Spotify's integration of music videos has frustrated many users since its rollout. Until recently, the app would automatically play the video for any song that had one, consuming data and battery without a clear way to turn it off. Now, Spotify has finally responded by adding a dedicated toggle that lets users disable music videos completely, along with other video features like Canvas and video podcasts.
The problem with auto-playing music videos and a confusing interface
Many users criticized Spotify's decision to play videos by default, often with different audio than the original track, including sketches or sound effects. Even those who enjoy music videos found it annoying that they played automatically, wasting bandwidth and battery. The desktop interface added to the confusion, with videos confined to a tiny album art panel and a hidden enlarge button. The selection of available videos also seems random, driving users to YouTube for video watching. As we discussed in our comparison of OLED TVs versus Mini-LED LCDs, control over viewing experience matters, and Spotify seems to have listened.
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How to disable music videos on mobile: a simple process
To turn off music videos on mobile, tap your profile icon in the top left to open the side menu. Then go to Settings and privacy, then Content and display. In the Videos and Canvas section you will see three toggles: one for music videos, one for animated album art (Canvas), and one for all other videos, including video podcasts. Turn them all off, and Spotify will use much less data and battery. This change comes as other tech companies also adjust their offerings, such as Apple raising iCloud+ prices in several countries, as reported in another article. Users appreciate having control over their experience.
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How to disable music videos on desktop: a slight variation
On the desktop app, click your profile icon in the top right, then click Settings. Scroll down to the Videos and Canvas section to find the options to disable music videos and Canvas. After disabling, the music video icon disappears from playlists and artist pages. The only remnant is a "Switch to video" button in the Now Playing bar, which tells you the video cannot play unless you turn videos back on in settings. Odd but effective.
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Reflections on Spotify's design and future improvements
Introducing this toggle is a step forward, but many hope Spotify will rethink the entire video integration. Users would welcome separate video playlists and a clear separation between audio and video. Spotify has indicated a desire to improve the experience, and this toggle is a start. For more on the platform's evolution, you can read the Wikipedia entry on Spotify, which covers its history and controversies.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-disable-all-the-music-videos-in-spotify
