Fixed: Spotify Playing Songs Not on Playlist (2026 Guide)

"Spotify keeps playing random songs. I only use custom playlists and don't want anything suggested to play while I'm on it." - From Spotify Community

It is common to see users complain that Spotify is playing songs not on the playlist. If you are also running into the same issue, then this article is for you. In this 2026 guide, we will discuss common causes and provide 9 tested and effective solutions to help keep your Spotify music played in order. Read on now.

Why Spotify Keeps Playing Songs Not On Your Playlist?

Actually, the issue of Spotify playing songs not on your playlist is usually caused by various factors. By knowing them in advance, it would be easier for you to find suitable methods to fix it. Here are the most common reasons:

1. Autoplay Is Enabled

When Autoplay is turned on in Spotify, it will automatically continue playing recommended songs after your playlist, album, or track ends. Although this feature is designed to help users discover new music easily, it can also lead to Spotify autoplay songs not in playlist issues.

2. Smart Shuffle Is On

Smart Shuffle is an updated "Enhance" feature for Spotify Premium users. It uses AI to insert recommended tracks into your playlist based on your listening habits and even reorder your songs to keep your listening experience fresh and full of surprises. If you find that this feature is, it might be the culprit.

3. Too Few Songs in Playlist

If your playlist contains fewer than 15 songs, Spotify will automatically add more suggested songs. As a result, you may notice Spotify keeps playing random songs you didn't add.

4. Play Queue Issue

Sometimes, the issue is caused by leftover songs from your previous playback. If you don't clear your queue, Spotify may play songs not in your playlist this time.

5. Shared Account Interference

If your Spotify account is shared with others, the music playback control on their devices affects your original music playback list.

6. App Bugs or Outdated Version

Outdated app versions, corrupted cache files, or temporary glitches can also cause various Spotify problems, such as Spotify playing random songs not in the playlist.

How to Stop Spotify Playing Songs Not on Playlist

It can be incredibly frustrating when you are in the mood for a sad vibe, but Spotify keeps playing random songs not in your playlists. Don't worry. Below are 9 practical fixes you can apply to stop this issue and regain full control of your music playback. Plus, you can also go straight to the permanent fix in Part 3.

For a quick fix, try the 4 methods shown in this video first. If they don't work, follow the step‑by‑step guide below.

Solution 1: Turn off Autoplay on Spotify

Autoplay is one of the most common reasons why Spotify plays songs not in your playlist, especially after your playlist ends. You only need to follow the 2 steps below to turn it off.

On Windows/Mac:

Step 1. Open the Spotify app on your Windows or Mac. Hit the Spotify app to run it on your computer. Click on the Down-Arrow buttons to pick up the Settings options. On the Settings page, you are allowed to make any changes when using Spotify Music.

Step 2. Now, scroll down to the bottom of General Settings, and there is an option called AutoPlay. Now just press the button to turn off Spotify Autoplay, and then you fix the problem of "Spotify Keeps Playing Songs not on my playlist".

On iPhone/Android:

Step 1. On the Spotify app, tap your profile icon and go to "Settings and privacy" > "Playback".

Step 2. Switch off the option "Autoplay" under "Listening controls".

Solution 2: Toggle Off Smart Shuffle

If Spotify still keeps playing songs not in your playlist even with Autoplay off, you can continue disabling Smart Shuffle to try as well.

When you see a sparkling Shuffle icon, this means the Smart Shuffle feature is enabled. Simply hit the icon until it turns grey with no highlight. Then try playing the Spotify playlist again to see if the problem is now fixed.

Solution 3: Disable Shuffle Mode on Spotify

Additionally, standard Shuffle mode can also cause playback issues, leading to Spotify playing random songs not on the playlist. If you are a Premium user, you can easily disable Shuffle by tapping the green "Shuffle" icon on the playback bar. Once the icon turns grey, shuffle mode is off. However, if you are a free Spotify user, you will need to consider alternative methods.

Solution 4: Clear Play Queue

If your "Next in Queue" is filled with numerous recommended or previously added tracks, clearing the Spotify queue can be helpful to bring your playback list back to normal. Here is how.

On Windows/Mac/Web:

Step 1. On Spotify, click the queue icon in the bottom right corner.

Step 2. Click the "Clear queue" button next to "Next in Queue". Then, click "Yes" to confirm.

On Android/iPhone:

Step 1. Open the Spotify app.

Step 2. Go to the "Now Playing" screen and tap the three horizontal lines icon in the bottom right corner.

Step 3. Tap the "Clear Queue" button.

Solution 5: Add More Tracks to Playlist

Make sure your playlist contains more than 15 tracks, as this can effectively reduce the chances of Spotify playing random songs outside your playlist. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Navigate to your favorite songs, album, or playlist.

Step 2. Click the "+" icon, or select the three-dot menu > "Add to playlist".

Step 3. Choose your target playlist. Then, continue adding tracks until your playlist has more than 15 songs.

Solution 6: Clear Spotify Cache Files

Clearing Spotify cache helps remove corrupted data. This may effectively fix the Spotify playing songs not on the playlist error. To do so, here are the steps for you.

On Windows/Mac:

Step 1. Launch the Spotify desktop app and go to "Settings" by clicking the profile icon.

Step 2. Scroll down and find "Storage".

Step 3. Hit the "Clear cache" button. Then, you can restart the app to see if the problem persists.

On Android/iPhone

Step 1. Open the Spotify app and tap your profile icon.

Step 2. Go to "Settings and privacy" > "Data-saving and offline".

Step 3. Find "Storage", then tap the "Clear" button next to "Clear cache".

Solution 7: Sign Out Everywhere

If your account is logged in on multiple devices by many, it can cause playback conflicts and make Spotify play random songs not in the queue. As a result, you can try signing out of all devices to have a try.

Step 1. Go to your Spotify Account page.

Step 2. Choose "Sign out everywhere" under the "Security and privacy" section.

Step 3. Click on the "Sign out everywhere" button. Then, log back in on your currently used device.

Solution 8: Update Spotify App

An outdated app can trigger various bugs like black screens, error code 17, or Spotify not playing songs on the playlist. Therefore, it is advisable to go to App Store/Google Play/official website and update to the latest version. This can usually get things done.

Solution 9: Reinstall the Spotify App

If you have tried different methods above but still find Spotify playing songs not on your playlist, try deleting the app and reinstalling it. This action can help fix bugs that may have occurred due to programming errors. Reinstallation effectively resets the app, allowing it to run properly again. To do this, simply delete the app and then download it again from the official website or app stores. Once done, reopen the app, and you may find the problem has been fixed.

Best Way to Avoid Spotify Playing Random Songs Permanently

If you have tried all the methods above but still can‘t fix Spotify playing songs not on your playlist, an extra solution is to download all Spotify playlists as MP3 files offline. By saving them locally, you can take full control of playback without any hassle.

To achieve this, TuneFab Spotify Music Converter is a reliable option that is worth considering. Integrated with the official Spotify web player, it lets you browse, play, and download Spotify songs without Premium. Even better, this tool supports batch conversion to save you valuable time. That's why it is considered one of the best Spotify playlist converters. Once downloaded, you can permanently stop Spotify from playing songs not in your playlist.

Now, let's learn how to resolve the issue of Spotify not playing songs from playlists using TuneFab.

Step 1. Sign in Spotify Web Player

Open TuneFab Spotify Music Converter and then click into the Spotify Web Player. You can sign in to it with your Spotify Free or Premium account.

Step 2. Select Spotify Songs or Playlists to Download

Search Spotify songs or playlists you want to download and enjoy in the correct order. By clicking the "Add (to Convert)" button and get ready to start the downloading process.

Step 3. Choose Format and Quality

When the conversion panel pops up, customize the output format, bitrate, and sample rate according to your preference.

(Optional) For more custom settings, click on the gear icon to open "Settings". You can move to "General Settings" to customize how to name and archive your downloaded Spotify tracks.

Step 4. Download Spotify Playlists Offline

Click the "Convert Now" button to start downloading Spotify playlists offline. When it is done, you can get all Spotify downloads in "Local Library" and listen to Spotify music offline on any device without issue.

Conclusion

There are various reasons why Spotify keeps playing random songs instead of sticking to your curated list. With the tested 9 methods above, you can usually resolve this issue with just a few simple steps.

However, if you want to permanently stop Spotify from playing songs not in your playlist, a more reliable workaround is to take your music offline using tools like TuneFab Spotify Music Converter. This way, you can easily fix problems like Spotify no sound and don't need to worry about unexpected interruptions while playing Spotify Music offline.