Tag: Hey Spotify

How to Get the Most Out of Search on Spotify

May 27, 2021

There’s a lot of great music and podcasts on Spotify. Like a lot. We are talking about over 70 million tracks and more than 2.6 million podcast titles. Having that many songs and episodes at your fingertips is great. Knowing how to find it? Even better. 

Using the search functionality on Spotify can help you find exactly what you’re looking for quickly and efficiently. So to help you become the master of search, we’ve rounded up a few tips and tricks to employ.

Filters on mobile: Categorizing with ease

Just last week, Spotify began rolling out Filters while using search on mobile devices. These filters are designed to help you find information faster and more easily, and allow you to categorize your results by artists, songs, playlists, albums, and more. By clicking on the appropriate tab, you can discover the exact type of music or podcast you’re looking for. For example, if you type in “The Office,” you can filter your results by “Podcast & shows,” where you’ll find content like An Oral History of The Office.

Lyrics search: No need to name that tune

Ready to hear that song you can’t stop singing, but can’t remember the actual name of the song? With Lyrics search, we have you covered. Gone are the days where you need to type the words into a web search engine. Maybe “I’ve been hiding for so long” is stuck in your head. Just start typing the lyrics into the search bar and Spotify will populate the songs that contain the same phrase, which, in this case, is girl in red’s “girls.”  

Using “Hey Spotify” for voice search: Footloose and hands-free

For users in the U.S., take a try at going hands-free by using your voice to search. First, to enable a hands-free voice experience, just tap on the microphone or say “Hey Spotify” when you’re in the Spotify app. Using voice search will allow you to get to your content faster. Next time you’re in the car or busy in the kitchen, give the functionality a go by saying “Hey Spotify, play Discover Weekly” or “Hey Spotify, play ’90s R&B.” You can even play content specific to your account, like “Hey Spotify, play my Liked Songs.”

Now that you’re well versed on the search functionality, it’s time to put that knowledge to use and crank up the tunes or find your next podcast binge.

5 Things to Know About the New ‘Hey Spotify’ Feature

April 9, 2021

We know that Spotify listeners crave audio at every moment—including when they’re busy or on-the-go. And when it comes to tasks like cooking, exercising, or running an errand, sometimes your hands are tied. So we set out to develop a new voice-controlled experience called “Hey Spotify,” to make it easier for our users to start, navigate, and search for their music and podcasts—without using their hands. 

This new feature, built within an existing user experience listeners have come to know and love, unlocks a truly mobile and versatile way for users to enjoy voice-controlled access to the personalized Spotify experience, anytime, anywhere. 

Read on for five things to know about the new “Hey Spotify” voice experience. 

  1. It’s up to you to turn it on… Go to Search, tap the mic icon, and give Spotify permission to record audio or access your microphone. Once that’s enabled, say “Hey Spotify” to ask for music and podcasts, control playback, and more. 
  2. …Or turn it off: Simply tap the gear icon to go to Settings, then tap “Voice interactions.” You can turn off “Hey Spotify” or tap mic permissions to disable the voice feature completely.
  3. No more Search parties: ‘Hey Spotify’ means that you can access Spotify Voice from anywhere in the app, so you no longer have to go through the Search tab to access the voice feature. Simply say a phrase like “Hey Spotify, play my Daily Drive,” to instantly hear the mix. 
  4. It’s easier to listen to what you like: You can ask Spotify directly to play countless songs, artists, moods, and genres—from the artist you’ve listened to for years to a new track you can’t get out of your head. Even if you’ve forgotten the name of a specific song, just asking Spotify to play a particular artist or genre will get you to music you’ll love. Or, if you’re in the mood for podcasts, jump back into your latest listening binge by asking us for your favorite shows. 
  5. When you say, “Hey Spotify…” the app will begin picking up what you say, and continue only until it’s processed your question or request. Plus, Spotify will always indicate—with an in-app visual or audio tone—when it is receiving your voice input. The rest of the time, the app listens for “Hey Spotify” in short, few-second snippets that are deleted if you don’t say it. 

“Hey Spotify” recently started rolling out to some listeners in the U.S. across iOS and Android devices, with more to follow over the next few weeks.