Spotify’s Smart Shuffle is a playback mode that not only shuffles songs in your playlist but also injects recommended tracks based on your listening habits. Besides the Spotify Shuffle feature itself it’s designed to enhance discovery, many users find it disruptive, especially when carefully curated playlists get mixed with songs they didn’t choose. If you’re asking how to turn off Spotify Smart Shuffle, this guide provides clear, updated steps to help you take back control of your listening experience.
Follow along as we explain how to disable Smart Shuffle on mobile and desktop, share troubleshooting tips, and explore what Spotify plans for future updates. Read on to master your settings and enjoy the music exactly the way you want it.
Why It’s Been Difficult to Turn Off Smart Shuffle
Spotify originally introduced Smart Shuffle as a default play mode that mixes your playlists with algorithmic recommendations. However, many users pushed back on the lack of control, especially because Smart Shuffle was forced upon some users and playlist settings didn’t “stick.”
Due to that feedback, Spotify has begun gradually rolling out a more permanent toggle to disable this feature. But the rollout is uneven and region- / version-dependent.
How to Turn Off Spotify Smart Shuffle
Here’s how you can disable the feature on Spotify (or at least disable its use) on different devices.
On Mobile (iOS / Android)
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Open the Spotify app and tap your profile picture.
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Go to Settings & Privacy.
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Tap Playback.
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Look for “Include Smart Shuffle in play modes” and toggle it off.
Once turned off, your shuffle button should cycle only through regular shuffle and linear play modes—Smart Shuffle will no longer activate.
Note: This setting is currently available only for Premium users and on the mobile version of Spotify.
On Desktop / Web
At present, Spotify does not consistently offer a setting to disable Smart Shuffle via the desktop or web app. Many users report that the shuffle button may still cycle into Smart Shuffle mode.
However, if you’ve already disabled Smart Shuffle in mobile settings, that change should propagate to other devices (desktop/web) when synced.
If Smart Shuffle still activates on desktop or web:
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Log out and log back in to your Spotify account to resync settings.
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Clear your browser cache and cookies (for the web player).
Tips & Workarounds When Smart Shuffle Won’t Stay Off
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If mobile settings are off but Smart Shuffle still appears elsewhere, resync by logging out and back in to Spotify on all devices.
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In the web player, clear the browser cache and cookies, then reload.
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If one device (desktop or browser) persists in enabling Smart Shuffle, use your mobile app to confirm the toggle is off and then reopen the desktop/web.
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In some extreme cases, uninstalling and reinstalling Spotify may help reset toggles (be cautious: you could lose offline/downloaded playlists).
Future of the Shuffle Feature Control on Spotify
As of April 2025, Spotify is testing a global disable toggle that fully removes Smart Shuffle from the play mode options (leaving only linear and shuffle). Some users report seeing a setting named Enable All Play Modes that disables Smart Shuffle entirely.
This change is still being rolled out slowly, so not all users have access yet. When it’s universally available, it will simplify the process of turning off Smart Shuffle Spotify across all devices.
Conclusion
Understanding how to turn off Smart Shuffle helps you regain full control over your playlists and listening experience on Spotify. By navigating to Settings → Playback on the mobile app and disabling “Include Smart Shuffle in play modes”, you can enjoy your music without unwanted recommendations interrupting your flow. While desktop users still face limitations, syncing settings from mobile or using the web version offers an effective workaround.
Spotify continues to refine its Smart Shuffle feature, and a universal toggle to permanently disable it is already rolling out to Premium users worldwide. Until then, following the right steps ensures your playlists play exactly as you intended, just your chosen songs.
FAQs
1. Can I turn off Smart Shuffle on a free account?
Unfortunately, no. Spotify’s free version doesn’t allow manual control over playback modes. The option to disable Smart Shuffle is only available for Premium subscribers who can access the Playback settings. If you’re using the free plan, you’ll still encounter Smart Shuffle occasionally as part of Spotify’s recommendation system.
2. Does turning off Smart Shuffle on Spotify affect my downloaded songs?
Not at all. Disabling Smart Shuffle only changes how Spotify mixes your playback; it doesn’t delete or modify any downloaded files. Your offline songs will remain available and play in the same order you’ve set. This means that once you learn how to turn it off, you can enjoy uninterrupted listening, whether online or offline.
3. Why does Smart Shuffle keep turning back on?
This usually happens because Spotify saves your playback mode per device, not across all platforms. If you switch between mobile, desktop, or web, Smart Shuffle might re-enable itself. Logging out and back in or reinstalling the app often helps sync your settings.
4. When will desktop Spotify allow disabling Smart Shuffle permanently?
Spotify has started testing a global toggle that lets users completely remove Smart Shuffle from the play modes. However, this update is still rolling out region by region, so not everyone sees it yet. For now, changing the setting on your mobile app is the best workaround, as it often syncs with your desktop playback. Soon, you’ll be able to manage how to turn off Spotify Smart Shuffle directly on the desktop, too.