You can block artists on Spotify so their music stops appearing in your recommendations and playlists
Spotify lets you block individual artists through your account settings. When you block an artist, their songs won't play in your Discover Weekly, Release Radar, or other algorithmic playlists. You also won't see them suggested when you're browsing. If an artist is already in a playlist you follow, their songs stay there — blocking only stops new recommendations and stops them from playing if you have autoplay turned on.
The block applies across all your devices and persists until you unblock them. Spotify doesn't notify the artist, and blocking is private to your account. If you share a family plan with other people, each person's blocks are separate — blocking an artist on your account doesn't affect what other family members see or hear.
Key Takeaways
- You can block an artist by right-clicking their name or profile and selecting "Don't Play This Artist" from the menu.
- Blocked artists won't appear in Spotify's recommendation playlists like Discover Weekly or Release Radar, but their songs remain in playlists you already follow.
- You can unblock an artist anytime by going to your account settings, finding the blocked artists list, and removing them.
- Blocking works across all your devices and doesn't affect other people on your family plan.
How to block an artist on desktop or mobile
On desktop, open Spotify and find the artist's name or profile. Right-click on their name and look for the option that says "Don't Play This Artist." Click it. The artist is now blocked.
On mobile (iOS or Android), tap the three dots next to the artist's name or next to any of their songs. A menu appears with several options. Tap "Don't Play This Artist." The block takes effect immediately.
You can also block an artist while a song is playing. On desktop, right-click the song title and select "Don't Play This Artist." On mobile, tap the three dots on the now-playing screen and choose the same option. This blocks the artist and skips to the next song.
Where to find your list of blocked artists
To see which artists you've blocked, go to your account settings. On desktop, click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Account." On mobile, tap the gear icon at the top of the home screen.
Look for a section called "Privacy" or "Explicit Content" depending on your device. Inside that section, you'll find "Blocked Artists." This page shows everyone you've blocked and lets you unblock them one at a time. Click or tap the X next to an artist's name to remove the block.
What happens to songs you've already saved
Blocking an artist doesn't remove their songs from playlists you follow or from your Liked Songs. If you've saved a song by a blocked artist, it stays in your library. The block only stops Spotify from recommending them to you and from playing them during autoplay sessions.
If you want to remove a blocked artist's songs from your library, you have to delete them manually. Go to your Liked Songs or the playlist containing their music, find each song, and remove it. There's no bulk delete option for one artist's songs across all playlists.
Blocking versus hiding: what's the difference
Spotify doesn't have a "hide" feature separate from blocking. When you block an artist, you're doing the strongest action available — they disappear from recommendations entirely. There's no middle ground where you see them suggested but choose not to listen.
If you want to avoid an artist without fully blocking them, your only option is to skip their songs when they come up and let Spotify's algorithm learn your preference over time. Spotify's recommendation engine does pay attention to which artists you skip, so repeated skips can reduce how often they appear.
Unblocking an artist if you change your mind
Go back to your account settings and find the Blocked Artists list. Click or tap the X next to the artist's name. They're unblocked immediately, and Spotify will start recommending them again based on your listening history.
Unblocking doesn't restore songs you deleted from playlists or your library. If you removed their music manually, you'll need to add those songs back yourself. The unblock only restores them to your recommendation system.
Why an artist might not appear even after unblocking
If you unblock an artist and still don't see them in recommendations, it usually means Spotify's algorithm doesn't think they match your taste based on what you actually listen to. Spotify weighs your blocking history lightly compared to your actual listening patterns. If you rarely listen to similar artists, the algorithm may not recommend them even after you unblock.
You can speed up recommendations by listening to the unblocked artist's music directly. Add a few of their songs to a playlist, listen to them, and add them to your library. After a few days, Spotify's algorithm will start including them in playlists like Discover Weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does blocking an artist remove them from playlists I follow?
No. Blocking only stops Spotify from recommending the artist to you in algorithmic playlists and stops them from playing during autoplay. Songs they've already contributed to playlists you follow stay there. You have to manually remove those songs if you don't want to hear them.
Can I block an artist on one device but not another?
No. Blocks sync across all your devices. If you block an artist on your phone, they're blocked on your desktop and any other device you use Spotify on. The block is tied to your account, not to individual devices.
Will the artist know I blocked them?
No. Spotify doesn't tell artists who has blocked them. Blocking is completely private to your account. Artists can't see a list of people who blocked them or get any notification that you did.
What if I block an artist but they're featured on a song I like?
If a blocked artist is featured on a track by another artist, Spotify won't play that song during autoplay or recommend it to you. If you search for it directly and play it, it will play. You can also add it to a playlist and play it from there, but Spotify won't suggest it to you.
Can I block multiple artists at once?
No. You have to block artists one at a time through the right-click menu or the three-dot menu. There's no bulk block feature. If you want to block many artists, you'll need to go through each one individually.