The fastest way to find a user on Spotify

Open Spotify and tap the search icon at the bottom of the screen (or use the search bar at the top on desktop). Type the person's username or display name, then tap the "Users" filter to see only user profiles instead of songs and playlists. If their profile is public, you'll see their name, profile picture, and follower count. Tap their profile to view their public playlists and follow them.

If you know their username but the search doesn't find them, their profile may be private. Private profiles don't appear in search results. You can still follow them if you have a direct link to their profile — ask them to send you the link, or look for it in a shared message or social media post.

Spotify usernames are different from display names. A display name is what appears next to their profile picture. A username is the unique identifier Spotify assigns when you create an account — it's what appears in the URL of their profile link. Most people search by display name first, which works if their profile is public.

Key Takeaways

  • Search by display name or username using the search bar, then filter results to "Users" to find profiles instead of songs.
  • Public profiles appear in search results; private profiles do not, but you can still follow them with a direct link.
  • You can find someone's profile link by asking them directly or checking shared messages, emails, or social media.
  • Once you follow someone, their public playlists appear in your "Following" section, and you can see what they're listening to if they allow it.

Finding someone when you only know their email or phone number

Spotify doesn't have a built-in search by email or phone number. If you know someone's email but not their username, you have two options: ask them directly for their Spotify username or display name, or check if they've linked their Spotify account to Facebook or another social network.

If they've connected Spotify to Facebook, you may be able to find them through Facebook's integration. Open Spotify on desktop, go to Settings, and look for "Social" or "Connected Apps" to see if you can search through your Facebook friends who use Spotify. This feature is available on some accounts but not all, depending on your region and account type.

Using Spotify codes and profile links to find someone

The easiest way to find a specific person is to ask them for their Spotify profile link. When someone shares their profile link with you, you can open it directly in Spotify or a web browser without searching. The link looks like open.spotify.com/user/[username].

Spotify also generates unique codes for user profiles — similar to QR codes. If someone shows you their Spotify code, you can scan it with your phone's camera or the Spotify app to jump directly to their profile. This is faster than typing a username and works even if their profile is private, as long as they've shared the code with you.

What you can see on someone's public profile

When you view a public profile, you see their display name, profile picture, follower and following counts, and any playlists they've made public. You can see what they're currently listening to if they haven't turned off activity sharing in their privacy settings. You can also see their "Liked Songs" playlist if they've chosen to make it public.

You cannot see their saved songs, private playlists, or listening history unless they've made those specific items public. Following someone doesn't give you access to their private content — it only means their public activity shows up in your "Following" feed and you get notified when they follow new artists or create new public playlists.

Finding friends who already use Spotify

If you want to find people you know who are already on Spotify, go to Settings on the Spotify app or website and look for "Social" or "Invite Friends." Spotify can scan your phone contacts or connect to your Facebook, Apple Music, or other accounts to show you which of your contacts have Spotify profiles. This is the fastest way to find multiple people at once.

Keep in mind that this feature only works if those people have made their profiles discoverable. If someone has a private profile or has turned off contact discovery in their settings, they won't appear in your contacts list even if they use Spotify.

Troubleshooting when you can't find someone

If you search for someone and can't find them, the most common reasons are: their profile is private, they've changed their username recently, or they don't have a Spotify account. Ask them directly for their username or profile link — this is always faster than guessing.

If they say they have an account but you still can't find them, they may have deactivated it temporarily. Deactivated accounts don't appear in search results. They can reactivate their account by logging back in, after which you'll be able to find them again.

Another possibility is that their display name contains special characters or spaces that don't match what you're searching for. Try searching for just their first name, or ask them how their name appears on their profile.

Privacy settings that affect whether people can find you

When you create a Spotify account, your profile is public by default, which means anyone can find you through search. You can change this in Settings under "Privacy" — look for options like "Private Session" or "Make Profile Private." A private profile means you won't appear in search results, but people can still follow you if they have your direct profile link.

You can also control whether your activity is visible to others. In Settings, find "Social Features" or "Activity Sharing" and toggle it off if you don't want people to see what you're listening to. This doesn't hide your profile — it just hides your real-time listening activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find someone on Spotify if their profile is private?

No, private profiles don't appear in search results. However, if they share their profile link with you directly, you can still open it and follow them. Ask them to send you the link via message, email, or social media.

What's the difference between a Spotify username and display name?

A display name is what you see next to someone's profile picture — it can have spaces and special characters. A username is the unique identifier Spotify assigns and appears in the profile URL. Most people search by display name, which works fine for public profiles.

Can I find someone by their email address on Spotify?

No, Spotify doesn't have email search. Ask them for their username or display name, or request their profile link directly. If they've connected Spotify to Facebook, you may be able to find them through Facebook's integration.

What happens when I follow someone on Spotify?

Following someone adds them to your "Following" list and shows their public activity in your feed — like new playlists they create or artists they follow. You don't automatically see their private playlists or saved songs unless they've made those public.

Why can't I find someone even though they have a Spotify account?

Their profile is likely private, they've recently changed their username, or they've deactivated their account. The fastest solution is to ask them directly for their username or profile link.