Spotify revamps Shuffle with smarter, less repetitive listening

Spotify is rolling out a new default Shuffle mode called Fewer Repeats, which uses recent listening history to reduce track repetition and deliver a fresher, more engaging listening experience. The update comes after user feedback highlighted frustration with how often the same songs resurfaced while shuffling playlists.

The Fewer Repeats algorithm generates several shuffle options behind the scenes, prioritizing the version with the most variety based on your recent activity. Spotify says this model better balances randomness with novelty—so users can still enjoy spontaneity without hearing the same tracks too often.

If listeners prefer the previous shuffle experience, they can switch back to Standard Shuffle, which is fully random and more prone to repeat songs. The company recommends sticking with the new Fewer Repeats setting for a more dynamic playback experience. Fewer Repeats is available only to Premium users and is rolling out gradually. Some users may not see the new setting immediately, depending on their region.

Premium subscribers can also now turn off Smart Shuffle, a separate feature that adds recommended songs to your queue. Additionally, both Free and Premium users can tap on any track in a shuffled playlist to play it without completely reshuffling the queue. This small change should bring more predictability to an otherwise unpredictable feature.

How to adjust your shuffle settings

Premium users can toggle between Fewer Repeats and Standard Shuffle in just a few taps:

1. Open Spotify Settings.
2. Go to Playback.
3. Choose between Fewer Repeats (default) or Standard Shuffle.

This Shuffle update joins a growing list of features designed to give listeners more control over their music. Earlier this year, Spotify introduced the ability to exclude songs from your Taste Profile, Snooze tracks in playlists, and refresh Discover Weekly with genre-specific deep dives.