Following someone on Spotify lets you see their public playlists and listening activity in your feed. If you’ve ever wondered how to follow someone on spotify, the process is simpler than you might think. This guide walks you through every method, whether you’re on mobile, desktop, or using a web browser.
Spotify is all about sharing music. When you follow a friend, artist, or influencer, their public playlists and recently played songs appear in your activity feed. It’s a great way to discover new music and stay connected with what others are listening to.
In this article, you’ll learn the exact steps for following someone on Spotify. We’ll cover the mobile app, the desktop app, and the web player. We’ll also troubleshoot common issues and answer frequently asked questions.
How To Follow Someone On Spotify
Let’s get straight to the point. The core method for following someone on Spotify is the same across platforms, but the buttons look a little different. You need to find the person’s profile first. Then, you click or tap the follow button.
Following On The Mobile App (IPhone And Android)
The Spotify mobile app is where most people listen. Here’s how to follow someone using your phone.
- Open the Spotify app on your iPhone or Android device.
- Tap the search icon (the magnifying glass) at the bottom of the screen.
- Type the person’s name or username into the search bar.
- Look for the “Profiles” section in the search results. Tap on the person’s profile picture or name.
- Once you’re on their profile page, you’ll see a button that says “Following” if you already follow them, or a button that says “Follow” if you don’t.
- Tap the “Follow” button. It will change to “Following” to confirm.
That’s it. You are now following that person. You’ll start seeing their public playlists and listening activity in your feed. If the person has a private profile, you won’t see their activity, but you can still follow them if they allow it.
Using The Search Bar Effectively
Sometimes, finding a specific person can be tricky. If you know their exact Spotify username, use that in the search bar. If you only know their display name, try searching for that. Spotify’s search isn’t always perfect, so be patient. If you have them in your contacts, you can also connect your phone’s contacts to Spotify to find friends quickly.
Following On The Desktop App (Windows And Mac)
The desktop app gives you a bigger view. The steps are very similar to mobile.
- Open the Spotify desktop app on your computer.
- Click the search bar in the top-left corner.
- Type the person’s name or username.
- Click on their profile from the search results.
- On their profile page, look for the “Follow” button. It’s usually a green button with a person icon and the word “Follow”.
- Click the “Follow” button. It will change to “Following”.
On desktop, you can also right-click on a person’s name in a playlist or in your feed. A menu will pop up with the option to “Follow” them. This is a quick shortcut if you see someone you want to follow while browsing.
Using The Web Player
The web player works the same way as the desktop app. Open a browser, go to open.spotify.com, and log in. Use the search bar to find the person. Click on their profile and then click “Follow”. The web player is a good option if you can’t install the app.
Alternative Methods To Follow Someone
There are a few other ways to follow people on Spotify. These methods can save you time.
Following From A Playlist
If you find a public playlist you like, you can follow the person who made it directly from the playlist page.
- Open the playlist you’re interested in.
- Look at the top of the playlist. You’ll see the creator’s name and profile picture.
- Click or tap on their name. This takes you to their profile.
- Click the “Follow” button on their profile.
This is a great way to follow curators or friends who share good playlists. You don’t need to search for them separately.
Following From The Friend Activity Feed
On desktop, the Friend Activity feed shows you what your friends are listening to in real time. You can follow new people from here.
- On the right side of the desktop app, look for the Friend Activity panel. It shows profile pictures and song names.
- Hover over a person’s name or profile picture.
- A small “Follow” button will appear. Click it.
This method only works if the person is already sharing their activity with you. If you don’t see the Friend Activity panel, you can enable it in the settings under “Display Options”.
Following Via A Direct Link
If someone sends you a direct link to their Spotify profile, you can follow them instantly.
- Click the link. It will open in your browser or the Spotify app.
- You’ll land on their profile page.
- Click “Follow”.
This is the fastest method if you have the link. Many people share their profile links on social media or in text messages.
How To Unfollow Someone On Spotify
Sometimes you want to stop following someone. The process is just as easy.
On Mobile
- Go to the person’s profile.
- Tap the “Following” button.
- It will change back to “Follow”. You have unfollowed them.
On Desktop
- Go to the person’s profile.
- Click the “Following” button.
- It will change to “Follow”. You have unfollowed them.
Unfollowing someone stops their activity from appearing in your feed. It doesn’t remove them from your followers list if they follow you back.
Common Issues When Following Someone
Sometimes things don’t work as expected. Here are a few common problems and how to fix them.
Can’t Find The Person
If you can’t find someone by searching, they might have a private profile. Private profiles don’t show up in search. You need to ask them for a direct link to their profile. Also, make sure you are typing their name correctly. Spotify usernames are case-sensitive.
The Follow Button Is Missing
If you are on someone’s profile and don’t see a follow button, it could mean they have disabled following. Some users choose to make their profile private or restrict who can follow them. In this case, you cannot follow them until they change their settings.
Following But Not Seeing Activity
If you follow someone but don’t see their activity in your feed, there are a few reasons. First, they might have a private session turned on. Second, they might have their activity set to private. Third, the Friend Activity feed might be turned off in your settings. Check your display options to make sure the feed is enabled.
Privacy Settings And Following
Your own privacy settings affect how others can follow you. If you want to be followed, make sure your profile is public.
How To Make Your Profile Public Or Private
- Go to your Spotify settings.
- Look for “Social” or “Privacy” settings.
- Toggle the option for “Public Profile” on or off.
- If you turn it off, people won’t find you in search. They can only follow you via a direct link.
You can also control who sees your listening activity. In the same settings, you can turn “Share my listening activity on Spotify” on or off. If it’s off, your followers won’t see what you’re listening to in real time.
Benefits Of Following People On Spotify
Following people isn’t just about stalking their music taste. It has real benefits.
- Discover new music through your friends’ playlists.
- See what your favorite artists are listening to.
- Get recommendations based on the people you follow.
- Stay updated on new releases from artists you follow.
- Build a community around shared music interests.
Following influencers or curators can also introduce you to genres you might not have explored otherwise. It’s a social feature that makes Spotify more interactive.
How To Find People To Follow
If you don’t know who to follow, here are some ideas.
- Connect your Facebook account to Spotify. This will show you which of your Facebook friends are on Spotify.
- Sync your phone contacts. Spotify will suggest friends from your contact list.
- Search for your favorite artists. Many artists have public profiles where they share playlists.
- Look at playlists in your favorite genres. The creators of those playlists are often worth following.
- Ask friends for their Spotify usernames or profile links.
Once you start following a few people, Spotify’s algorithm will suggest more profiles based on your activity.
Managing Your Followed List
You can see everyone you follow in one place.
On Mobile
- Go to your library.
- Tap on the “Profiles” icon (it looks like a person with a plus sign).
- You’ll see a list of everyone you follow. Tap on a profile to go to it.
On Desktop
- Click on your profile name in the top-right corner.
- Select “Profile” from the dropdown menu.
- On your profile page, click “Following”. You’ll see a list of everyone you follow.
From here, you can easily unfollow people or visit their profiles. Keeping your followed list tidy helps you focus on the people you care about most.
Troubleshooting Follow Issues
Sometimes the follow feature glitches. Here are quick fixes.
- Restart the app or browser.
- Log out and log back in.
- Clear your app cache (on mobile).
- Update the Spotify app to the latest version.
- Check your internet connection.
If none of these work, contact Spotify support. They can help with account-specific issues.
Following Artists Vs. Following People
There’s a difference between following an artist and following a regular person. When you follow an artist, you get notifications about new releases and concert dates. When you follow a person, you see their playlists and listening activity. Both are useful, but they serve different purposes.
To follow an artist, go to their artist page and click the “Follow” button. It works the same way as following a person. You can follow both artists and people without any limits.
How To Share Your Profile So Others Can Follow You
If you want others to follow you, share your profile link.
On Mobile
- Go to your profile by tapping your name at the top of the home screen.
- Tap the three dots (more options) next to your name.
- Select “Share”.
- Choose how to share the link (text, email, social media).
On Desktop
- Click your profile name in the top-right corner.
- Select “Profile”.
- Click the three dots next to your name.
- Select “Copy Profile Link”.
- Paste the link wherever you want.
Sharing your profile makes it easy for friends to find and follow you. You can also add your Spotify link to your social media bios.
Final Tips For Following On Spotify
Here are a few extra tips to make the most of following.
- Follow people who share playlists you actually like. Quality over quantity.
- Check your Friend Activity feed regularly to see what’s new.
- Don’t be afraid to unfollow if someone’s taste doesn’t match yours.
- Use the “Private Session” feature if you don’t want others to see what you’re listening to.
- Experiment with following different types of people, from friends to curators to artists.
Following someone on Spotify is a simple way to enhance your music discovery. It connects you with others and keeps your feed fresh with new tunes. Now you know exactly how to do it on any device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Follow Someone On Spotify Without Them Knowing?
Yes, following someone is not notified to them. They will only see your name in their followers list if they check it. There is no notification sent when you follow someone.
What Happens When I Follow Someone On Spotify?
You will see their public playlists and their listening activity in your Friend Activity feed. You will also see their playlists in your library if they are public. Following does not affect your recommendations directly, but it can influence what you see in your feed.
Why Can’t I Follow Someone On Spotify?
There are a few reasons. The person may have a private profile that disables following. Their account might be set to private. You might also be blocked by that user. Check your internet connection and app version as well.
How Do I Find My Spotify Username To Share With Others?
On mobile, go to your profile and look at the text under your name. That is your username. On desktop, click your profile name and look at the URL in your browser. The last part of the URL is your username. You can also find it in your account settings.
Is There A Limit To How Many People I Can Follow On Spotify?
Spotify does not have a strict limit on how many people you can follow. However, following too many people might clutter your feed. It’s best to follow only those whose music you genuinely enjoy.
Now you have all the information you need to start following people on Spotify. Go ahead and connect with friends, discover new music, and enjoy a more social listening experience. Remember, the key is to search for the profile, click follow, and start seeing their activity in your feed. It’s that easy.