Spotify’s Jam feature offers a revolutionary way to enjoy music with friends, whether you’re in the same room or miles apart. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about How To Start A Jam On Spotify and make the most of collaborative listening sessions. Get ready to turn up the volume and share the sound with your crew!
Setting Up Your Spotify Jam Session
Starting a Jam on Spotify is straightforward, but it’s important to note that hosting a Jam requires a Spotify Premium subscription. However, the good news is that friends with free Spotify accounts can join your Jam and add their favorite tracks to the playlist when you are together in person. This feature is versatile, working seamlessly with smart speakers and most Bluetooth speakers, making it perfect for any gathering.
To initiate your own Spotify Jam, follow these simple steps:
- Start playing music: Begin by playing any song, playlist, or album on Spotify from your mobile device.
- Access the “Connect to a device” menu: Tap on the “Connect to a device” icon. This is usually located at the bottom left of your screen, next to the playback controls.
- Tap “Start a jam”: Within the device menu, you’ll see the option to “Start a jam”. Tap on it to begin your collaborative session.
- Invite your friends: Once the Jam has started, you’ll become the host. Now, it’s time to invite your friends to join the musical fun. You can invite them in three convenient ways:
- Share an invitation link: Spotify will generate a unique invitation link that you can send to your friends via messaging apps, email, or any other platform.
- Share a QR code: A QR code will be displayed on your screen, which your friends can scan with their smartphones to instantly join the Jam.
- Proximity-based invitation: If your friends are nearby, and you all have Spotify open with Bluetooth enabled, simply bring your phones close together (within 1 meter). Spotify will detect nearby devices and prompt them to join the Jam.
Joining and Contributing to a Spotify Jam
Joining a Spotify Jam is just as easy as starting one. If you’ve received an invitation from a friend, here’s how to jump in and start adding your favorite songs:
- Accept the invitation: Click on the invitation link your friend sent, scan the QR code, or accept the proximity-based invitation if you are nearby.
- Choose your listening mode: Upon joining, you’ll be asked to choose between “listening remotely” or “in-person.” Remember, joining remotely requires Spotify Premium.
- Tap “Join”: Select “Join” to enter the Jam session and start listening together.
- Add your tracks: Once you’re in the Jam, you can add songs to the queue. You can either select tracks from your own library or explore Spotify’s recommendations, which cleverly suggest songs based on the musical tastes of everyone in the Jam.
Managing Your Jam: Adding, Removing, and Leaving
As the host, or even as a participant, you have control over who’s in the Jam and when you want to step away.
Adding Friends to the Jam:
To invite more people after you’ve started:
- Tap the “Connect to a device” icon.
- Select “Invite friends”.
- Choose your preferred method to invite them – share link, QR code, or proximity.
Removing Someone from a Jam:
If you need to remove a participant:
- Tap the “Connect to a device” icon.
- Select “Participants”.
- Tap the three dots next to the person you want to remove.
- Select “Remove”.
Leaving a Jam:
When you’re ready to leave a Jam:
- Tap the “current device” you’re listening on, usually displayed at the bottom of the screen.
- To continue listening on your own, select a different device from the list. Or, to completely exit the Jam, tap “Leave”.
Keep in mind that if the host leaves the Jam, it will end the session for everyone.
Volume and Playback Control in Spotify Jam
Spotify Jam offers flexible control options for both volume and playback, allowing hosts to customize the experience.
Controlling Volume:
The host can decide whether participants can adjust the volume. To manage volume control:
- Tap the “current device” you’re listening to.
- Toggle the “Let guests change volume” switch on or off.
Shared volume control is supported on Chromecast and Amazon Cast but is not available on Bluetooth devices or Apple AirPlay.
Controlling Playback:
Similarly, the host can control whether guests can skip tracks or only add to the queue. To manage playback control:
- Toggle the “Let others change what’s playing” switch on or off.
When “Let others change what’s playing” is toggled off, guests can only add songs to the Jam queue but cannot control playback.
Troubleshooting Spotify Jam Issues
Encountering issues with Spotify Jam? Here are a few things to check:
Unable to host a Jam?
- Premium Subscription: Ensure you have an active Spotify Premium subscription, as it’s required to host Jams.
- Device Connection: Double-check that you are connecting to the correct speaker from the available devices list.
Unable to join a Jam?
- Invitation Acceptance: Make sure you have properly accepted the invitation from the Jam host.
- Device Selection: Confirm you are selecting the right speaker from the device list.
Volume Control Issues?
- Speaker Compatibility: Verify if your speaker supports shared volume control. Bluetooth devices and Apple AirPlay do not support this feature.
- Host Settings: Check if the host has enabled shared volume control in the Jam settings.
With its seamless integration and user-friendly interface, Spotify Jam is the perfect way to create shared musical moments with friends. Whether for a party, a road trip, or just hanging out, knowing how to start a jam on Spotify unlocks a new dimension of collaborative music enjoyment.
