- Spotify has rolled out new playlist tools, including bulk editing functions for queues
- Background downloading is rolling out for iOS users after being limited to Android devices
- Playlist folders are also being rolled out globally
I love making new playlists in Spotify, but sometimes its limited editing and queuing tools make the experience more of a chore rather than a fun activity. Thankfully, the platform just dropped a shedload of tools to make playlists more enjoyable and to ‘help keep listening smooth’ for both iOS and Android users.
Spotify announced yesterday (May 28) more control tools to help you edit your playlists and queue more effectively. Rolling out to Premium users globally, the new ‘Edit’ button allows you to select multiple tracks at once, which you can either bump up higher so that they play next, or remove them from the queue altogether. This was a tool once offered on Spotify and is now being resurrected, and it also applies to audiobook and podcast episode queues.
Spotify’s new ‘Reshuffle’ button is another feature I can see being a welcome addition to the app. If you find that a playlist isn’t quite giving you what you want, be that one of your own or one curated by Spotify, the Reshuffle button will generate an entirely new sequence of tracks — meaning you’ll no longer have to manually disable and enable the standard Shuffle icon to change the order.
Yes, queue controls have had a much-needed upgrade, but so have Spotify’s playlist organization tools. Though we first spotted it a few weeks back, the ability to create and add to playlist folders is rolling out globally for all users after being locked behind the desktop experience for 15 years.
However, these upgrades are just the start, and Spotify is also making offline listening for iOS users even more reliable with background downloads — a tool that’s been limited to Android users until now.
If you want to download a playlist or podcast episode, for example, you’ll no longer have to keep the Spotify app open to complete the downloading process. Now it does it all in the background for you, and you’ll get notifications to see the progress. “So whether you’re on a flight, underground, or out of range, your listening is ready to go,” the company says in its announcement.
Spotify adds a feature I’ve wanted for years
Recently, I’ve found myself hitting a bit of a wall when it comes to making playlists in Spotify, and it’s not just because of the lack of inspiration. Playback and queuing features haven’t always made the experience as easy as it could be, but Spotify’s new additions could alleviate many pain points for music fans.
I chronically add songs to a queue while I’m commuting or while I’m at a social gathering with friends, and one thing I’ve always wanted from Spotify is a ‘play next’ option that’s similar to Apple Music — which is one of my favorite parts of the Spotify rival.
Although there still isn’t a ‘play next’ option for when you want to add individual songs, you can bump up your song of choice directly from the queue. But unlike Apple Music, Spotify lets you move multiple songs at once to the top, which not only saves you bags of time dragging them individually with the three-line icon, but it will get your friends to stop nagging you to bump a song they’ve just requested.
As for playlist folders, I can’t believe it’s taken this long for Spotify to roll out a very basic feature, but hey, at last we’ve got it now. If you’re anything like me and have different types of playlists for the same occasion (I have multiple workout and music-by-the-year playlists), keeping them stored in a categorized folder does wonders for keeping your profile neat, tidy, and navigable.
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rowan.davies@futurenet.com (Rowan Davies)
