Blocking an artist stops their music from appearing in your recommendations and search results

When you block an artist on Spotify, that artist's songs will no longer show up in your Discover Weekly, Release Radar, or other personalized playlists. Their music also disappears from your search results. If you're already following them, blocking will unfollow you automatically. The block stays in place until you remove it — Spotify doesn't notify the artist, and blocking doesn't prevent them from seeing your public playlists or profile.

Blocking is different from straightforward skipping a song or disliking a track. Those actions train Spotify's recommendation system to show you less of that artist over time. Blocking removes them entirely from your experience on the platform. You can block as many artists as you want, and you can unblock them later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking an artist removes their music from your recommendations, playlists, and search results when ready.
  • The block only affects your account — the artist cannot see that you blocked them, and other users still see their music normally.
  • You can block an artist from their profile page, from a song page, or from the now-playing screen while a song is playing.
  • Unblocking an artist restores their music to your recommendations and search, but does not automatically re-follow them if you were following before.

How to block an artist from their profile page

Open Spotify and search for the artist you want to block. Tap or click on their profile to open it. On the artist's profile page, look for the three-dot menu icon — on mobile it's usually in the top right corner, and on desktop it's near the artist's name or cover image.

Tap or click the three-dot menu and select "Block Artist" from the options that appear. Spotify will confirm that you've blocked them. Their music will disappear from your recommendations and search results when ready. If you were following this artist, you'll be unfollowed automatically.

How to block an artist while a song is playing

If you're listening to a song and want to block the artist, open the now-playing screen. On mobile, tap the song title or album art to expand the full player. On desktop, look at the bottom of the window where the current song displays. Find the three-dot menu icon next to the artist's name or in the player controls.

Tap or click the three-dot menu and select "Block Artist." The song will stop playing, and you'll return to your previous screen. Spotify will when ready remove this artist from your recommendations and search.

How to block an artist from a song or album page

Search for a song or album by the artist you want to block. Open the song or album page. Look for the three-dot menu icon — on mobile it's usually to the right of the song title or play button, and on desktop it's near the song information.

Tap or click the three-dot menu and select "Block Artist." You don't have to play the song first. Blocking from a song page works the same way as blocking from the artist's profile — their entire catalog disappears from your account.

What happens when you block an artist

Once you block an artist, Spotify removes them from several places on your account. Your Discover Weekly and Release Radar playlists will no longer include their music. If you search for them by name, their profile won't appear in results. Songs by that artist won't show up in your library or in "Song Radio" playlists based on other artists you like.

If you had saved songs or albums by this artist to your library, they remain in your library — blocking doesn't delete them. However, you won't see recommendations based on those saved songs anymore. If you were following the artist, the follow is removed automatically when you block them.

How to unblock an artist

Go to your Spotify settings. On mobile, tap your profile icon in the bottom right, then tap "Settings." On desktop, click your profile icon in the top right, then select "Settings." Scroll down to find "Explicit Content" or "Privacy" — the exact location varies by device, but look for a section about blocked content or restricted artists.

Find the list of blocked artists and locate the one you want to unblock. Tap or click the X or remove button next to their name. The artist will be unblocked when ready, and their music will reappear in your recommendations and search results. Unblocking does not re-follow the artist if you were following them before you blocked them — you'll need to follow them again if you want to.

Blocking versus other ways to control what you hear

Spotify offers several ways to control your listening experience, and blocking is the most extreme. If you straightforward don't want to hear an artist as often, you can skip their songs or use the "Don't play this artist" option on some playlists. These actions train Spotify's algorithm to show you less of that artist without removing them completely.

You can also mute notifications from specific artists, remove them from your library without blocking them, or create a playlist that excludes certain music. Blocking is best used when you want that artist completely out of your Spotify experience. If you might want to hear them again later, consider using "Don't play this artist" instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the artist see that I blocked them?

No. Spotify does not notify artists when you block them, and they cannot see a list of people who have blocked them. Blocking is private to your account only.

If I block an artist, will my friends see that I blocked them?

No. Your blocked artists list is not visible to other users. Your public playlists and profile remain unchanged when you block someone.

Does blocking an artist remove songs I already saved from them?

No. Songs and albums you saved before blocking remain in your library. However, Spotify will not recommend new music based on those saved songs while the artist is blocked.

What if I block an artist by mistake?

You can unblock them anytime through your settings. Go to Settings, find your blocked artists list, and remove them. Their music will reappear in your recommendations and search when ready.

Can I block multiple artists at once?

No. You must block artists one at a time through their profile, a song page, or the now-playing screen. There is no bulk-block feature in Spotify.