How to see what your friends are listening to on Spotify

Spotify has always been a deeply personal space. It’s got everything from your daily loops to your comfort tracks to the playlists you can never really explain. Now, the app is making those moments a little more social, without turning them into noise.

With Listening Activity and Jam inside Messages, Spotify lets you see what your friends are listening to right now and, if the moment feels right, listen along together. Here is how to use it.

How to turn on Listening Activity on Spotify

Listening Activity is a new feature that shows your currently playing song to friends you already chat with on Spotify. It updates in real time as your music changes. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Open Spotify and pull out the side drawer menu
Step 2: Tap View profile
Step 3: Go to Privacy and social settings
Step 4: Toggle Listening Activity on

Once enabled, your music becomes visible inside Spotify Messages. This setting is optional and can be switched off anytime.

After turning Listening Activity on, your current track appears at the top of your Messages chats and in the chat list. Friends do not need to ask what you are listening to. The song is already there, updating as you play something new.

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Only people you already message on Spotify can see this information, and nothing is shared if you turn the feature off.

How to listen together using Request to Jam

Request to Jam is another new social feature that lets you tune into a shared listening session with a friend. Here’s how you can use this feature:

Step 1: Open the Messages chat of a friend who is currently listening to music
Step 2: Tap the Jam option in the top-right corner
Step 3: Send a request to start a Jam
Step 4: Wait for your friend to accept

Once accepted, a Jam session begins. Your friend becomes the host, and both of you can add songs to a shared queue and listen together in real time.

Spotify Premium is required to start a Jam request. Free users can still join a Jam if they receive an invitation.

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Listening Activity and Request to Jam are rolling out through Spotify Messages on Android and iOS, including in India. It is a simple update, but one that makes Spotify feel a little less solitary and a lot more shared, one track at a time.