Spotify has tightened its rules for Premium Family subscriptions with a new QR code verification process that requires selected members to prove they live with the plan manager. Subscribers who fail to complete the check within seven days could lose access to the shared plan and face a 12-month restriction on joining another Family or Duo subscription.
The new measure addresses a common issue with family subscriptions: people sharing a discounted plan with friends or relatives who live at different addresses. Spotify's Premium Family terms already require members to live in the same household, but the QR code adds another step to enforce that condition. Spotify's support page confirms that the company may ask some Premium Family members to complete the check.
How Spotify's QR Code Verification Works
The process requires both the Family plan manager and the member being checked to have their phones with them in the same place. The manager must open Spotify, navigate to the Premium settings, and display the QR code. The other member then scans it using their phone.
According to Spotify, the verification must be completed through its mobile app, with both users running the latest version. The QR code reportedly changes every few seconds, making it harder to complete the process using an old screenshot.
Members have seven days to complete the scan after receiving a notification. Spotify has not explained exactly which accounts will be selected for verification or how widely the new process is being rolled out.
The consequences could be significant for subscribers who miss the deadline. Spotify's support page stated that members who fail to complete QR verification cannot join a different Family or Duo plan for 12 months. They can still choose another subscription option.
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Spotify’s Fight Against Account Sharing
Spotify has been enforcing household requirements for Family subscriptions for several years. The plan allows multiple people at the same address to maintain separate accounts under a single subscription, but sharing the discount with people living elsewhere goes against its rules.
For subscribers, the practical advice is simple: if Spotify sends a verification request, check the notification and complete the process within seven days. Anyone unable to verify should contact Spotify support rather than assume their existing Family membership will remain unaffected.