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Spotify just released a bunch of new features, here's what you need to know
July 12, 2025
Spotify rolled out several updates to its mobile app earlier this summer—some subtle, some game-changing. If you’ve been using the app lately and noticed things look or feel different, you’re not imagining it. Here’s a breakdown of all the newest Spotify features, based on updates that rolled out in May and June.
DJ X can now take requests
One of the biggest changes is to DJ X, Spotify’s AI-powered DJ. You can now give it voice requests, which makes it feel more like an interactive DJ than just a smart algorithm.
To use the feature, open DJ X in the app and press and hold the icon in the bottom-right corner. Then just speak your request.
In my testing, DJ X handled this well about 90% of the time. I threw some curveballs at it—like “vintage outlaw country” (a genre I didn’t even know existed until my colleague Dave mentioned it)—and it delivered. Even niche genres like “industrial techno” worked pretty well. That said, it’s not perfect. When I asked for “hard techno,” it played “10:35” by Tiësto, which is more pop-house than anything else.
Still, it’s a promising step forward, especially for those looking to dig into less mainstream music.
Premium-only: A new look for the queue and more controls
If you’re a Spotify Premium user, you’ve likely noticed changes to the queue interface. You can now see what’s coming up even after your current queue ends. Shuffle, smart shuffle, repeat, and the sleep timer are all available as visible buttons in the queue—no more digging through menus.
This has made it way easier for me to set up music before bed, especially with the sleep timer now just a tap away.
Hide and snooze songs you’re tired of
Also for Premium users: Spotify now lets you hide specific songs in playlists. Once hidden, they won’t play during playback.
Even better is the new 30-day snooze. If you’re burnt out on a particular song, you can temporarily remove it from your recommendations for a month. It’s a nice balance—giving you a break without permanently banning the song.
A new “Create” button for everyone
Non-subscribers get some love too. A new Create button sits in the bottom-right corner of the app. Tap it to quickly start a playlist, create a Blend, or generate an AI playlist.
The only caveat? The new button placement has shifted the location of your Library, which used to be in that corner. I still find myself accidentally tapping Create when I mean to go to my Library—but that’s muscle memory talking. Once you adjust, the faster access to playlist creation is handy.
Minor playlist management upgrades
Spotify has also streamlined how you manage playlists. You’ll now find clearly labeled Add, Sort, and Edit buttons right at the top of your playlists.
Plus, if you want to turn songs from your Liked Songs into a new playlist, you can now filter by genre and tap a “Make this a playlist” button. This is a small but useful update for folks who treat Liked Songs as a giant catch-all.
A hub for upcoming releases
Another addition: a dedicated Upcoming Releases hub on the search page. Here you can browse and pre-save new albums easily, which is great if you’re keeping an eye on a favorite artist’s next drop.
Podcast and audiobook improvements
Spotify’s podcast feed now includes an “Extended” tab when you use the podcast filter on the homepage. It surfaces the latest episodes from the shows you follow.
As for audiobooks, a new “Follow Along” feature displays photos, graphics, or referenced songs while you’re listening—but it’s only available on select fiction titles for now.
Still waiting on Music Pro…
All these updates are nice, but personally, I’m still waiting for Spotify Music Pro to launch. If you haven’t heard of it yet, it might be worth reading up—this rumored feature could be a game-changer for sound quality on the platform.