The Spotify sleep timer is a built-in feature that automatically stops music, podcasts, or audiobooks after a set duration, saving your device's battery and preventing sleep disruption. Here's how to set it up on both Android and iPhone, whether you're listening to music or a podcast.
What is the Spotify sleep timer?
The Spotify sleep timer lets you fall asleep to your favorite audio without worrying about playback continuing all night. Instead of waking up to a drained battery or a podcast that has been playing for hours, you set a timer, and Spotify stops playback automatically when time runs out. This feature is part of the Spotify mobile features that make the app more convenient for bedtime listening.
How to set a Spotify sleep timer for music
The steps are identical on Android and iPhone. Follow these instructions to set a sleep timer while playing any song or playlist:
- Tap the Now Playing bar at the bottom of the screen to open the full-screen player.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon, usually located in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Scroll down and select Sleep Timer from the options.
- Choose a duration: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, or End of track.
Once set, a notification will confirm that your sleep timer is active.
How to set a Spotify sleep timer for podcasts
When listening to a podcast, Spotify provides a shortcut to the sleep timer. Here's how to use it:
- Tap the moon icon, which is typically in the bottom-right corner of the playback controls for podcasts.
The moon icon shortcut makes setting a sleep timer for podcasts faster than using the three-dot menu.
How to check or turn off the sleep timer
If you want to see how much time remains on your sleep timer, or if you decide you no longer need it, here's what to do:
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Scroll down to see the Sleep Timer logo with the remaining time displayed.
- To cancel the timer, tap Sleep Timer again, then tap Turn Off Timer.
Does Spotify's desktop app have a sleep timer?
To stop playback on a desktop computer after a set time, you would need to use your operating system's built-in shutdown timer or a third-party application. The sleep timer feature might disappear from the desktop app due to an unknown reason. Both Mac and Windows PCs have native settings you can toggle to shut down and stop running apps at a given time.
What to do if the sleep timer isn't working
If the sleep timer fails to appear or doesn't function correctly, the most reliable fix is to uninstall the Spotify app and perform a clean reinstallation. This ensures you have the latest version with all patches applied. On the Spotify Community page, a Spotify representative asked users with the sleep timer not working problem to try uninstalling and doing a clean reinstallation. As a fallback, iPhone users can use the native Clock app: open the Clock app, go to Timer, set a duration, tap When Time Ends, and select Stop Playing. Android has no native equivalent to this feature, so you would need to rely on a third-party sleep timer app until Spotify resolves the issue. For Android, a specific third-party app named 'Sleep Timer' is suggested as a fallback. The worst-case scenario is when the Spotify sleep timer goes missing in action completely, requiring waiting for another app update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set the sleep timer to last longer than one hour?
No. The maximum duration available in the Spotify sleep timer is one hour. If you need playback to continue longer, you can set the timer again after it expires.
Does the sleep timer work with Spotify Connect?
Yes. The sleep timer works when streaming to external devices via Spotify Connect, such as smart speakers or Bluetooth headphones. Playback will stop on the connected device when the timer ends.
Will the sleep timer stop playback if my phone locks?
Yes. The sleep timer continues to count down even when your phone screen is locked or the Spotify app is in the background. You do not need to keep the app open for the timer to work.
Why don't I see the moon icon when listening to music?
The moon icon shortcut appears only for podcasts. For music, you must use the three-dot menu to access the sleep timer.
For the wider topic, see Spotify mobile features.
