Finding users on Spotify depends on what you already know about them
Spotify does not have a public directory where you can browse all users or search by username the way you might on social media. Instead, you find people through methods that work when you know who you are looking for: their display name, their Spotify username, a shared playlist, or a mutual connection. The fastest route is usually asking them directly for their username or having them send you a link to their profile.
If you already follow someone or have their profile link, you can see their public playlists and what they are listening to right now. But Spotify does not show you a list of all users in your area, all users who like a certain artist, or all users with a particular name — those searches do not exist in the app.
Key Takeaways
- Spotify usernames are the most direct way to find someone, but you have to know their username or ask them for it.
- You can search for someone by their display name in the search bar, though results may include multiple people with the same name.
- Shared playlists and collaborative playlists let you see who created or contributed to them, which is how many people discover each other on Spotify.
- The "Go to Song/Artist/Playlist" feature in the app shows you who created a playlist, making it possible to find users that way.
- Spotify does not let you see a complete list of followers or following for any user, only their public profile information.
Search by username or display name in the app
Open Spotify on your phone or computer and tap or click the search icon at the bottom or top of the screen. Type the person's username or display name into the search box. Spotify will show results for users, artists, songs, and playlists all at once.
Look for the result labeled "Profile" or showing a person icon — that is the user account, not a playlist or artist. If the person has a common name, you may see several results. Check the profile picture or any other details visible to confirm you found the right person. Once you find them, tap or click their profile to see their public playlists and what they are currently listening to, then tap "Follow" to add them to your following list.
Keep in mind that not all Spotify users make their profiles public. If someone has set their profile to private, you may not be able to find them through search, and you will not see their listening activity or playlists even if you follow them.
Ask for their Spotify username or profile link directly
The fastest way to find someone is to ask them for their Spotify username. Usernames are permanent and unique to each account — they do not change even if the person changes their display name. You can then search for that username and find them immediately.
Alternatively, ask them to send you a link to their profile. In the Spotify app, they can tap their profile picture, then tap "Share" to copy a link to their profile. You can paste that link into your browser or tap it directly in Spotify, and it will take you straight to their profile. This method works even if their profile is set to private, because they are giving you direct access.
If you are messaging someone and they send you a Spotify link, tapping it will open their profile in the app (if you have Spotify installed) or in your browser. You do not need to search — the link takes you directly there.
Find users through shared and collaborative playlists
Playlists are one of the main ways people discover each other on Spotify. If someone has created a public playlist, you can see their name and profile by tapping the playlist, then tapping the creator's name at the top. This takes you to their profile, where you can follow them.
Collaborative playlists show all the people who have contributed to them. Open the playlist, tap the three dots or menu icon, and look for "See Playlist Details" or similar. You will see a list of people who have added songs. Tap any contributor's name to go to their profile.
Many people find friends and music lovers this way — by exploring who created or contributed to playlists they like. If you follow a playlist and see someone's name in the contributor list, that is a real way to discover and follow them.
Check your Spotify Wrapped and social connections
If you and someone else both use Spotify, you may already be connected through Facebook or another social network if you signed up using that account. Spotify sometimes suggests people you might know based on these connections, though this feature is not always visible or active.
Spotify Wrapped, the annual summary that appears in December, sometimes shows you top listeners or people with similar taste, depending on what Spotify chooses to display that year. This is not a reliable way to find specific people, but it can help you discover users with music taste similar to yours.
If you are looking for someone specific and these methods do not work, your best option is still to ask them directly for their username or profile link.
What you can and cannot see on someone's profile
When you visit a public Spotify profile, you can see their display name, profile picture, how many followers they have, and their public playlists. You can also see what they are listening to right now if they have that feature turned on. However, Spotify does not show you their complete following list, their complete follower list, or a history of everything they have ever listened to.
If someone has set their profile to private, you will see very little information unless you follow them. Even then, you may not see their listening activity or all of their playlists. Private profiles are more restrictive than public ones, and Spotify respects those privacy settings.
You cannot see someone's saved songs, liked songs, or private playlists unless they share them with you directly or add you to a collaborative playlist.
Troubleshooting when you cannot find someone
If you search for someone and cannot find them, the most common reasons are: their profile is set to private, you are spelling their username wrong, or they do not have a Spotify account. Usernames are case-sensitive in some contexts, so try searching with different capitalizations if your first search does not work.
If you know their display name but not their username, ask them directly. Display names can be anything and are not unique — many people might have the same display name, making it hard to find the right person through search alone. Usernames, by contrast, are unique and permanent.
If someone tells you they have a Spotify account but you cannot find them, they may have set their profile to private. In that case, ask them to send you a direct link to their profile or to follow you first — once they follow you, you can often see their profile even if it is set to private.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search for users by what music they listen to?
No, Spotify does not have a feature to search for users by artist preference or music taste. You can search for playlists related to a genre or artist, and then find the people who created those playlists, but you cannot search for users directly by their listening habits.
What is the difference between a username and a display name?
A username is permanent, unique, and set when you create your account. A display name is what appears on your profile and can be changed anytime. Usernames are better for finding someone because they do not change and are unique to each person.
If I follow someone, can they see that I followed them?
Spotify does not notify users when someone follows them, and they cannot see a complete list of their followers in the app. However, if your profile is public, they can visit your profile and see that you follow them if they look at your following list.
Why can't I find someone even though I know their username?
Their profile may be set to private, which makes them harder or impossible to find through search. Ask them to send you a direct link to their profile, or ask them to follow you first. Once they follow you, you can usually access their profile.
Can I see what someone listened to last week or last month?
No, Spotify only shows what someone is listening to right now (if they have that feature enabled) and their public playlists. You cannot see a history of their past listening unless they share that information with you directly or through a third-party app.