music from Spotify to Instagram?

Yes! Each song, album and playlist has a sharing option that can be found by clicking on the three dots next to it.

Once you tap on those three dots, the sharing options will appear, including sharing songs on Instagram. Learn more about Spotify Sharing here.