Spotify Confirms Family Plan Verification Crackdown, Calls It "Routine Improvement"

Spotify confirmed on its third-quarter earnings call that it is tightening enforcement of Family Plan sharing, introducing QR code verification that requires members to prove they live with the plan manager. Co-CEO Alex Norström characterized the change as a "routine improvement" to existing verification tools, not a "crackdown." Under the new method, members receive a notification and have seven days to scan a QR code displayed on the plan manager's phone. Those who miss the window cannot join another Family or Duo plan for 12 months and must subscribe to an individual plan at their own expense. Norström noted the Family Plan has existed for roughly 12 to 13 years and represents a significant share of Spotify's subscriber base, making verification improvements an ongoing priority. The move aims to convert shared accounts into full-price Premium subscriptions.