The audio platform Spotify It makes it very easy for you to access its immense content. It is available on all types of devices: mobiles, PCs, smart speakers, televisions, consoles, watches, and many more. And it is possible access its immense catalog completely free (with advertising).
Most people use the mobile or PC app to listen to music or podcasts from Spotify, but there is an even more direct way: from the browser, with Spotify Web.
It is true that it does not include all the functions of the app, but it does include the most important ones. With the advantage that you won’t have to install anything. Nor do you pay a fee, if you don’t want to.
We’ll see how Spotify Web player works, and everything you need to know to take advantage of the player in the Spotify browser.
In March 2021 it received a big update, so if you haven’t used it in a long time, you want to know what’s new.
Complete Guide to Spotify Web
What is Spotify Web
Spotify Web is the browser version of the Spotify music and podcast player.
Simply a web page that allows you to play Spotify music. It is completely free and has the great advantage that you don’t need to install an app.
Simply you access the browser, search for content and listen to it. Of course, you will need a free account, and you will have to endure some advertising.
You can also log in with a Premium account, to remove advertising and access your personal content and all the extras of the Premium accounts.
How to access the Spotify Web Player
To use Spotify Web you just have to go to the web open.spotify.com from the browser of your mobile, computer, television, or any other device.
The supported browsers are Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Safari.
Spotify Web is not working for me
If the player is not charging or is not working properly, try the following:
- Make sure your browser is up to date. Check and update it in the help section of your browser.
- Try opening the web player in a private browsing window or in incognito mode.
- Some public or shared networks, if you access from work or university, limit access to certain services. Ask if they have Spotify blocked.
If you are still having problems, you can always install the mobile or computer app.
The Spotify Web interface
Once you access the player in the browser, you will have access to the main cover of the application.
You won’t be able to play any song or podcast if you don’t have a free Spotify account, so tap on Sign up in the upper right corner, or Ilogin if you already have an account. [1]
As we see in the image, the organization of the player is very simple. In the left column [2] we have all the main functions: the search engine, the Library, and Create Lists.
All content (albums, artists, themes, lists, podcast, radios) appears in the central window [3]. Finally, at the bottom is the player [4]. We are going to explain what we can do in each section.
Account and Profile
After logging in with a Spotify account, either free or paid, we can start using Spotify Web.
In the upper right corner we have the menu that gives access to our account:
If we touch on Bill, we go to a web page where we can configure all aspects of our account, including payment method, password change, notifications, Privacy, etc.
With Upgrade to Premium, we subscribe to the payment service.
Finally, in Profile we can choose a name and a photo to identify ourselves on Spotify.
The player
Setting up the account is necessary, but it is a tedious process.
What we want is to hear something, so to start we give any song or podcast that appears on the cover, and the player will be displayed at the bottom of the screen:
There is not much to explain, as these are the standard buttons on any player.
In the center we have the Play / Pause buttons, change songs, shuffle, or loop play.
To the far left there is a heart icon. When pressed, the song, album, list or wherever this icon is placed, will be added to our Library.
Finally on the right side we have the volume bar, a Queue icon to see everything that we have played so far or we have waiting, and another icon to send the content to a smart speaker, bluetooth speaker, a TV, etc.
In the central window of the application, there is the content: playlists, albums, chapters of a podcast, etc.
When we leave the mouse or finger on an element we will see it appear a three horizontal dots icon. It gives access to a menu that allows us to do many things with this content:
Here the heart icon it does not save the songs in the Library (that’s only when you are listening to it), but in the list Songs that I like.
From this menu we can do things like add the content to the play queue, to a list that we have created, share it through a link, or insert it in a forum or blog.
It also allows us to go to the radio where the song comes from, or to consult the artist and the album where it has been published.
The searcher
To find music you like, you have to go to seeker, in the left column.
Depending on whether you have a free or paid account, you will have more or less freedom to access specific artists or themes, since free users access content through thematic radios or categories, although it also allows searches.
You can search by artist, songs or podcasts in the white bar at the top.
It is also possible explore genres, moods, moments and categories on the cards displayed on the screen.
It is a very effective way to discover new music that suits your tastes. Remember to go giving hearts to add it to your Library, or Songs that I like.
Library
This is the place where you will find all your favorite content.
It is organized by categories, so that everything is perfectly organized, and different types of content are not mixed:
As we see in the screenshot, there are four categories: Lists, Podcast, Artists and Albums.
Just tap on each of them to see the playlists you’ve created, the podcasts you follow, as well as the artists and albums.
From the library you can play them directly.
How to create a list
Finally, the function that remains for us to review are content lists.
You can create all the lists you want, and add the content you want– Songs, Full Albums, Podcast Episodes, Artist Charts … whatever you want!
To create a list, tap Create List, in the left column:
The list template appears. Tap on the three horizontal points to display the menu.
Then choose Edit data, and you can name the list, as well as a description, and a photo that identifies it.
From this menu you can also add entire list to play queue, add your profile, delete it, share it using a link, or insert it into a blog or website.
At the bottom you will see a search engine to find content to include in the list.
As we have explained, you can also add things while you listen or search for music, with the command To add to list that appears in all menus.
Premium features
If you have one Premium account you will have access to additional functions.
In addition to remove advertising, you can download topics and podcast by tapping on the Download button, to be able to enjoy them without the need for an Internet connection.
You will also listen to the songs you want without depending on lists or radios, and skip all the ones you want.
As you see, managing Spotify Web is very simple. It is not an application as complete as the mobile one or the one that you can install on your PC, but it has all the basic functions to find and play music or podcast, create lists, and share content.