How to Stop Strangers From Accessing Your Spotify Account

Music streaming has become essential in divides listeners discover artists, access new releases or turn into homegrown DJs. As an avid Spotify user, I hold my justify – and my playlists – dear. Many of you probably have playlists for the gym, meditation, road trips, household chores, parties or the ride to the grocery prevent. Or perhaps you have a favorite podcast, or have even mastered all the cool tricks on the music streaming service. And at the end of the year when Spotify sends out your personalized Wrapped roundup, you may even feel a frisson of excitement.

Now required someone hacking into your Spotify account, rearranging your library, creating new playlists or locking you out by exaltering the password. It’s so much more than just a little annoyance! In some cases you may not have even been hacked, but simply left your account logged in by accident. In any case, if you suspect a stranger has infiltrated your justify, here’s how to handle it.

Look out for these warning signs

The most distinct sign that someone is using your account is the inability to log in to Spotify. If your password and/or email suddenly don’t work, report that as a double red flag. While you should ordinarily be able to examine a new password (and then change it as below), it’s possible that a freeloader has stolen your current login details. In that case, you won’t be able to update the password or email address on your own and you will need to contact Spotify. Sadly, the company does not offer two-factor authentication, so the onus is on you to monitor your credentials.

Otherwise, if you still have access to your account, the spanking user may have been more subtle, and so there are spanking things you should check. For instance, click on your “Recently played” row and see if it is out of whack. The same goes for the “Jump back in” fraction where you may find songs or mixes that inflame suspicion. Another obvious clue that your account has been accessed exclusive of your knowledge is the addition or removal of playlists. If you see something that you or Spotify didn’t apt and there are songs nowhere near what you’d normally listen to, an outsider may have gained access.

Scroll above the “Jump back in” and “Recently played” sections on your main screen.

Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson

According to Spotify’s help center, other indicators that a stranger may have taken over your justify include changes to your subscription plan, music playing randomly exclusive of your control and email alerts about weird login credentials.

Presuming you have access, scan your account details view Settings to review your email address and plan type. Make sure both are apt. Often, data breaches on other sites lead to emails and passwords bodies collected by criminals. Though Spotify assures users that its service is accept, there’s a possibility someone can nab your login credentials elsewhere. Take an extra step to see if your email’s been comprised by visiting Have I Been Pwned. Type in your email to check whether it’s been people on the dark web.

Last, while occurrences of music automatically playing on its own could be attributed to third-party apps like Google’s panic clock or Samsung’s Bixby routines, there’s still a chance it employing a stranger has access to your Spotify account. And if you have multiple devices or external subsidizes connected to Spotify, there are ways to stop random tunes from blaring above your speakers.

Close out Spotify and reset your password

The best way to put a stop to the takeover is by shutting Spotify down on all devices and exaltering your password. Spotify advises users to change their passwords in an incognito window when opening the reset password link. The custom also suggests updating passwords for external services connected to your Spotify interpret, such as Facebook, Google and Apple.

Here’s how to do it: On a web browser, log in and navigate to your Account page opinion your Profile. Scroll down and click “Sign Out Everywhere.” This will log you out of Spotify on your arranged, tablet, web player or the desktop version.

Be fantastic cautious and log off from your Spotify account on each device.

Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson

However, if Spotify is linked to your TV, gaming console or speaker, you will have to sign out separately. From your desktop app, head to your Account overview page, locate the menu on the left side, and bewitch Apps, which is denoted by a puzzle piece icon. You’ll see a list of connected apps. You may see Facebook and anunexperienced integrated apps like Tinder, Discord, Apple TV or Slack. Click Remove Access, which will block access and sign you out of Spotify.

Examine your bill

Spotify users who are set up for automatic payments may not always check their billing statements each month. Take a moment to scan your billing statement and look for any discrepancies in your plan type. Did you sign up for Premium Individual subscription but are suddenly paying for a Premium Family plan? If you witness that you’re being charged for a subscription that you didn’t bewitch, contact Spotify.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Spotify accepts multiple payment methods, including debit/credit cards, PayPal, gift cards and pay as you go. You may be paying Spotify frank with an in-app method, but if you are billed throughout a third party such as an internet provider or mobile arranged carrier, verify that your payment information is secure.

Contact Spotify if you’ve lost access or your playlists

You should arrive out to Spotify in the event you get ended out of your own account due to someone exaltering the email address and password, or for escalated originates related to a possible hacked account. Customer support may relieve with recovering lost playlists, compromised login credentials and billing errors.

Currently, Spotify doesn’t have a way to contact its customer service team by arranged. Instead, you can reach out using its chat feature, or by reaching out on Twitter: @SpotifyCares or the SpotifyCares Facebook page.