Spotify can look like it is adding songs to your playlist when Smart Shuffle, Autoplay, the queue, Free playlist limits, collaborators, or updating playlists are involved. The fix is different depending on whether the songs appear during playback, after your music ends, inside the queue, or inside the playlist itself. Start with Smart Shuffle, then move through the playback and playlist controls that match what you are seeing.
Disable Smart Shuffle in the mobile app
This stops Smart Shuffle from mixing recommendations into your current playback session when you play a playlist or Liked Songs on Premium mobile. Tap your profile picture at the top of Spotify, then tap Settings and privacy.
Open Playback, then switch Include Smart Shuffle in play modes off. Spotify Free on mobile keeps Smart Shuffle active, so Free users should use the Free playlist section below.
Switch the current playlist back from Smart Shuffle
The most common cause is Smart Shuffle being active in the playlist or Liked Songs session playing right now. Open the playlist, Liked Songs, or the Now Playing view where the extra songs are appearing.
Tap the shuffle icon until Smart Shuffle is no longer active. Watch the shuffle state as you tap: Spotify cycles between shuffle off, shuffle on, and Smart Shuffle on. Once Smart Shuffle is off, Spotify returns to the playlist as you made it.
Stop similar songs after your music ends
Tap your profile picture at the top of Spotify on your phone or tablet, then tap Settings and privacy. Under Playback, scroll to Autoplay, then switch Autoplay off.
On desktop, click your profile picture at the top, then open Settings. Scroll down to Autoplay, then switch Autoplay off. Use this when Spotify keeps playing similar songs after an album, playlist, or selected queue ends.
Clear songs already waiting in the queue
Turning off Smart Shuffle or Autoplay leaves tracks alone when they are already sitting in your queue. Queue access and editing on mobile and tablet require Premium. On your phone, tap the Now Playing bar, then tap Play Queue. On tablet, tap the album artwork in the side menu to open the Now Playing view, then open Play Queue.
With Premium on mobile or tablet, remove one queued song by swiping left on it. To remove all manually added tracks, open Play Queue and select Clear.
On desktop or the web player, click Play Queue next to the play bar. Right-click a track, or click the 3 horizontal dots next to it, then choose Remove from queue. To empty the queue on desktop or web, select Clear queue, then confirm with Yes.
Fix Free playlists with fewer than 15 songs
Spotify Free can automatically add songs to a playlist that has fewer than 15 tracks. Add more songs until the playlist has at least 15 tracks.
For full control of listening and the ability to play songs in any order, choose Spotify Premium Individual or another Premium plan. If this method fails, check whether Smart Shuffle is active or whether extra tracks are already waiting in Play Queue.
Remove tracks saved inside a playlist
Use this when the track is actually saved in a playlist you created or can edit, not just inserted into playback. On mobile or tablet, open the playlist, tap Edit, then tap Remove next to each song you want gone. On desktop, right-click the song, or click the 3 horizontal dots next to it, then choose Remove from this Playlist.
For a playlist created by Spotify or someone else, hide the track instead. On mobile or tablet, tap the 3 horizontal dots on iOS or the 3 vertical dots on Android next to the song, then tap Hide this song; on desktop, select the playlist and click Remove next to the song. Hidden songs are grayed out and skipped in that playlist.
Keep unwanted recommendations from coming back
The most common cause of repeat unwanted recommendations is Spotify continuing to learn from tracks or playlists you do not want shaping future suggestions. When a Smart Shuffle recommendation is playing, tap the minus button in the Now Playing view.
On mobile or tablet, select a track, tap the 3 horizontal dots on iOS or the 3 vertical dots on Android, choose Hide in this playlist, then choose Don’t suggest this song anywhere for 30 days. Spotify Snooze is available for Premium users after hiding a track.
To reduce recommendations based on a playlist or track, select it and tap the 3 horizontal dots on iPhone or desktop, or the 3 vertical dots on Android. Choose Exclude from your taste profile for playlists or Exclude track from your taste profile for tracks. The change can take effect within 48 hours, while some recommendations, including Discover Weekly, may not reflect it until the following week.
Stop shared and updating playlists from changing
This fixes playlists changing because another person, Blend, or an auto-refreshing playlist is adding or replacing tracks. For a collaborative playlist you manage, tap or click the profile pictures under the playlist name.
On mobile, tap the 3 horizontal dots on iOS or the 3 vertical dots on Android next to your friend’s name. Then tap Remove as collaborator.
On desktop, click the Arrow down next to your friend’s name. Choose Remove as collaborator.
To prevent new outside access, open the playlist, tap or click the 3 vertical dots or 3 horizontal dots at the top, then choose Make private. Remove existing collaborators separately when they already have access.
For Blend, go to the Blend, tap the 3 vertical dots on Android or the 3 horizontal dots on iPhone, then choose Leave Blend. Blend updates daily based on everyone’s listening activity.
For an updating Spotify playlist you want to preserve, open it and select the 3 horizontal dots on iOS or desktop, or the 3 vertical dots on Android. Choose Add to other playlist. Choose an existing playlist or create a new one to save the current tracks. Spotify does not offer a way to save or recover a specific version of an updating playlist.
For a Prompted Playlist that refreshes daily or weekly, delete the playlist to stop that playlist from changing. On mobile or tablet, tap the 3 horizontal dots on iOS or the 3 vertical dots on Android on the playlist, then tap Delete Playlist. On desktop, right-click the playlist or click the 3 horizontal dots inside it, then choose Delete.
Block explicit added songs only
This method applies when the unwanted additions are explicit tracks. It blocks explicit-tagged songs; it does not turn off general Spotify recommendations.
On mobile or tablet, tap your profile picture at the top, then open Settings and privacy. Go to Content and display, then switch Allow Explicit Content off.
On desktop, click your profile picture, then open Settings. Go to Explicit Content, then switch Allow playback of explicit-rated content off.
Premium Family managers can log in to the Premium Family page, click the member they want to manage, and switch Explicit content off. Older fixes that mention an Enhance button no longer match Spotify’s current playlist controls. Spotify replaced Enhance with Smart Shuffle, so use the Smart Shuffle controls above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Spotify keep adding songs to my playlist?
The most likely cause is Smart Shuffle. Spotify can also keep playing similar songs through Autoplay, use tracks already in your queue, add songs to Free playlists with fewer than 15 tracks, or update playlists through Blend and other refresh features.
Can I permanently stop all Spotify recommendations?
Spotify does not provide one global consumer switch for every recommendation surface. Turn off Smart Shuffle where available, disable Autoplay, clear the queue, and manage the specific playlist feature causing the extra songs.
Why do songs keep appearing in a playlist I made with someone else?
Collaborators can add, remove, and reorder songs in a collaborative playlist. Remove collaborators from the playlist, then make the playlist private if you also want to stop new outside access.
Does hiding a song remove it from Spotify?
No. Hiding a song makes Spotify skip it in that playlist. On Premium mobile, Snooze can also stop Spotify from suggesting that song anywhere for 30 days after you hide it.