How to Make a Listening Party on Spotify
Once a Group Session is live, everyone will have the same playback controls. Anyone can play, pause, skip or add tracks in the queue at any time. There’s currently no way for a host to lock these controls, but since Group Session is still technically in beta, this is a feature that Spotify will likely implement at a later date.
Open the Spotify app on your phone or tablet. Select a song or podcast episode. It’s a good idea to pick a song that’s part of a playlist so that you have many options to choose from. Otherwise, you may end up only being able to listen to one song and will have to set up a new Group Session. Tap the Connect icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Scroll down past your streamable devices and select Start Session under the Start a Group Session option. If you’d like to join a session instead, select Scan to Join. This allows you to scan a QR code on a friend’s device to instantly join their Group Session. Click Invite Friends. Select your preferred invite method. You can send a link directly by selecting Copy Link, text, or a messaging app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. Spotify lacks built-in chat functionality, so you’ll need to use a third-party app if you want to chat with friends during a Group Session. To end the Group Session, click the Left-Facing Arrow to return to the Connect screen. Click End Session.
What Is Spotify Group Session?
If you’re not in the mood for watching a video streaming service virtually with friends, Spotify has you covered. The popular music streaming platform has a feature called Group Sessions that lets up to five Spotify Premium users attend a virtual listening party. Once connected, you and your friends can listen to any song or podcast on Spotify simultaneously.
Spotify introduced the Group Session feature in May 2020. Only Premium users in the same location could listen together at launch, but Spotify later expanded it to allow worldwide connections.
Right now, Group Session is only available to Spotify Premium users and is limited to Spotify’s mobile app for phones and tablets. There is currently no option available on Spotify’s desktop apps.
