If you’re a music fan, there’s a chance you’re also a Spotify subscriber. As the world’s top music streaming platform, Spotify is a popular target for hackers and no stranger to credential-based attacks. It has experienced a series of cybersecurity breaches over the years, with the most recent in 2024. Whether you’re jazzing to favorites like Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” or listening to an award-winning podcast, securing your account is easy with our best practices for how to change your Spotify password.
Why Should You Change Your Spotify Password?
Importance of password security
In 2020, Spotify experienced a significant credential stuffing attack. Malicious actors managed to obtain Spotify login credentials from previous hacks and use them to gain unauthorized access to 350,000 user accounts.
And in 2024, many Spotify subscribers woke up to hijacked playlists and compromised accounts. Many were locked out completely. For music lovers, it’s an unsettling thought that compromised Spotify Premium accounts are big commodities on the Dark Web: yours can be acquired for as little as $1.
Thus, a strong and unique password is your first line of defense against such attacks.
Protecting your personal information
Your personal data is highly prized by hackers. Below are the top 6 types of PII they target:
- Login credentials: If you regularly reuse passwords across platforms, you’re at high risk for identity theft. Once your frequently used password has been compromised, attackers can easily gain access to your Spotify account. They can then lock you out by changing your password, phone number, and email address.
- Account type: Are you a premium subscriber? If so, hackers can use your credentials to resell your premium access on the Dark Web.
- Payment information: If your account is hacked, your payment info can be used to commit identity theft, which can lead to unauthorized withdrawals from your bank account, fraudulent applications for credit cards, or mortgage loan approvals for homes you didn’t purchase.
- Listening history and playlists: This can be used to gain insight into your listening preferences so hackers can target you with ad campaigns. You may find your compromised account following fake AI bands you didn’t authorize.
- User profile: Hackers can harvest your image and bio – and pair them with false claims to spread misinformation online. Your profile can also be used to carry out elaborate harassment campaigns against you and your family. This includes doxxing and swatting schemes. Already, a swatting incident has resulted in at least one death in the US.
- Connected social media accounts: By using your stolen image and music preferences, attackers can mimic you credibly to perpetrate deepfake phishing attacks against your circle of social media connections.
Thus, securing your personal data is critical to your emotional, professional, and financial wellbeing.
Preventing unauthorized access to your account
Considering recent security incidents, Spotify has taken specific steps to protect your online safety:
- Adding two-factor authentication to creator or Spotify for Artist accounts
- Enabling you to easily remove any third-party apps connected to your Spotify account
- Enhancing logout capabilities to allow for simultaneous log outs from all devices
- Allowing access removal for devices like smartphones, computers, speakers, game consoles, and TVs
However, there’s one important way to prevent unauthorized access to your Spotify account, and it’s something only you can do: creating a strong password that’s computationally expensive for hackers to crack.
This means creating a password that requires significant time and computing resources for attackers to break through brute force efforts – a password that has high entropy (randomness).
Steps to Change Your Spotify Password
Accessing your Spotify account settings
First, launch the Spotify app or log in to your account.
Next, go to Account Settings:
- For desktop: Click your profile image (at the top right corner) and select “Account” from the drop-down menu.
- For mobile devices: Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of “Home,” and open “Settings.” Scroll down to select “Account.”
Navigating to the password change option
How to change your Spotify password
In “Account,” click on “Change Password.”
Use the LastPass generator to create a secure, high entropy password.
Type in your current password and then your new password.
Note that you’ll have to type in your new password twice.
Finally, remember to click “Set New Password” and you’re done.
How to complete a Spotify password reset
If forgot your current password and need to do a password reset, go to the Spotify login page.
Next, click on the phrase “Forgot your password?” and you’ll be sent a password reset email.
Head to your email inbox to check for a password reset link from Spotify.
Before you click on the link that says, “Reset password,” make sure the sender is “no-reply@spotify.com.”
When you get to the password reset page, use the LastPass generator to create a high entropy password and then enter it twice in the password fields.
Finally, be sure to check “I’m not a robot” in the reCAPTCHA box.
Choosing a strong and unique password
Choosing a strong, unique password is critical to securing your Spotify account from credential-based attacks. At LastPass, we help you eliminate password fatigue by making password generation, sharing, and storage a breeze.
Tips for Creating a Strong Spotify Display Name and Password
Using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters
For display name
Secure display names include both combinations of uppercase and lowercase letters. Spotify understands this: it’s why your Spotify username is assigned and consist of random numbers and letters.
On the Spotify website, your username is permanent and can’t be changed (unlike your display name). For ease and convenience, you don’t need your username to log in - just your email or phone number.
To change your display name on Android or Apple iPhone, simply launch the Spotify mobile app. Next, tap on Home > Settings > View Profile.
Under your current display name, click the Edit Profile option. Use both uppercase and lowercase letters to create your new display name, such as StEpHAnie, EliZAbetH, MatThEw, MUsICmAVen, or SoNGbiRd.
Replace your current display name and then hit Save.
For account password
Your account password is the key element to protect, as it holds the keys to the kingdom (your Spotify account). Try creating a passphrase consisting of four random words, with alternating uppercase and lowercase letters, such as pePpEr buffALo NApkin boUgAiNVillea.
Alternatively, you can adapt sentences from literary works, movies, or songs to devise a secure password.
Tip: Avoid using overly popular quotes from creative works, which are easily guessed.
Incorporating numbers and special characters
Numbers and special characters in passwords were prioritized by NIST until recently.
Today, the organization recommends focusing on length, rather than complexity, to protect your account.
Although eight is the custom length for passwords, 15 is ideal for account security. Additionally, NIST supports passphrases up to 64 characters in length.
Here’s the previously mentioned passphrase, with numbers and special characters added:
P!e85PpEr bu@ff3ALo N*A6pkin b^oUg9AiN2Villea
Avoiding common or easily guessable passwords
The 10 worst passwords of 2024 are, in no particular order:
- 123456789
- Iloveyou
- qwerty123
- login
- superman
- letmein
- baseball
- princess
- 123abc
- welcome
Have you used any of them? If so, your account is a security risk. Poor or easily guessed passwords are short, frequently reused, consist of common words, and have low entropy.
To come up with a strong, secure password for your Spotify account, use a Secure by Design password generator.
Frustrated with Remembering All Your Passwords?
A Secure by Design, Zero Knowledge password manager like LastPass is your first line of defense against overwhelm – especially when it comes to remembering a long list of complex passwords.
With LastPass, juggling passwords truly becomes a thing of the past. You get a smooth user experience, ironclad defense, and unparalleled privacy. And when you’re ready to go passwordless, our adaptive MFA takes security up a notch by dynamically adjusting authentication requirements based on perceived threat levels.
To check it out for yourself, try LastPass Premium for free today.
FAQ
How can I change my Spotify password?
You can do this by navigating to your “Account” settings and clicking on “Change Password.”
How do I log out of all devices?
You can log out of all devices by clicking on the “Account” setting and clicking on the “Sign Out Everywhere” option under “Security and Privacy.”
How to reset Spotify password without knowing current password?
If you’ve forgotten your current password, go to the Spotify reset page.
Enter the email address associated with your account. Click “Send link” and then head to your email inbox. If you don’t see the Spotify email, check your spam folder. If you do, open the email, check the sending email address, and then click on the Reset password link. This should take you to the reset page where you can create a new password.
Does changing password on Spotify log everyone out?
No, changing your Spotify password doesn’t log everyone out.
How do you log someone out of your Spotify?
To log someone out of your Spotify account, click on the “Sign Out Everywhere” option under “Security and Privacy” on your Accounts page.
