13 Hidden Spotify Features You (Probably) Totally Missed…


Hidden Spotify FeaturesPin

Spotify has over 35 million songs. It also has a TON of features. But most people never even scratch the surface. Here’s our guide to Spotify’s top 12 hidden features you probably didn’t know about…

#1) Podcasts (And Audiobooks)

There are myriad podcast apps out there for Android and iPhone. But did you know you can follow and listen to your favorite podcasts without ever leaving Spotify?

I’m always surprised by how few people know that Spotify supports podcasts!

13 Hidden Spotify Features You (Probably) Totally Missed...Pin

All you have to do is search for your podcast, find the episode you want, and start listening. You can even save them for offline listing later.

If you like audiobooks, as I do, but you don’t want to pay for Audible (even though you should because Audible is totally awesome), then you can access some audiobooks inside Spotify too.

Not new titles, though.

It’s limited to the classics – stuff that is out of copyright (I think). But who cares? It’s free and if you haven’t listened to Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky while traveling on a train with a hangover the size of Texas, well… you haven’t really lived.

#2) Enable Privacy Mode

Don’t want people knowing what you’re listening to? No problem, Spotify has its very own Incognito Mode – it’s called Privacy Mode. And this is how you activate it:

  1. Click the icon in the top right corner of Spotify
  2. Select Private Session
  3. You should see a padlock; this means Privacy Mode is active
  4. To end Privacy Mode, simply unselect Privacy Mode.

#3) Improve Music Quality

Did you know that you can actually improve the quality of how Spotify sounds? Your app might be lowering the quality of your streams automatically, so make sure you have it set to the highest possible setting. To improve Spotify sound quality, follow these steps:

  1. Open Spotify Preferences
  2. Go to the Music Quality section
  3. Toggle “High-quality streaming” to ON

Now all your music will stream in the highest possible quality, just make sure you have some decent headphones to listen to it with – I use Bose QC35 II’s at the moment (they’re literally the comfiest and best-sounding headphones you can get for under $350).

#4) Get Into A New Band The Easy Way

If you want to check out a new band, but you’re unsure where to start because they have loads of albums, Spotify has a really cool feature that is called This is: [insert band name]. It’s basically a “best of” for any particular band or artist – and most of the bands I searched for had one. Hell, even the Melvins have one!

“This is [Insert Band/Artist]” playlists basically pull in that particular artist’s most-listened-to tracks, so you can get a good overview of what they’re all about in an hour or two of listening. Out of all of Spotify’s recent new features, this is the one I tend to use most (usually when running), as it lets me really explore the width and depth of a band or artist’s back catalog.

#5) Recover Deleted Playlists

Sometimes, bad things happen. Like deleting your favorite playlist that you spent countless hours building and creating. Well, all is not lost should you accidentally delete it – you can simply bring it back from the dead. And this is how it’s done:

  1. Go to your Account Page
  2. Click Recover playlists (it’s in the menu on the left)
  3. Select the playlist you want to restore, and click RESTORE
  4. Go to your Playlists and it should have reappeared

#6) Track Your Listening Metrics With Last.FM

If you’re into data and want to track your music listening habits, but you don’t want to wait for Spotify’s annual Year In Review round-up of your steaming habits, you can setup a free last.fm account and link it with your Spotify account. Once you’ve done this, last.fm will pull together all kinds of crazy data and statistics around your Spotify listening habits.

#7) In The Algorithm We TRUST…

Spotify’s algorithm is super-smart. I use it to find and discover new bands all the time. As I write this I’m rocking out to Dope Lord, and it’s all thanks to the Spotify algorithm – without it, I’d never have found this awesome but more-or-less unknown band.

When it comes to finding new bands and artists on Spotify, you have two options: Discover Weekly and Release Radar. In each of these categories, Spotify’s algorithm will pull together new music recommendations for you based on your listening habits.

Check-in once and week or every few days to find new music. This, along with “This is [Insert Band]” are perhaps two of the most useful features Spotify gives you for finding and listening to new music from an ever-growing array of artists and bands.

#8) Put Your Playlists Into Folders

Are you a neat freak? Like all your music organized? Well, Spotify’s got you covered for this once again, thanks to its Playlists Folder System. Inside playlists, you can create folders (as many as you like) for all your different playlists. It’s not essential to do this but for some users, it will make life a lot easier (especially if you have mild-to-bad OCD).

Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Choose File > New Playlist Folder.
  2. A text box should appear on the left sidebar.
  3. Type in the folder name and press Enter.
  4. You can now drag and drop playlists into your folders

#9) Reduce Your Data Usage

If your phone’s plan is limited to a certain amount of data a month, you don’t want to burn through it too quickly – something that is very easy to do with Spotify if you’re not careful.

hidden-spotify-features-tipsPin

You can, however, reduce your data footprint by reducing the quality of your streaming in Spotify’s Settings. Simply go to settings, select streaming quality (set it to automatic), set the download quality to EXTREME, and turn off the DOWNLOAD USING CELLULAR option.

#10) Make Collaborative Playlists With Friends & Fellow Music Snobs

If you like making playlists, but want to get your friends in on the action you can do this very easily in Spotify. All you have to do is go to Playlists, Create New Playlist, then select the hamburger icon in the top right and select MAKE COLLABORATIVE.

hidden-spotify-features-tipsPin

You can now add as many people as you like to the playlist, and they too can add songs. This is a great feature for weddings, parties, or simply showing off new music you’ve found to your close friends and family.

#11) Import Your Own MP3 Files Into Spotify

Did you know you could local files to Spotify? As long as they’re not DRM-protected, you can add any MP3 files to Spotify you like. And this is how it’s done:

  1. Open Spotify
  2. Go To Preferences
  3. Scroll To Local Files
  4. Select ADD A SOURCE
  5. Select The File You Want To Add & Select OK
  6. The File Will Be Added To Spotify Under LOCAL FILES

Once you’ve done this, create a new Playlist and add the music in there. Simple, right?

#12) Use Search Modifiers To Filter Out The Bad Decades

OK, here’s a really good example of what can be done with a quick search-based hack for Spotify. Say you recently got into Black Sabbath, but you know that most of their 1980s stuff is a bit, well, iffy… You can use a quick search-hack to ONLY get albums released during a certain period, say, the 1970s.

Example: “Black Sabbath Not year: [1980]”.

Spotify isn’t the only game in town when it comes to streaming, however, did you know Apple has its very own Spotify competing service called Apple Music? If you have an iPhone and HomePod, Apple Music is well worth a look, as it syncs and works beautifully across all Apple products.

Me? I’m a Spotify purist. Always have been, always will be…

#13) Spotify Now Features Lyrics For Songs – Just Like Apple Music

If you have Spotify installed on your Android or iOS-powered device, you can now search for lyrics to songs inside the app. Spotify launched the new lyrics feature on October 6, although, as any Apple Music user will tell you, this is something they’ve been enjoying for years…

How To Search For Lyrics in Spotify

It’s super simple, really. Just open up the Spotify app, then search for the lyrics you want – all you need do is start typing in the lyrics. Example: for Deftones’ new single, Ohms, start typing in some of the lyrics you know —Balance! – and Spotify will pull in the full lyrics.

Not ALL songs are supported, however, so the function is a little hit and miss at the moment.

And check out Does HomePod mini Need To Be Plugged In?

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan

    Boost’s top-tier option brings the heat: 50GB of premium data, hotspot, North America roaming, global talk & text, and $430 off select devices. All-in at $60/month with no contract.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (50GB premium speed)

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited+ Plan

    Level up with 40GB of premium data, hotspot access, global calling, and up to $300 in device savings. All for just $50/month. No contracts and flexible phone options included.

    +

    Data: Unlimited; Speed Caps After 40GB

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

    Start strong with 30GB of premium data, unlimited everything, and a killer intro offer: just $15/month for the first 3 months, then $25/month forever. No contracts. No fluff. Big value.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (Speed Caps Over 30GB)

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

    +

    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

    +

    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

    +

    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

    +

    Data: 20GB