How do I delete my Spotify history? [Complete Guide]

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Spotify is renowned for its highly interactive social features. However, we all have that guilty pleasure embodied by a playlist, a song or a podcast we'd like to keep secret.

In this comprehensive guide, you will find how to delete Spotify historyto save you from an awkward situation where an explanation is called for...

Can I delete my Spotify history?

First of all, it's important to know that Spotify history can no longer be deleted since an update to the Swedish platform. It keeps it for at least 90 days before it is actually removed.

Faced with this, users of the Swedish application were able to find several tipsall of which enable them to achieve a similar result. So don't panic!

What are the alternatives for managing Spotify history?

1. Use Private Mode (Private Session)

the private mode from Spotify is a good alternative to the impossibility of deleting your history. This feature allows us to listen to certain songs or podcasts in total discretion.

Indeed, the latter will not appear nor in the flow of your business visible to your friends and subscribers, and nor in your list of recently listened to titles.

How do I activate Private Mode on Spotify?

If you're unfamiliar with Spotify and its private mode, here's how it works. how to activate it depending on the device you're using :

On computer :

  • Step 1: Go to Spotify.
  • Step 2: Press the icon in the top right-hand corner.
On the Mac interface, you will find your profile picture in the top right corner.
On the PC interface, you will also find your profile in the top right corner.
  • Step 3: From the drop-down menu, select "private session".
The option on Mac to open a private listening session. With this, listen to your music in complete discretion.
The option on PC to open a private listening session. With this, listen to your music in complete discretion.
  • Step 4: Take advantage of Spotify's private mode!
The padlock icon ensures that your music playback is private. You can therefore view the tracks you want.
The same applies on PC: the padlock icon ensures that your music playback is private. You can therefore view the tracks you want.

On mobile : 

  • Step 1: Open the Spotify mobile application.
  • Step 2: Press the icon corresponding to your profile.
The Spotify mobile app on iOS (iPhone), with your profile picture icon.
The Spotify mobile app on Android, with your profile picture icon.
  • Step 3: On the drop-down menu, select the "settings and privacy" option.
On Spotify mobile iOS (iPhone), settings and privacy.
On Spotify mobile Android, settings and privacy.
  • Step 4: Next, locate the "Privacy & Social" category and press it.
The category where you can play music discreetly.
The category where you can play music discreetly.
  • Step 5: Activate and enjoy private mode!
If you do not clear your history, private browsing will not record any of the music you listen to during that session.
If you do not clear your history, private browsing will not record any of the music you listen to during that session.

How do I disable Private Mode on Spotify?

Once you've finished using Spotify's private mode, all you have to do is follow the tutorials abovedepending on your device, and deactivate it.

To give you an idea of this feature, here's an example advantages and disadvantages table to use the latter:

✅ Benefits

❌ Disadvantages

  • Prevent your friends and subscribers from seeing what you're listening to.
  • Does not save listened-to tracks in your history.
  • Does not influence playlists suggested by the application (Discover Weekly).

 

  • Does not delete existing history.
  • Risk of automatic deactivation after a certain period of inactivity.
  • Manual reactivation required after 6 hours of listening.

2. Delete items from “Recently Played” on Spotify

For users wishing to delete "Recently listened to" items on Spotify, please note that this is not technically possible.

However, you do have the option of making this entire section private, so as not to reveal it to your friends or subscribers. We'll show you how.

On computer :

  • Step 1: Go to Spotify.
  • Step 2: Click on the icon in the top right-hand corner.
On the Mac interface, you will find the section for your profile photo at the top right.
On the PC interface, you will also find your profile picture section at the top right.
  • Step 3: From the drop-down menu, select “Settings.”.
On the Mac desktop, the button you need to click to access settings.
On the PC desktop, the button you need to click to access the settings.
  • Step 4: Disable the “recently played artists” feature.
This way, the songs you have recently listened to will not be visible to your friends and followers.

On mobile : 

  • Step 1: Open the Spotify mobile application.
  • Step 2: Click on the icon corresponding to your profile.
On your iPhone, you'll find your profile photo section in the top left-hand corner.
On your iPhone, you'll find your profile photo section in the top left-hand corner.
  • Step 3: On the drop-down menu, select the "settings and privacy" option.
The button that allows you to access settings on an iOS device.
The button that allows you to access settings on an Android device.
  • Step 4: Next, locate the "Privacy & Social" category and click on it.
The category where you have control over what your audience sees.
The category where you have control over what your audience sees.
  • Step 5: Disable the “recently played artists” feature.
With this feature, your latest songs, playlists or podcasts will be visible only to you.
With this feature, your latest songs, playlists or podcasts will be visible only to you.

Remember that this method does not allow you to delete your entire history. However, you will have good control over the activity you share publicly.

All in all, delete Spotify history as such is not possible. There are two ways to achieve a similar result.

On the one hand, you can activate private mode for discreet listening. All without influencing your recommendations.

On the other hand, deactivate the "recently listened to artists" option is a good way of masking certain tracks you want to keep to yourself.

In any case, we invite you to see how to pay less for Spotify by sharing a subscription.

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Spotify

Released on : 23 April 2006

Edited by : Daniel Ek et Martin Lorentzon

Available on : PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, PlayStation, Xbox