The Spotify Sleep Timer is a very nifty little feature that does exactly what the name suggests: it pauses Spotify after a timer runs out or a song ends.
Originally introduced in 2019, the Timer is a straightforward function that’s very easy to use. There are a few little catches that confuse some users, and we’ll cover them all in our guide.
Let’s start with the very basics and explain how to set up your Spotify Sleep Timer.
- How to Set Up Spotify Sleep Timer: TL; DR
- How to Turn on Sleep Timer on Spotify: Full Explanation
- How to Turn on Spotify Sleep Timer for Podcasts
- How to Turn Spotify Sleep Timer Off
- What Is Spotify Sleep Timer?
- Spotify Sleep Timer Missing: Common Issues
- FAQs About Spotify Sleep Timer
- Summary: How to Put a Sleep Timer on Spotify
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How to Set Up Spotify Sleep Timer: TL; DR
To set up a Spotify Sleep Timer, play the track you want, tap the status bar above the bottom menu to open the Now Playing page, then hit the three dots in the top-right corner and select Sleep Timer from the menu. If you are playing a podcast, there is a clock icon on the Now Playing page that activates the Sleep Timer. These steps are officially verified by Spotify.
How to Turn on Sleep Timer on Spotify [iPhone + Android]: Full Explanation
Let’s now dive a bit deeper with a full step-by-step guide on how to activate the Spotify Sleep Timer. Again, this is a mobile-only feature. Also, the steps are slightly different for podcasts, so we dedicated a separate section to it below. Here’s how it’s done.
- 1. Open the Spotify mobile app and play a track of your choice.
- 2. Open the Now Playing page by tapping the status bar above the bottom menu.
- 3. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.
- 4. Scroll all the way down and tap “Sleep Timer“.
- 4. Select one of the available timer options, and that’s a wrap.
Once set, you can turn the Spotify Sleep Timer off by following the same steps. If the timer is on, there will be a “Turn timer off” option in the last section we just covered.
How to Turn on Spotify Sleep Timer for Podcasts
As noted, the Spotify Sleep Timer feature works a little bit differently for podcasts. It’s a very small difference but enough to confuse users who already know how to activate the Timer for regular songs. Anyhow, here’s how to do it with podcasts.
- 1. Open your Spotify mobile app and play a podcast of your choice.
- 2. Tap the status bar above the bottom menu to open the Now Playing page.
- 3. Tap the clock icon to the right of the Play/Pause button.
- 4. Set the Sleep Timer using one of the available options.
Again, the timer can be turned off by repeating the steps and selecting the off option.
How to Turn Spotify Sleep Timer Off
All you have to do to turn off the Spotify Sleep Timer is open the same menu page you used to turn it on and click the “Turn off timer” that will now be available. These are the steps for turning off the Spotify Sleep Timer.
- 1. While the song or podcast with Sleep Timer is playing, tap the status bar at the bottom to open the Now Playing page.
- 2a. For songs: Tap the three dots in the top-right corner and select “Sleep Timer” from the menu.
- 2b. For podcasts: Tap the green clock icon on the right side of the Play/Pause button.
- 3. Tap “Turn off timer” to deactivate the Spotify Sleep Timer. Alternatively, you can edit the time you selected.
What Is Spotify Sleep Timer?
The Sleep Timer is a feature on Spotify mobile app that allows users to set the app to pause after a pre-set amount of time or after the current track ends. The available timers are 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes.
The Spotify Sleep Timer is available on all mobile apps but not on the desktop version. It works for all content types, including songs and podcasts.
Read more: Why Does My Spotify Keep Pausing [10 Verified Fixes]
Spotify Sleep Timer Missing: Common Issues
The issue of Spotify Sleep Timer not working isn’t common at all. But, we’ve seen users struggling to find the Timer, asking stuff like, “Is Spotify Sleep Timer gone?”. No, it’s not gone, but there are a few basic reasons why it may not appear to you.
- • You’re on a desktop/laptop device, and there is no Spotify Sleep Timer for desktop: The Spotify Sleep Timer is a desktop-only feature. If you are trying to find it on the Spotify Desktop App or on the Spotify Web Player, it’s simply not available – at least not yet.
- • The Spotify Sleep Timer button is in a different spot for podcasts: If you can’t find Spotify Sleep Timer on a podcast you’re playing, it’s because it’s not available in the upper-right menu. Spotify podcasts have a dedicated Sleep Timer button (the small clock) right on the Now Playing screen.
- • You can’t use the Spotify Sleep Timer when Connect is active: The Connect feature allows you to play songs on your mobile device and listen to them on your desktop or laptop. Since the Sleep Timer is not available on desktop, you can’t use the Connect feature and have the Timer running at the same time. If you try to activate the Timer with Connect on, you will get a pop-up message telling you to either disable Connect or stop the Sleep Timer.
Technically, Spotify Sleep Timer may not be showing to you because your app is outdated, but considering that the feature was introduced back in 2019, you need to have a really, really, really outdated version of the app for this to be the case.
FAQs About Spotify Sleep Timer
Is there a Spotify Sleep Timer desktop version?
No. As verified by the Spotify support team, Spotify Sleep Timer is currently only available on mobile devices, including iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. The Timer is not an option on desktop and laptop devices, and that includes both the desktop app and the Spotify Web Player.
Can I set a custom timer for Spotify Sleep Timer?
No, you can only select one of the 6 pre-set Spotify Sleep Timers – 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes – or set Spotify to pause after the current track or podcast episode ends. There’s this request on the Spotify Community page to add custom options for the timer. It garnered some attention but it’s been a while since the request was submitted so we’re not sure what to make of it.
Was Spotify Sleep Timer removed?
No, the Spotify Sleep Timer feature has not been removed since it was introduced in 2019. If you don’t see the Sleep Timer, first know that this is a mobile-only feature. There is no such thing as Spotify Sleep Timer desktop version.
What does Spotify Sleep Timer do?
Spotify Sleep Timer automatically pauses Spotify after a pre-set amount of time. There are six time increments you can use – 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes – or the option to stop audio after the end of the track or podcast episode.
Do other streaming services have a feature like Spotify Sleep Timer?
Yes, a Sleep Timer is not a Spotify-exclusive feature. YouTube has its own sleep timer, which is also available on mobile only. But you can use it both on the regular YouTube app and on YouTube Music.
Is Spotify Sleep Timer available for podcasts?
The Spotify Sleep Timer is slightly different for podcasts than for other tracks, but the difference is almost non-existent. Basically, when you play podcasts on Spotify, there is a Sleep Timer icon right on the Now Playing screen (it’s the little clock). When you play other types of tracks, you need to tap the three dots and then select “Sleep Timer”. That’s the only difference.
Is there a difference between Spotify Sleep Timer iPhone and Android versions?
No, they are the same. The Spotify Sleep Timer Android version operates the same as the Sleep Timer feature on iOS mobile devices.
Will Spotify Sleep Timer turn off my phone?
No, the Spotify Sleep Timer will only pause your Spotify app. It won’t even turn the app off, let alone your entire phone or tablet. This is verified both for Android and iOS mobile devices.
Summary: How to Put a Sleep Timer on Spotify
OK, in conclusion, the fastest way to activate the Spotify Sleep Timer is to play a track, tap the Now Playing page at the bottom of the screen (the small section near the bottom menu, the one displaying the track’s current status), then tap the three dots in the top-right corner, select “Sleep Timer”, and set your time from the available options.
If you are playing a podcast, you shouldn’t tap the three dots in the Now Playing screen. Instead, there is a small clock icon on the right side of the big Play/Pause button. Just tap it and set up your timer.
In both cases, the available options are 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes – or the end of the current track/episode. If you’re looking for more content like this, check out the How To section of our blog. Stay safe and enjoy the music, guys!
