Spotify is where I spend most of my listening time, whether I'm starting the day with a podcast or finding the right playlist to power me through a workout. But sometimes, the normal playback speed doesn't quite fit. Maybe a podcast host is moving a little too slowly, or I want to slow down a track to catch every detail.
Spotify makes this possible in more ways than you might think. For podcasts and audiobooks, playback speed is built right in. For songs, you'll need a few extra tricks, but it's still an easy fix once you know where to look.
The best part is you don't need to be a tech expert to figure it out. Adjusting the speed only takes a tap or two on your device, and there are also simple tools that give you more control over your music. This guide walks you through how to change Spotify playback speed across mobile, desktop, and the web. I'll also share a few apps and tools that let you slow down or speed up songs, so you can shape your listening experience to match your mood.
Part 1. Can You Change Playback Speed on Spotify?
Yes. Spotify includes a built-in playback speed feature that works across supported devices for both free and Premium users. But it's limited to longer content like podcasts and audiobooks.
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For podcasts and audiobooks
If you want to move through an episode faster or slow it down to catch details, playback speed controls are built right in. Tapping the speed button lets you choose anywhere from 0.5x to 3.5x. Faster speeds are useful when you're trying to get through long episodes, while slower speeds can help when you want to focus on every word.
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For music tracks
You might want to speed up dance tracks or slow down a song to catch the details, but music is a different story. Playback speed options aren't offered for songs, since changing tempo and pitch would alter the way tracks were originally produced. It also complicates how the platform tracks listening time for artists, personal stats, and top-track reports. So while podcasts and audiobooks are flexible, music playback stays fixed at normal speed.
So what's the workaround?
Streaming platforms will always be more limited than media players like VLC, which offer built-in speed controls for regular audio files. If you want that same kind of flexibility with Spotify songs, you'll need to convert and download your music with a tool like ViWizard. You can try this approach right away. Or stick around as we'll cover more details later. For now, just know that playback speed is officially supported for spoken-word content and requires third-party help for music tracks.
Download Spotify music, podcasts and audiobooks as MP3 and more. Keep full sound and listen offline anytime.
What Is Also Worth Considering:
- Skip Back / Forward: Jump a few seconds backward or forward in a podcast or audiobook. Handy for replaying or skipping parts you don't need.
- Sleep Timer: Stop playback automatically after a set time. Great for listening before bed.
- Connect: Play music on another device, like speakers or a smart TV, while controlling it from your phone. This also ensures playback features like speed work on the correct device.
- Offline Mode: Download podcasts or episodes to listen without the internet. Perfect for travel or weak connections.
- Mix: Blend songs automatically or manually by matching beats and tempos. Adjust fade-ins/outs, EQ, and effects for smoother transitions. Organizing songs by style or tempo first usually works best.
- AI DJ: Create a personalized, dynamic soundtrack automatically. It's like having a DJ that adapts to your taste and helps you discover new music.
Part 2. Change Spotify Playback Speed on Desktop without App
If you've been looking for a way to adjust the playback speed of your Spotify music, there's a tool that can help: ViWizard Spotify Music Converter. While it's primarily a music converter, it also includes a built-in audio player that allows you to play your converted music, podcasts, and audiobooks with playback speed options. You can adjust the speed with options including 0.5x, 0.75x, 1x, 1.5x, and 2x—giving you the flexibility to speed up or slow down your songs as needed.
Best Spotify Music Speed Changer: ViWizard Spotify Music Converter
Best of all, ViWizard is popular among users who want to download music from Spotify without needing a Premium subscription. Once downloaded, your songs retain their original audio quality, up to 320kbps, so there's no need to worry about sound quality. You can also play your music on any media player with speed-changing capabilities, like Windows Media Player, for even more flexibility.
Key Features of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter
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- Convert Spotify music to common audio format like MP3
- Function as a Spotify music downloader, converter and editor
- Get rid of all digital rights management protection from Spotify
- Preserve ID3 tags and other metadata information of Spotify music
Step 1Download and Install ViWizard Spotify Music Converter
Start by downloading ViWizard Spotify Music Converter for your computer. Choose the version based on your operating system (Windows or Mac). Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. After installation, launch ViWizard to start converting and enjoying your Spotify music.
Step 2Add Spotify Tracks for Conversion
When you open ViWizard, log in to your Spotify account within the software to access your entire library. Go to the profile page of the content you want to convert. When the "+" icon in the bottom-right corner turns green, click it. ViWizard will automatically analyze and load the selected tracks, preparing them for conversion.
Step 3Choose Output Format and Settings
Click the hamburger menu in the upper-right corner > Preferences > Conversion. Select your preferred output format (MP3 is the most compatible). Set the bitrate to 320kbps for optimal quality. You can also adjust additional settings like sample rate and channel preferences if desired.
Step 4Convert and Download Spotify Music
Go to the conversion list and click the "Convert" button to begin. ViWizard converts music at a fast 15x speed. You can track the progress of each song as it's being converted. Once the conversion is complete, open the output folder to find your downloaded songs. ViWizard includes a built-in audio player that allows you to adjust the playback speed. Speed up (1.5x, 2x) or slow down (0.5x, 0.75x) your music for a customized listening experience.
Part 3. Change Spotify Playback Speed with Media Players
If you want more control over playback speed, media players on your computer are a great option. Here are a few recommended ones and how to use them:
- Launch Windows Media Player on your computer.
- Click File in the top-left corner and select Open. Add the Spotify audio files you want to adjust.
- Find the file in your library and click Play.
- While the song is playing, right-click the title in the Now Playing bar at the bottom.
- Hover over Enhancements and select Play Speed Settings.
- A slider will appear. Adjust the playback speed to Fast, Normal, or Slow based on your preference.
- Open QuickTime Player on your Mac.
- Go to File > Open File and select the Spotify audio files you want to play.
- With the songs loaded, click the Window menu in the top toolbar.
- Select Show A/V Controls to reveal additional playback options.
- In the A/V Controls window, find the Playback Speed slider.
- Move the slider to increase or decrease speed. Options may include 2x, 5x, 10x, 30x, or even 60x.
- Open VLC Media Player on your Windows or Mac computer.
- Click Media > Open File and select your Spotify audio files.
- Play the file.
- From the top menu, go to Playback > Speed.
- Choose from Slower, Normal, or Faster, or use the custom slider to set the speed precisely.
Part 4. Change Spotify Playback Speed on Mobile App
- Open the Spotify mobile app on your Android or iOS device and log in.
- Go to the podcast episode or audiobook chapter you want to listen to. You can find saved content in Your Library or use Search to discover new shows.
- Tap Play to start listening.
- Open the Now Playing bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the 1x button to change the playback speed. You can choose from 0.5x, 0.8x, 1x (default), 1.2x, 1.8x, 2x, 2.5x, 3x, or 3.5x.
- If the speed control doesn't appear or won't adjust, check if playback is active on another device. Tap the Connected Device icon and select your phone from the list to enable speed control on your current device.
- Once selected, your chosen speed will apply automatically to future episodes or chapters.
Part 5. Change Spotify Playback Speed on Desktop App
- Open the Spotify desktop app on Windows or Mac, or log in through a compatible browser using the Spotify Web Player.
- Find the podcast episode or audiobook chapter you'd like to adjust. You can browse saved content under Podcasts & Shows or Audiobooks, or use Search to discover new content.
- Click Play to start listening.
- Look at the Now Playing bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Click the 1x button to change the playback speed. Available speeds range from 0.5x up to 3.5x.
- If the speed control doesn't work, make sure playback isn't active on another device. Tap the Connected Device icon and select your computer from the list to enable playback speed on your current device.
Part 6. Change Spotify Playback Speed on Web Player
- Open the Spotify Web Player in your browser and log in to your account.
- Find the podcast episode or audiobook chapter you want to listen to. You can browse saved content under Podcasts & Shows or Audiobooks, or use Search to find new content.
- Click Play to start listening.
- Look for the Playback Speed icon from the Spotify Playback Speed Chrome extension in the player interface.
- Click the icon to adjust the playback speed. Options typically range from 0.5x up to 3.5x.
- If the speed control doesn't work, check whether playback is active on another device. Click the Connected Device icon and select this web browser.
Part 7. Best Tools to Slow Down or Speed Up Spotify Songs
For those who prefer to enjoy Spotify music on their mobile devices and want to control playback speed, there are handy third-party apps available.
- Install and launch the Audipo app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Transfer your downloaded Spotify songs to your device (via iTunes, for example) and add them to Audipo.
- Tap the Speed Settings icon within the app.
- Choose the desired playback speed, ranging from 0.25x to 4.0x.
- Install and open the Music Speed Changer app on your Android device.
- Import your downloaded Spotify songs into the app's music library.
- Select the songs you want to play.
- While listening, tap the Tempo feature.
- Use the slider or buttons to adjust playback speed to your liking.
- Open Google Chrome on your computer.
- Go to the Chrome Web Store by clicking the three dots in the top-right corner, selecting Extensions, then Visit Chrome Web Store.
- In the search bar, type "Spotify Playback Speed" and press Enter. Locate the extension in the results.
- Click Add Extension to install it in Chrome.
- After installation, click the puzzle icon in the Chrome toolbar.
- Find the extension and click the pin icon. When it turns blue, the extension is enabled.
- Open the Spotify Web Player in Chrome and start playing your music or podcast.
- Look for the Playback Speed icon from the extension in the player interface.
- Click the icon to adjust playback speed, ranging from 0.5x to 2x. You can also enable Preserve Pitch to keep the original sound quality while speeding up or slowing down.
Conclusion
Speaking of Spotify playback speed, you can use this feature in Spotify to increase or slow the speed of podcast. If you are interested in adjusting the speed of Spotify songs, you would need to turn to a Chrome extension or use ViWizard Spotify Music Converter to download Spotify songs first. Then you can freely change the speed of Spotify playback on your device.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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