The free tier of Spotify used to be surprisingly good, even with the ads. But then they started taking away basic features like “choosing the song you want to play???” and the ads began appearing more often. Even during podcasts.
Spotify Premium, of course, gets rid of all the restrictions and ads. But if you don’t wanna pay for ad blocking, that’s different. Now, unlike YouTube, ad blocking on Spotify is a bit different. Because while YouTube doesn’t have desktop apps, Spotify has apps for almost all platforms. In-app ad blocking can be a bit difficult, but it’s not impossible. There are system-wide ad blockers, along with numerous mods and patches that we can explore. And we will be discussing all that here.
Best Way to Block Ads on Spotify (For Any Device)
AdGuard is the best way to block Spotify ads on any device, whether it’s in a browser or the app.
Once you download the AdGuard app on your Windows or macOS, it starts blocking ads in your browser and in the apps. This is the beauty of a system-wide ad blocker. And even on Android and Google TV, AdGuard uses VPN to cover the whole system, which can also affect ads in the Spotify app.
AdGuard is a quick and easy solution to get rid of ads, and it’s very inexpensive. More so with our promo code ADBLOCKTESTER30.
Can You Block Ads on Spotify?
Yes, you can block ads on Spotify. That said, there is no one-click solution to block Spotify ads across all platforms.
Spotify apps are deliberately locked down, which makes it hard for ad blockers to slip in and do their thing. So even if an ad blocker gets rid of the ads, you may still see blank placeholders for banner ads on top of your player, and you may need to wait out a blank ad spot.
Compared to the apps, it’s easier to block ads on the web player. You can install extensions like Total Adblock and AdGuard, and they should just do their thing. For the app-side of things, some DNS-based and system-wide ad blockers work. But there are also modded and patched apps that a lot of users prefer as they unlock additional functionalities.
So, you can definitely block ads on Spotify. But some of the methods are a bit shady. So do it at your own risk.
How to Block Spotify Ads on Windows?
Blocking ads on the Windows app takes a bit of work, but you’ve got a few options.
AdGuard for Windows
AdGuard’s desktop app filters ads across your system, not just in browsers.
After installation, go to: Settings > Network > Filtered Applications > Add Spotify.
This way, AdGuard filters Spotify’s traffic just like it would for a website. It usually removes both banner and audio ads, though you might see an empty space where an ad would’ve been.
EZBlocker
EZBlocker is a free, lightweight tool that doesn’t exactly block Spotify ads but mutes them. It modifies the Windows hosts file and runs quietly in the background. It’s old and hasn’t been updated in a while, but it remains popular due to its simplicity. The downside is that you’ll still “sit through” ad slots, just in silence.
SpotX
SpotX is more advanced. It modifies the Spotify client to remove ads. If you want to try it, here’s how:
- Download the SpotX installer from its official GitHub repo.
- Extract the ZIP file and run the install.bat script as administrator.
- The script will patch your Spotify client, disabling banner ads, auto-updates, and some telemetry.
- Restart Spotify and you should see a cleaner, ad-free interface.
When Spotify updates, you may need to re-run SpotX. It’s also riskier than AdGuard or EZBlocker since it changes the client itself, which means potential bugs and a small chance of Spotify detecting the modification.
How to Block Spotify Ads on macOS?
On macOS, your options are a bit narrower than Windows, but here are two main tools you can use:
AdGuard for Mac
AdGuard’s desktop app can filter traffic system-wide, including Spotify.
Once installed, go to: Preferences > Network > Applications > Add Spotify.
From there, AdGuard intercepts ad traffic before it loads. You might still notice the occasional empty space where an ad would’ve been, but overall, it’s one of the safest and most reliable ways to block Spotify ads on macOS.
SpotX for macOS
For a more aggressive approach, SpotX has a macOS version that patches Spotify directly. Here’s how it works:
- Download the SpotX Mac script from GitHub.
- Open Terminal and run the script with the required permissions.
- The script will modify the Spotify client by stripping banner ads, disabling telemetry, and blocking updates.
- Restart Spotify, and you should see no ads.
Just like on Windows, Spotify updates can undo the patch, so you may need to re-run SpotX after each update. It’s powerful, but comes with a higher risk since it modifies the app itself.
How to Block Spotify Ads in the Browser?
If you stick to the Spotify Web Player, it’s super easy to get rid of the ads.
uBlock Origin is the go-to extension here. Install it on Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, and it’ll filter out most banner and audio ads automatically. Simple, free, and reliable.
AdGuard’s browser extension or desktop app can also block Spotify web ads and give you some extra privacy controls in the process.
How to Block Spotify Ads on Android?
If you want uninterrupted listening sessions on your Android phone without wanting to pay the premium, we’ve got you covered. There are a couple of ways to do it.
AdGuard for Android
The AdGuard Android app filters ads system-wide, including inside the Spotify app. It works by routing your traffic through a local VPN on your device, so no root is required. As it works at a network level, it can easily block in-app ads like those in Spotify.
- Download the AdGuard app from the official AdGuard website.
- Install the .apk file. You may need to allow “install unknown apps” for your browser or file manager.
- Open the AdGuard app.
- Install the necessary certificates.
- Go to Settings > Filtering > Apps Management and make sure Spotify is toggled on.
- And you should see no ads on the Spotify app.
DNS-based Ad Blockers
If you’d rather keep it lighter, you can also use DNS-based blockers like NextDNS or AdGuard DNS, which cut off Spotify’s ad servers before they reach you. These won’t always be perfect, but they’re safe, stable, and don’t involve tampering with the app.
Modded Apps
The previous methods are relatively safe, but they aren’t always consistent. And they only solve part of the problem. Spotify’s free tier is very restrictive, prompting many users to look for ways to unlock additional “premium features” for free, including ad blocking. There are some modded Spotify apps that can help with that.
Spotify ReVanced patches the official APK to remove ads, add unlimited skips, and unlock custom features. Sounds great, but it violates Spotify’s Terms of Service, is unstable after updates, and can trigger account bans. Offline downloads never work.
xManager is an installer that lets you pick and install different patched Spotify versions. It’s easier to use than manually patching, and offers ad-free listening plus high-quality audio. But the same risks apply: you’re sideloading modified apps, which means exposure to malware, instability, and the very real chance of losing your account.
If you go down this route, always use a dummy account instead of your main one.
How to Block Spotify Ads on iOS?
Unlike Android, Apple doesn’t allow system-wide ad blockers to filter traffic inside apps. Which means tools like AdGuard for iOS only work in Safari and other browsers. And while you can use AdGuard DNS or NextDNS, the results are a bit hit or miss. There’s only one way to properly remove ads and get some of the premium features on Spotify on iOS.
Over the years, some developers have created patched versions of Spotify for iOS. EeveeSpotify is one of them. While EeveSpotify was taken down, you can use EeveeSpotify Reborn. The catch is that you would need to build the .ipa first using Xcode on a macOS device. Once you have the .ipa signed to your Apple ID, the rest of the process is as follows:
- Download SideLoadly or AltStore on a PC or Mac
- Compile the latest EeveeSpotify.ipa.
- Connect your iPhone with a USB cable, log in with your Apple ID, and push the patched app onto your phone.
- Authorize it in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > Developer Apps, then turn on Development Mode.
- Delete the official Spotify app and use the sideloaded one instead
This process needs to be repeated every 7 days. Which means you’ll have to plug your phone into a computer every week to refresh the certificate.
Is Spotify Premium Worth It?
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve noticed something: every free ad-blocking trick (other than AdGuard) has a catch. Some just mute ads, some leave blank spaces, some break every time Spotify updates, and others risk your account or even your phone’s security.
Spotify Premium is the only clean solution. You get rid of ads completely, no scripts, no shady sideloads, no gaps of silence. Premium also gives you offline downloads, higher quality audio, unlimited skips, and proper control over what you play.
The price varies depending on where you live. In places like the US or EU, Premium can feel expensive, but Spotify offers student discounts and family plans that make it much more affordable. In countries like India or Nigeria, Premium is a fraction of the price, sometimes cheaper than a dollar, thanks to the student discount.
So is it worth it? Yes, Spotify has almost all the artists you know and love. Unlike platforms like Netflix, Prime, Disney+ where the content is segmented, Spotify is the one music subscription you could possibly need. So yes, it is definitely worth it.
Wrapping Up
Ad blocking on Spotify is messy. And you get more ads than on other platforms. But maybe not so much when you compare it to radios. I personally hate the extra ads during podcasts because there are already sponsored segments there. And I also need proper Android Auto support, so Spotify Premium kind of makes sense for me.
But I can also understand if you don’t wanna pay for it. You’ll just have to be comfortable tinkering, and you’ll find a method. And the methods we’ve described here will keep changing every few months, so for a stable solution, AdGuard is still a good option.