Spotify gives shared plan users seven days to meet in person

Spotify has introduced a new rule requiring members of shared plans to scan a QR code in person to keep their access to the plan. If they do not scan the code within seven days, their account will be moved to the free tier, and they will be blocked from joining any other Duo or Family plan for 12 months. This change follows reports from Music Business Worldwide and confirms a policy previously outlined in Spotify's support documentation.

The requirement stems from an existing rule that members of a family plan live at the same address. However, many situations can leave relatives living apart, such as a child away at college or a spouse who works on the road. This crackdown could reach well beyond groups of friends trying to save money. Families who believed they were using the plans as intended may find themselves caught up in the verification process.

The new QR code step suggests Spotify may now be moving to close the gap between the written rule and how it has been applied. Analysts at Goldman Sachs have pointed to the issue as a revenue opportunity, estimating that a meaningful share of family plan users are not actual household members but friends sharing a plan to reduce costs. They see additional monetization upside from tightening household verification on multi-user plans.

The change follows reports from Music Business Worldwide and confirms a policy previously outlined in Spotify's support documentation.