How to adjust your Spotify queue

You can adjust Spotify’s queue from the Now Playing screen. Open the queue icon there. You can then add songs, remove them or drag them to a different position. On mobile devices, Spotify says editing the playback queue is a Premium feature.

The queue shows what Spotify will play next. This differs from the fixed order of a playlist. A change to the queue usually applies only to your current listening session. Your original playlist remains unchanged.

In this guide, you’ll find the official steps for mobile, tablet, desktop and the web player. You’ll also learn why a track sometimes plays at an unexpected time and how to prevent it.

Where can you find the queue in Spotify?

Start playing a song first. Tap the Now Playing bar at the bottom. On the full playback screen, you’ll find the queue icon at the bottom. It looks like several horizontal lines with a play symbol.

On a tablet, you may first need to tap the album cover in the side menu. This opens the Now Playing screen. On desktop and in the web player, the queue icon is next to the playback bar at the bottom of the screen.

Can’t see the icon? Enlarge the window, close any open side panel or update Spotify. Also check whether a song is actually playing. Without an active listening session, the queue may be empty or less visible.

The icon’s exact position can change after a Spotify update. The basic route usually remains the same: open the current track and then look for the queue icon.

How do you add a song to the Spotify queue?

How do you add songs on iPhone and Android?

1. Find the song you want to hear.
2. Tap the three dots next to the song.
3. Select Add to Queue.
4. Open the Now Playing screen.
5. Tap the queue icon.
6. Check where the added song appears.

In some versions of the Spotify app, you can also swipe a song to the right in the queue to add it. Use the menu with three dots if you’re unsure what swiping will do.

Adding more than one song? They appear in the section containing manually added tracks. Their order depends on how and when you add them, so check the queue after each batch.

You can add a song from an album, playlist, artist page or search result. The song doesn’t need to be in your library or one of your own playlists first.

How do you add songs on desktop and in the web player?

1. Find the song you want.
2. Right click the title or click the three dots.
3. Select Add to Queue.
4. Click the queue icon at the bottom.
5. Check the list of upcoming tracks.

You can also do this from an album, playlist, search result or artist page on desktop. The song doesn’t need to be in your own playlist.

Want to add several songs from the same album? Add them individually if you want complete control over the order. If you start the whole album directly, Spotify uses the album order as the active playback source.

How do you change the order of songs?

Open the queue. On mobile, press and hold the handle next to a song. Then drag the song up or down and release it in your preferred position.

On desktop, click a song and hold down the mouse button. Then drag the song to the correct position. A clear line usually indicates where the song will go.

Move one song first and check that it’s positioned correctly. With a long list, it’s easy to select the wrong track accidentally. Then work from top to bottom. The first available song at the top normally plays next.

You can’t simply drag the current track to a later position without starting another track. The queue mainly covers the songs that follow the current one.

Can you see different sections in the queue? Spotify may display manually added tracks separately from songs that will play next from your playlist, album or recommendations. Pay attention to which section you’re moving a song within.

How do you remove or clear songs from the queue?

On mobile, you can swipe left across songs in the queue to remove them. The exact controls may vary between app versions. Spotify also provides a Clear button that removes all songs you added to the queue yourself.

On desktop, right click a song or open the menu with three dots. Then select Remove from Queue. Want to clear all manually added songs? Select Clear Queue and confirm.

Pay close attention to the wording Spotify uses. Clear may refer only to tracks you added manually. Songs from the current playlist, shuffle or autoplay may still appear in another part of the queue.

Does a removed song appear again later? The same track may also be in the playlist or album you’re playing. In that case, you removed only the manually added version. Spotify can play the track again later from the original source.

Which quick checklist can you follow?

1. Start playing a song.
2. Open Now Playing.
3. Tap or click the queue icon.
4. Check which song is next.
5. Add songs using the three dots.
6. Drag songs into your preferred order.
7. Remove songs you don’t want to hear.
8. Clear manually added tracks if you want to start again.
9. Check regular shuffle and Smart Shuffle.
10. Check autoplay before reaching the end of the list.

Those final two checks help prevent Spotify from selecting other music after your own choices. Also check which device is currently playing the music. This is particularly important when you use Spotify Connect.

Does the Spotify queue work the same way on every device?

Spotify states that the mobile and tablet option is for Premium. A Free account has different playback limitations. As a result, you can’t always set every order exactly.

On desktop and in the web player, the interface may look slightly different from your mobile. The main options remain the same. You open the queue, check the upcoming songs and then adjust their order.

Why does the queue sometimes differ from your playlist?

The queue can combine songs from several sources. You can add tracks manually while a playlist, album or recommendation is active. Spotify then has to determine which sequence takes priority.

Manually added songs

You intentionally selected these songs using Add to Queue. They usually take priority over the normal upcoming songs from the source you were previously playing.

The current playlist or album

After the manually added songs, Spotify often continues with the original listening session. Your playlist itself hasn’t changed. Want a permanent order? Edit the playlist instead of changing only the temporary queue.

Shuffle and Smart Shuffle

With regular shuffle, Spotify plays songs in a random order. Smart Shuffle can also insert personalised recommendations between your own songs. According to Spotify, a recommended song is marked with a special badge next to the artist’s name.

Check the shuffle icon if the order you see doesn’t match what you hear. With Smart Shuffle, Spotify may deliberately add tracks that aren’t in your original playlist.

Autoplay

When an album, playlist or your own selection ends, Spotify can start playing similar songs. This is called autoplay. It happens only when your chosen content has finished, but it can seem as though your queue wasn’t cleared correctly.

How do you prevent unexpected songs after your queue?

Open your profile photo, select Settings and privacy, then go to Playback. Check the settings for shuffle, Smart Shuffle and autoplay there.

Premium users can turn off Smart Shuffle in the playback settings so it’s no longer included in the play modes. You can then use the shuffle icon to switch between a fixed order and regular shuffle without continuing to use Smart Shuffle.

You can also turn off autoplay in the playback settings. Spotify will then stop when your album, playlist or selected sequence ends. Manually added songs will still play while they remain in the queue.

According to Spotify, Smart Shuffle is always active on Spotify Free on mobile devices. This gives you less control over the exact order and recommendations. Reinstalling the app won’t make a Premium feature available.

After changing a setting, check your queue again. Sometimes the existing session remains visible until you start a different playlist or album.

Which error or limitation might you encounter?

Why is Add to Queue missing?

Check your account type, device and app version. On mobile devices, the feature is officially linked to Premium. Update the app and try the feature on desktop if necessary. Also open the menu for an individual song, not only the general menu for a playlist.

Why does a removed song return?

The song may also be in the active playlist or album. In that case, you remove the manually queued copy, but Spotify later returns to the same title from the original source. Remove the song from the playlist if you never want to hear it there again.

Why can’t the queue be completely empty?

Spotify may still display songs from the active playlist, radio or autoplay sequence. First clear the manually added songs, then start a different source. Turn off autoplay if you want the music to stop at the end.

Why doesn’t a greyed out song play?

A track can be in the queue but unavailable. Spotify will then skip it. Read why a song is greyed out on Spotify for possible causes and solutions.

Why doesn’t the queue sync properly between devices?

With Spotify Connect, you can control your listening session from different devices. However, a temporary queue can change when you reconnect or start a different playback source. Always check the queue on the device that is actually playing the music.

Why don’t drag and swipe actions respond?

Close Spotify completely and update the app. Then test the control with one track. On mobile devices, you often need to hold the small handle rather than the entire title. A screen reader or another accessibility setting may use a different control method.

What changes when you adjust the queue?

You change what Spotify plays next. Your playlist, album and saved songs normally remain unchanged. The change is temporary and applies to your current listening session.

Moving a song in the queue doesn’t alter the order of a public playlist. Other followers won’t see your temporary choice. Want to organise a shared list permanently? Edit the playlist itself.

A song in the queue doesn’t count as played unless you actually listen to it. A queue position therefore says nothing about earnings. Read making money with a Spotify playlist if you want to understand how streaming income works.

If you want to increase the reach of an artist release, you can also buy Spotify streams. Adjusting your own queue isn’t a substitute for genuine promotion and won’t automatically increase reach.

The number of followers also doesn’t change when you add a track to your queue. For extra visibility for an artist profile, you can buy Spotify followers. Always combine this with good music, regular releases and promotion through your own channels.

Lyrics and the queue are separate features as well. Is the lyrics view for the current song not working? Use the fixes for Spotify lyrics not working.

How do you create a good temporary listening order?

Start with your goal. Do you want a calm work session lasting 30 minutes, an hour of exercise or background music for dinner? Choose a clear duration and mood first.

Don’t add fifty songs at once. Start with five to ten tracks. Listen to the transition between the current song and the first song in the queue. Then move any tracks that don’t fit well together.

Don’t put an important song right at the bottom if you want to hear it soon. A long track or an unexpected recommendation can disrupt your plan.

Use the queue for a temporary selection. Use a playlist for an order you want to use again later or share with others. This keeps your Spotify library organised.

Before a party or presentation, also check your internet connection and whether the songs are available. A queue isn’t a backup copy. Download permitted content in advance when your plan and device support it.

Do you use Spotify with several people in the same room? Agree on who will control the queue. When everyone adds songs at the same time, the order changes quickly and duplicate tracks can appear.

Let others send requests first, or use a shared playlist while preparing. Then use the queue only for choices made at the last minute. Also check the volume and active output device before starting a new song. A good order is of little use if the music unexpectedly starts playing through another speaker.

The same principle applies to spoken content. If you manage your own show and want to increase its reach, you can also buy Spotify podcast streams alongside regular promotion. The queue only determines when an episode plays during your session.

Which mistakes do people often make with the queue?

• People think dragging tracks in the queue permanently changes the playlist. It doesn’t.
• They clear manually added songs but leave autoplay enabled. New music then starts anyway.
• They confuse regular shuffle with Smart Shuffle. Smart Shuffle can add recommendations to the playback order.
• They use Spotify Free on a mobile device and expect the full control available with Premium.
• They add the same song several times and then think Spotify is repeating it automatically.
• They check the queue on their mobile while another device is playing the music.
• They use the queue as permanent storage and lose their chosen order after the session.

You can avoid most mistakes by briefly checking the top section of the queue after each change. Also check whether shuffle, Smart Shuffle or autoplay is active.

Frequently asked questions about the Spotify queue

What should you know about the queue first?

The queue sets the temporary playback order. This feature doesn’t automatically change your playlist. Open Now Playing and always check which song is at the top.

Does the queue work on iPhone and Android?

Yes, the official process is similar on both devices. Spotify says mobile editing is for Premium. The menu usually uses horizontal dots on iPhone and often vertical dots on Android.

Is the feature available for every account?

Not with the same level of control. Spotify Free has limitations, particularly on mobile devices, and Smart Shuffle is active. Premium gives you more freedom to manage the order and queue.

Which setting matters most?

Check Smart Shuffle and autoplay under Playback. These features often explain why other tracks appear after your own songs.

Can you save the queue as a playlist?

Spotify doesn’t always provide a direct button for saving the entire temporary queue as a new playlist. Want to keep the order? Create a playlist and add the songs there in the same order.

What are the most common mistakes?

People confuse the temporary queue with a fixed playlist, add duplicate tracks or clear only one part of the queue. They also often forget to turn off shuffle or autoplay.

Why do you hear a song that isn’t in your playlist?

This is usually caused by Smart Shuffle, autoplay or a manually added song. Open the queue and check which section contains the unexpected track.

Which feature should you check next?

Check song availability when tracks are skipped. Also check the lyrics feature when only the lyric display for the current song is missing.

What first step can you take now?

Start playing one song and open the queue. Then deliberately add two other songs. Drag them into a different order, then remove one of them. This lets you learn the controls without disrupting a long listening session.

Next, check shuffle, Smart Shuffle and autoplay. You’ll then know not only which song comes next, but also why Spotify does or doesn’t continue after the end.

For a recurring session, create a regular playlist once you’re happy with the order. The temporary queue is useful for what you want to hear now, but it isn’t intended to be a reliable archive for later.