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 that 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 queue change usually applies only to your current listening session. Your original playlist remains the same.

This guide provides the official steps for phones, tablets, desktop computers, and the web player. You will also learn why a track may play 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. You will find the queue icon at the bottom of the large playback screen. 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 appears beside 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. You should also check whether a song is actually playing. Without an active listening session, the queue may be empty or harder to see.

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

How can you add a song to the Spotify queue?

How can you add songs on iPhone and Android?

1. Find the song you want to hear.
2. Tap the three dots beside 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 add a song by swiping it to the right in the queue. Use the menu with three dots if you are unsure what a swipe will do.

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

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

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

1. Find the song you want.
2. Click the title with the right mouse button 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 does not need to be in your own playlist.

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

How can you change the order of songs?

Open the queue. On mobile, press and hold the handle beside a song. Then drag the song up or down and release it in the position you want.

On desktop, click a song and hold down the mouse button. Then drag the song to the correct position. A visible line usually shows where the song will be placed.

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

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

Do 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 the section in which you are moving a song.

How can 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 can vary depending on the app version. Spotify also provides a Clear button that removes all the songs you added to the queue yourself.

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

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

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

What 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 through the menu with three dots.
6. Drag songs into your preferred order.
7. Remove songs you do not 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. You should also check which device is currently playing the music. This is especially important when you use Spotify Connect.

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

Spotify states that the route for mobile devices and tablets is for Premium. A Free account has different playback limits. As a result, you cannot always set every order exactly as you want.

On desktop and in the web player, the interface may look somewhat different from the one on your phone. The main options remain the same. You open the queue, review the next 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 must then decide which sequence takes priority.

Manually added songs

You deliberately selected these songs through Add to Queue. They usually take priority over the songs that would normally play next from the source you were previously using.

The current playlist or album

After the manually added songs, Spotify often continues with the original listening session. Your playlist itself has not changed. Want a permanent order? Edit the playlist rather than changing only the temporary queue.

Shuffle and Smart Shuffle

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

Check the shuffle icon if the displayed order does not match what you hear. When Smart Shuffle is active, Spotify may intentionally add tracks that are not in your original playlist.

Autoplay

When an album, playlist, or your own selection ends, Spotify can begin playing similar songs. This is called autoplay. It happens only after your selected content has finished, but it can make it seem as though your queue was not cleared properly.

How can you prevent unexpected songs after your queue?

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

Premium users can disable Smart Shuffle in the playback settings so that it is 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 disable autoplay in the playback settings. Spotify will then stop after your album, playlist, or selected sequence ends. Manually added songs will continue to 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 will not make a Premium feature available.

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

What 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 rather than only the general playlist menu.

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 do not 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. Disable autoplay if you want the music to stop at the end.

Why does a song that is greyed out not play?

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

Why does the queue not synchronize properly between devices?

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

Why do drag and swipe actions not 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 will normally remain the same. The change is temporary and applies to your current listening session.

Moving a song in the queue does not change the order of a public playlist. Other followers will not see your temporary choice. Want to organize a shared list permanently? Edit the playlist itself.

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

If you want to increase the reach of an artist’s release, you can also buy Spotify streams. Adjusting your own queue does not replace genuine promotion and will not automatically increase reach.

The number of followers also remains unchanged when you add a track to your queue. For additional 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 solutions for Spotify lyrics not working.

How can you create a good temporary listening order?

Begin 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 length and mood first.

Do not add fifty songs at once. Begin with five to ten tracks. Listen to the transition between the current song and the first one in the queue. Then move any tracks that do not fit together well.

Do not place an important song at the very 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 reuse later or share with others. This helps keep your Spotify library organized.

Before a party or presentation, check your internet connection and confirm that the songs are available. A queue is not 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 once, the order changes quickly and duplicate tracks may appear.

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

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

What mistakes do people often make with the queue?

• People assume that dragging tracks in the queue permanently changes the playlist. It does not.
• 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 assume Spotify is repeating it automatically.
• They check the queue on their phone while another device is playing the music.
• They use the queue as permanent storage and lose their selected order after the session.

You can avoid most mistakes by briefly reviewing the top section of the queue after every change. You should also check whether shuffle, Smart Shuffle, or autoplay is active.

Frequently asked questions about the Spotify queue

What should you know first about the queue?

The queue sets the temporary playback order. This feature does not automatically change your playlist. Open Now Playing and always check which song appears at the top.

Does the queue work on iPhone and Android?

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

Is the feature available for every account?

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

Which setting is most important?

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 does not 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 sequence.

What are the most common mistakes?

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

Why do you hear a song that is not 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. You should also review the lyrics feature when only the lyric display for the current song is missing.

What step can you take first?

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

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

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