How to Share a Spotify Playlist (Phone and Desktop)
How to share a Spotify playlist on your phone and desktop: copy the link, use a Spotify Code, why private playlist links last 7 days, collaborative playlist risks and one link for every app.
You spent an hour getting the order of that playlist just right. Now you want to send it to a friend, post it in your story or put it in your bio. Spotify makes sharing easy once you know where the button is, but there are a few details that trip people up: links to private playlists that stop working, collaborative playlists that anyone can edit, and friends who use Apple Music instead.
This guide covers how to share a Spotify playlist on your phone and on desktop, how Spotify Codes work, what changes for private and collaborative playlists, and how to share your music in one place for listeners on every app. Steps follow Spotify's support pages as of October 2026. Menu names can change between app versions, so if something looks slightly different, look for the closest option.
How to share a Spotify playlist on your phone
On iPhone, iPad and Android, Spotify's support page describes the same flow:
- Open the playlist you want to share.
- Tap the three dots at the top of the playlist.
- Tap Share.
- Choose how to share it:
- Copy link, to paste it anywhere: a chat, an email, your bio.
- A social or messaging app from the list, such as WhatsApp, Messages or Instagram Stories.
- Spotify Code, a scannable code (more on that below).
If you share to Instagram Stories, add a link sticker or mention that the playlist is in your bio, so people can still find it after the story disappears.
How to share a Spotify playlist on desktop
In the Spotify desktop app:
- Find the playlist in your library or open it.
- Right-click the playlist, or click the three dots next to it.
- Choose Share.
- Click Copy Link or Copy embed code.
The embed code is useful if you have a website or blog. It adds a small Spotify player to the page so visitors can preview the playlist without leaving.
One extra tip from Spotify's help: if you need the Spotify URI (a code like spotify:playlist:... that some tools ask for), hold Alt on Windows or Option on Mac while the Share menu is open.
In the web player, the flow is usually the same: open the playlist, click the three dots, then Share.
What is a Spotify Code and how do you scan one?
A Spotify Code is a scannable image with the Spotify logo and a sound wave pattern. It opens the playlist directly in the Spotify app. You can find it in the Share menu on your phone.
To scan one, according to Spotify's support page:
- Open Spotify and tap Search.
- Tap the search bar.
- Tap the camera icon.
- Tap SCAN and point your camera at the code.
Spotify needs access to your camera for this. The catch: Spotify Codes only work inside the Spotify app. Someone without Spotify, or someone using their phone's regular camera, may not get anywhere. For posters, flyers or a café table, a regular QR code that opens a web link is easier for everyone.
Sharing private playlists: the 7-day catch
Not every playlist has to appear on your profile. Spotify lets you choose which playlists are shown there:
- Phone: tap the three dots at the top of the playlist, then Add to profile or Remove from profile.
- Desktop and web player: right-click the playlist or click the three dots, then Add to profile or Remove from profile.
Hiding a playlist from your profile does not make it secret. Spotify says that if you share a playlist that is not shown on your profile, recipients can still play it, follow it and share it with others.
Private playlists are different. Spotify's help explains that on mobile you share a private playlist the same way (three dots, then Share), but friends can use each shared link for 7 days. After that, the link stops working for new people.
That matters if you want a link that lasts. A private playlist link in your Instagram bio or on a flyer will stop working a week later. For anything public and long term, use a playlist that is public on your profile.
Hide new playlists by default
If you do not want every new playlist to show up on your profile automatically, Spotify has a setting for that:
- Phone: tap your profile picture, then Settings and privacy, Privacy and social, and under playlist visibility switch Public playlists on or off.
- Desktop: click your profile picture, open Settings, and under Social switch Publish my new playlists on my profile on or off.
Sharing a collaborative playlist
A collaborative playlist lets friends add, remove and reorder tracks. It is perfect for a road trip, a party or a gym group. To invite people:
- Open the playlist and tap or click the three dots.
- Select Invite collaborators. Spotify generates a link that is valid for 7 days.
- Send that link to your friends.
Be careful with collaborative playlists you share widely. Spotify notes that if a playlist is collaborative, any recipient can edit it. If you post a collaborative playlist link publicly, strangers could change it. For public sharing, share a regular playlist and keep the collaborative one for people you know.
How to share your playlist with people who do not use Spotify
Here is the problem every music fan and artist runs into: not everyone uses Spotify. Some of your followers live on Apple Music, others on YouTube Music, others only watch on YouTube. A Spotify link opens a web player for them, but many people would rather listen in their own app.
The fix is to share one link that offers every option. A link-in-bio page with your Spotify playlist, your Apple Music playlist and your YouTube playlist side by side lets each listener pick their app. If you are an artist, add your latest release, tour dates or merch on the same page.
On VISU, you add each playlist as a link card, and links from services like Spotify get a matching icon automatically, so listeners recognize their app at a glance. The free plan includes 5 links and 5 social icons, enough for three streaming platforms plus a release and a contact link. Paid plans raise the limit (10 on Starter, 20 on Pro, unlimited on Premium). Our guide on organizing your links by priority helps you decide which one goes on top.
Where to share your Spotify playlist
Once you have the link, put it where people already look:
- Instagram bio and Stories. The bio link is permanent, stories are a reminder. Our link-in-bio guide for creators covers how to set it up.
- TikTok and YouTube. Mention the playlist in your videos and point to your bio or description.
- WhatsApp and group chats. Paste the link directly. Group chats are where playlists actually get played.
- Your website. Use the embed code so visitors can preview the playlist on the page.
- Offline. For an event, a shop or a gig, print a QR code that opens your link page instead of a Spotify Code, so people without Spotify can still listen.
If you make music or curate playlists as a creator, our music category shows how other musicians organize their links.
Tips for a playlist people actually play
- Give it a clear name. "Sunday morning acoustic" tells people when to press play. "Playlist #7" does not.
- Add a cover and a description. They show up when you share the link and help the playlist stand out.
- Put the best songs first. Most people decide in the first few tracks.
- Keep it updated. A playlist that changes gives followers a reason to come back.
Quick checklist
- Phone: three dots, Share, Copy link or pick an app.
- Desktop: right-click, Share, Copy link or embed code. Alt or Option for the URI.
- Spotify Codes work only inside Spotify. Use a QR code for print.
- Private playlist links last 7 days. Use public playlists for your bio.
- Collaborative playlists: anyone with the link can edit. Share only with people you trust.
- For listeners on every app, share one page with Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube links.
Your playlist deserves more than one app. Create your free VISU page and share every version of your music with one link.
Frequently asked questions
How do I share a Spotify playlist link?
On your phone, open the playlist, tap the three dots, tap Share and choose Copy link or an app. On desktop, right-click the playlist or click the three dots, choose Share and click Copy Link.
Can I share a private Spotify playlist?
Yes. On mobile, tap the three dots at the top of the playlist and choose Share. Spotify says friends can use each shared link for 7 days, so do not use it in a bio or on print.
Can people see a playlist I removed from my profile?
Removing a playlist from your profile hides it there, but Spotify says anyone you share it with can still play, follow and share it.
How do I invite friends to a collaborative playlist?
Open the playlist, tap or click the three dots and select Invite collaborators. Spotify creates a link valid for 7 days. Anyone who receives a collaborative playlist can edit it, so share it only with people you trust.
How do I share a playlist with friends who use Apple Music or YouTube Music?
Make the playlist on each service and share one link-in-bio page with all of them side by side, so every listener opens the music in the app they already use.
