Premium users can turn off Smart Shuffle and switch between Fewer Repeats and Standard modes.
Free and Premium users can tap any song during shuffle to play it next without reshuffling the queue.
Fewer Repeat aims to reduce the chances of hearing the same track again too soon.
Spotify has updated its Shuffle experience for Free and Premium users, introducing new controls and a redesigned default mode aimed at reducing song repetition. The company confirmed the changes via its newsroom, noting that the update is intended to keep playlists feeling fresh for listeners across all platforms. Let’s understand how the new system works, what changes you can expect, and how it compares with what Apple Music and YouTube Music, two of its leading competitors, currently offer.
SurveyFewer Repeats on Spotify Shuffle: How it works
Spotify’s latest update focuses on Shuffle behaviour, a feature central to how millions use the app daily. The new default mode, called Fewer Repeats, takes recent listening into account, reducing the chances of hearing the same track again too soon. Spotify says this leads to a more varied and engaging session, especially on large playlists.
Premium users get more granular control. They can now toggle off Smart Shuffle, a recommendation-driven mode, and manually choose between Fewer Repeats or Standard Shuffle in the Playback settings. Spotify clarified that Standard Shuffle offers more randomness, which may surface the same songs more often. The platform is steering users toward the new default, arguing that it offers a better mix of familiarity and discovery.
How to change Spotify Shuffle mode (Premium only)
- Open Spotify Settings
- Select Playback
- Choose Fewer Repeats or Standard Shuffle
If you have got this update, the Shuffle Style will be defaulted to Fewer Repeats.
Also Read: Spotify app gets videos, lyrics, queue management on Apple TV
How Apple Music and YouTube Music handle shuffle
Apple Music
Apple Music uses a simple shuffle model. It is mostly random, with no visible user controls for lowering repeats. It does try to avoid back-to-back repeats, but users often report that the same favourites surface often, especially in smaller playlists. There is no setting to change shuffle logic.
- No ‘fewer repeats’ mode
- No Smart Shuffle equivalent
- Tapping a track in shuffle does not reorder the queue in a predictable way, since Apple Music rebuilds upcoming tracks on the fly
YouTube Music
YouTube Music’s shuffle is driven by Google’s recommendation systems. It tends to be more algorithmic than purely random. Users often notice the system promotes songs they listen to the most.
- Leaning toward personalised shuffle
- Repeats can still happen over long sessions
- No user-selectable shuffle modes
- Radio and ‘enhanced’ playlists introduce recommended tracks, which behave somewhat like Spotify’s Smart Shuffle.
Other recent Spotify changes
Free and Premium listeners can also tap any song in a shuffled playlist to play it next without the app reshuffling the entire queue. This small change gives users more control during casual listening.
The Shuffle improvements come after a series of personalisation tools added this year, including song exclusions in the Taste Profile, Snooze controls, and deeper genre exploration within Discover Weekly. Together, these features show Spotify’s broader push to give users tighter control over how recommendations shape their library.
Spotify says it will keep improving Shuffle to improve variety and music discovery. There is no mention of platform-specific rollout delays, so the update should be available globally.
Keep reading Digit.in for similar stories.
Also Read: YouTube TV app get new features for improved content discovery, viewing and creation
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G. S. Vasan
G.S. Vasan is the chief copy editor at Digit, where he leads coverage of TVs and audio. His work spans reviews, news, features, and maintaining key content pages. Before joining Digit, he worked with publications like Smartprix and 91mobiles, bringing over six years of experience in tech journalism. His articles reflect both his expertise and passion for technology. View Full Profile
