Spotify is a platform that allows users to enjoy a range of audio content online, including music, podcasts, and audiobooks. It has a large library for all tastes and interests.

If you're a music enthusiast, a podcast lover, or enjoy immersing yourself in audiobooks, Spotify has a lot to offer — and it makes it easy to find new favourites and old classics.

Here we’ll provide a beginner’s guide on how to use Spotify. Not sure of the best platform for listening to music online or how to pick the best one? You can find out how to use the internet to find music in our guide.

What is Spotify? 

Spotify is a music streaming platform. It’s hugely popular in the UK, with 57% of UK streamers saying they enjoy Spotify. There are many features beyond music though.

It has incredible discovery and personalisation options, where it curates playlists and builds recommendations based on what you listen to, making it easy to find new songs.

Spotify is convenient as an app or in a browser and has a library of over 100 million tracks, alongside podcasts and audiobooks — so there’s always something to explore.

You can use it for free, but there are ad-free subscriptions that offer extra features.

Getting started with Spotify

Spotify works very intuitively but this step-by-step guide will help you get started and enjoy everything the streaming service offers. We’ll explore the basics, as well as the fun features.

1. Get the app

You can use the web player, but for the best Spotify experience you’ll need the app:

• On a computer or laptop: Go to the Spotify website and click “Get our free app”, then follow the instructions to install it on your operating system.

On a phone or mobile device: Go to your app store (like Google Play for Android, or the App Store for iOS), look for "Spotify," and tap "Install."

2. Create an account

Creating a Spotify account is easy and you’ll need one regardless of the plan you choose to get:

• On an app or browser: Click "Sign Up" and fill in the form to create an account and choose a plan. You’ll need to provide an email address and other information.

• Using social media: If you’ve already got a Facebook, Apple or Google account you can sign up using this for faster access.

3. Listen to some music

There’s a huge range of music on Spotify for all tastes, try some of the following:

• Use the search bar:  Look for artists, songs, and playlists. You can browse genres and other curated offerings via the "Home" section.

• Create a playlist: In your library click on "Create Playlist," name it, and add songs by clicking the three dots next to any track and then "Add to Playlist."

• Like some songs: When listening to a song you like, tap/click the heart icon next to any song to add it to your "Liked Songs" playlist.

 

4. Listen to podcasts and audiobooks

Spotify also has a variety of podcasts and audiobooks, here’s how to look for some:

• Podcasts: Use the search function or browse the "Podcasts" section on your home screen to find shows on various topics.

• Audiobooks: Look for audiobooks via the search bar - note that Spotify Premium only offers 15 free listening hours per month for audiobooks.

 

5. Share your favourite audio with friends and family

Sharing is easy on Spotify, so you can share your favourites with whomever you want. To do so, just click or tap the three dots next to any song, album, or playlist, and select "Share". You can share via social media, messaging apps, or a direct link.

 

6. Try out some fun features!

Once you’ve got to grips with the basics, Spotify also gives you some fun features:

• "Discover Weekly", which is a custom playlist based on your listening habits.

• Spotify songs as your alarm tones, available with compatible alarm clock apps.

• Insights into your listening habits at the end of each year with their very cool Spotify Wrapped feature.

 

7. Use Spotify Premium

It feels similar, but Spotify Premium offers additional benefits over the free version:

• Enjoy ad-free listening, offline playback, and better sound quality.

• Current plans vary, so check the Spotify website for the latest options.

Using Spotify on the internet

To enjoy its full range of features, an internet connection is required. However, Spotify also offers some offline functionality. Here’s what you need to know:

Using Spotify online

You can access all the features Spotify has to offer while online. Whether streaming songs, discovering new music through playlists, exploring podcasts, or creating your own playlists – it’s simple and easy with the online experience.

Using Spotify offline

You can download songs, albums, and playlists while online and listen to them offline later — the same is true for podcast episodes. Just look for the three dots and click “Download”. Music is only downloadable for Spotify Premium users.

How much data does Spotify use?

Spotify uses low amounts of data, so data caps are not a concern. If your internet provider limits your data usage, it might be worth considering switching to a provider with better data allowances. 

Remember that broadband, bandwidth and data use are different. Broadband is fast internet, bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted at a given time, and data use is the amount required by your activities online.

Spotify’s data usage depends on the audio quality setting. Here’s a quick breakdown:

You can adjust the settings by selecting your profile and then “Settings and privacy”, where you can view or change the “Audio Quality” settings. Tweak them to your liking.

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