Spotify is now giving users on its free ad-supported plan more control over what they listen to. The music streaming service is rolling out several new features that address one of the biggest complaints free users have had for years: being forced to listen on shuffle.
The most significant change is a new feature called “Pick & Play.” Starting now, free users can open any album or playlist, tap on a specific song, and start listening to it immediately. This is a major difference from the old system, where selecting a song would only start a shuffled mix of music from that album or playlist.
Previously, this system was frustrating because it often used up a user’s limited number of skips. Free accounts were restricted to skipping only six tracks per hour, forcing listeners to waste skips just to try and find a song they wanted to hear.
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However, this new on-demand freedom does have its limits. While you can choose any song to start with, the music that follows will still be played in shuffle mode. This means you still cannot play an entire album in order from start to finish without a Premium subscription. It is also unclear if the six-skips-per-hour limit remains the same under this new system.
Alongside “Pick & Play,” Spotify is introducing two other features. “Search & Play” allows users to find a particular song through search and begin playing it right away. The “Share & Play” feature lets someone instantly play a track from a link shared with them, such as one sent through a messaging app.
It is important to note that these updates do not remove advertisements. Free users will still hear commercials. But once an ad finishes, the music will return to the song the user intentionally selected, making the overall experience feel less disruptive.