How To Set Up Spotify Parental Controls

**This tech guide was updated on June 25, 2026.**

Spotify is a popular music-streaming service. This resource will review Spotify's parental control options. For more information about the app itself, check out our Spotify app review, which covers harmful content, predation, privacy, and more.

About Spotify Parental Controls 

Spotify’s parental controls are targeted at users under 13 years old. Parents can create a managed account for their children. It is important to note that once a child turns 13, their account will be transitioned to a normal Spotify account, and you will lose access to parental controls. Note: This is separate from the Spotify Kids app, which is a stand-alone app with a curated list of songs for younger children. 

Here are the features enabled by default on managed accounts:

• Explicit content is automatically turned off.
• Audiobooks and podcasts are not available.
• Accounts are private and not searchable or discoverable.
• Searching for other Spotify users is disabled.
• Jams are disabled.
• Blend playlists are disabled.
• User messages and music videos are disabled.
• Searches and search suggestions “commonly associated with age-inappropriate content are prevented”.
• For non-Premium Family managed accounts, ads are “limited to informational ads about Spotify features, and there are no direct purchase links”.
• Videos and Canvas are automatically turned off.

Parents/guardians can also disable specific artists or tracks.

How To Set Up A Managed Account

On mobile devices:

1. Tap your profile picture at the top.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Privacy Settings.
4. Tap Parental controls.
5. Tap Create next to Create a managed account.

On a web browser: 

1. Go to your account page.
2. Under Account, select Parental controls.
3. Select Create next to Create a managed account.

How to change an existing account to a managed account:

1. Tap their profile picture at the top.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Privacy.
4. Tap Parental controls.
5. Tap the link ‘Invite a parent or guardian to manage your account’.
6. Tap Continue, then scan the QR code or login temporarily by tapping Parent login.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to give parental consent and set up the managed account.

Note: when switching to a managed account, the managed account will “immediately lose access to some content and features.” This includes active add-ons, listening history, and some of their personal information. You have up to 7 days to undo these changes, so just be sure everything is up to date before the week is up. 

How to Give Parental Consent

Spotify requires parents to verify that they are the child’s parent or guardian. To do this, you will have to either provide a photo of your ID through a third-party service or input a credit or debit card. Your card won’t be saved or charged.

How to Manage Settings On a Managed Account

You can adjust the settings for a managed account anytime. Here, parents can manage accessible content, change their parental PIN, edit account information, and more. 

1. Open up the Spotify app on your phone.
2. From the menu at the top right, tap Account Overview.
3. Tap Premium Family.
4. Choose one of your kids.
5. Toggle Explicit content on or off.
6. Toggle Show videos and Canvas on or off.
7. Tap Manage artists or songs to choose specific artists or songs that you’d like to block.

How to Set Up the Explicit Content Filter on a Regular Spotify Account

For teens aged 13 and up, you can still enable the Explicit Content filter directly on their account. While it's nice that Spotify offers this feature, it's not passcode-protected, which means your kid can simply toggle it back on as soon as you're done.

1. On your kid's phone, open up the Spotify app.
2. In the top left corner, tap their profile icon.
3. Tap Settings and privacy.
4. Tap Explicit Content.
5. Make sure it's toggled off.

How To Manage Privacy Settings for Spotify's Messages Feature

Spotify introduced a Messaging feature in the app that lets users send messages and content (songs, podcast episodes, etc.) back and forth. For a managed account, this is automatically disabled, but there are no specific privacy settings for parents of teens. 

Here are the available privacy settings available to all users: 

• Accept or reject new requests: If someone you haven't interacted with tries to message you, you can choose to accept or reject it. The sender will not be notified that you've rejected it, and the chat will disappear from your inbox.
• Block users: You can block any user from messaging you. This will also block them from following your profile and viewing your listening activity. To block a user, navigate to your profile > under Messages, tap the person you want to block > tap their name at the top > tap Block.
• Report messages: If you feel a message you received was inappropriate and violates Spotify's Terms of Use, you can report it. In the chat, hold down the message in question and tap Report.
• Opt out: You can opt out of Messages entirely in settings. To do this, navigate to your profile > Settings and privacy > Privacy and social > scroll down and toggle off "Messages."