Spotify is releasing a new feature that gives its AI DJ a much-needed upgrade: voice control. Starting May 13, 2025, Premium users in English-speaking regions can now press and hold the DJ button. Then they tell it what they want to hear.
That means users do not have to settle for whatever the AI DJ picks next.
How To Use Voice Commands With Spotify’s AI DJ
Here’s how it works:
- Open the AI DJ feature on the Spotify mobile app.
- Tap and hold the DJ button in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
- Listen for the beep, that means the AI is ready.
- Say your request out loud, like:
- “Play upbeat pop for a workout.”
- “Give me mellow jazz for dinner.”
- “Surprise me with indie tracks I haven’t heard.”
The DJ will then use your request to curate what comes next.
Note: You’ll need a Spotify Premium account and the app updated to the latest version to use this.
What’s New?
Before this update, the AI DJ worked a bit like a radio station. It gave you music based on your taste, but you couldn’t really change the direction, only skip songs.
Now, Spotify is putting the user in the driver’s seat. Although the DJ still uses your listening history, now it’s guided by your voice.
A Musical Sidekick
Spotify is blending this voice control with features from its AI Playlist beta, which let users type fun prompts like:
- “Music for cooking like I’m on a cooking show.”
- “Songs that feel like a road trip through the desert.”
Now, you can say things like:
- “Play something that sounds like a movie soundtrack.”
- “I want futuristic beats for coding.”
Also read: Spotify Wrapped 2024 Is Here and It Comes With a Twist
Where It Might Fall Short
The update is exciting, but it’s not perfect.
- You can’t type your requests. If you’re in a place where you can’t talk out loud, like a bus or a classroom.
- Specific tracks? It may not queue up that one song you’ve been thinking about. If you know exactly what you want, searching manually is still faster.
- Still only in English. Spotify hasn’t said when, or if, voice commands will expand to other languages.
