How to See and Arrange Friend Activity on Spotify Desktop App?

With another social feature - Friend Activity added to Spotify, it's simple to keep up with friends' music choices to view their listening activity on Spotify. Built in Spotify desktop apps for Windows and Mac for so long, Friend Activity is now available on Spotify's other two important platforms - mobile apps with a "Community" feature.

This feature requires that users connect it with a Facebook account to add Facebook friends or have made friends on Spotify. Once it is on, it shows what friends are playing, and shows your friends what you're playing.

There are a number reasons to turn on or remove Friend Activity on Spotify. But in this article, we just dive into how.

How to Arrange Friend Activity on Spotify (On/Off)

Added as a feature by default though, Friend Activity can be disabled by mistake. In this case users need to turn on Friend Activity on Spotify again. To manage Friend Activity well on Spotify, you'll need to set up some of those if you haven't already.

How to See Friend Activity on Spotify

Normal case is that as long as you use the Spotify desktop app on Windows or Mac, Friend Activity is enabled by default and the panel is on the right side of Spotify's Music Page.

The enabled Friend activity feature, which should be accompanied with the paragraph that appears: "Let friends and followers on Spotify see what you're listening to."

Note: The Friend Activity panel can be hidden if the size of the window is too small. Or it can be missing if it is disabled. Just check to find it out.

See Friend Activity on Spotify

If the Friend Activity has been disabled before or hidden, a few simple steps can show the panel again.

Step 1 Open Spotify desktop app for Windows or Mac.

Step 2 On Spotify's Music Page, click in the top-right and select Settings from the list.

Step 3 On the Settings Page appears next, scroll down to Display Options, switch "See what your friends are playing" on (green).

After you turn on Friend Activity on Spotify, it will display activities of your friends automatically unless they had turned on the "Private session". The Friend Activity will draw content and inspiration from the listening activities of friends on the list. A speaker icon next to their names can stream last song they were playing.

How to Remove Friend Activity on Spotify

To hide Friend Activity on Spotify, a simple click on the top right 'X' icon can remove Friend Activity Spotify panel.

Hide Friend Activity on Spotify

If the Friend Activity has been disabled before or hidden, a few simple steps can show the panel again.

Step 1 On the Spotify's Music Page or from the Settings button below the Friend Activity panel, go to the Settings Page.

Step 2 Scroll down to Display Options, switch "See what your friends are playing" off (gray) to turn off Friend Activity on Spotify.

If you want to see Friend Activity on Spotify but don't want yours to be spotted, reading on to see how to hide Friend Activity on Spotify and get more freedom.

Extra Tips: Who Can See What I'm Listening to?

For readers who have this question, those can see what you are listening to are: followers or friends added with Facebook. As long as the Friend Activity feature is enabled, Spotify would share your listening experience in real time unless the "private session" is on.

Start a Private Session

Step 1 From the Settings button below the Friend Activity panel, go to the Settings Page.

Step 2 Scroll down to Social Options, switch "Start a private session to listen anonymously" on (green) or switch "Share my listening activity on Spotify" off (gray).

That's it! After the "private session" has been started, there would be a blue lock icon next to your name in the top as a reminder. A simple click on it will show: "You're listening anonymously in a private session."

Extra Tips: How to Keep Friend Activity on Sportify Updating

The Friend Activity will draw content and inspiration from all the music activities on Spotify and update in real time. If you notice it hasn't updated for a while. Follow the steps below to keep Friend Activity on Spotify updating.

Troubleshoot Friend Activity Not Updating

Step 1 Check the app is up-to-date.

Step 2 Check your device's operating system is up-to-date.

Step 3 Restart the Spotify desktop app for Windows or Mac.

Step 4 Log out of Spotify, then log back in.

Step 5 Reinstall the Spotify desktop app for Windows or Mac.

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Adam Gorden is an experienced writer of ViWizard who is obsessing about tech, movie and software.