Take This Step Now to Avoid Being Locked Out of Your Spotify Family Account

Emily Long Emily Long Freelance Writer ExperienceEmily Long is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City. After graduating from Duke University, she spent several years reporting on the federal workforce for Government Executive, a publication of Atlantic Media Company, in Washington, D.C. She has nearly a decade of experience as a freelancer covering tech (including issues related to security, privacy, and streaming) as well as personal finance and travel. In addition to Lifehacker, her work has been featured on Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, and ZDNET. Emily has also worked as a travel guide around the U.S. and as a content editor. She has a masters in social work and is a licensed therapist in Utah. Read Full Bio October 21, 2026 Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google Credit: stockcam/Getty Images Key Takeaways If you are on a Spotify Family plan, you may need to verify your location via QR code to keep your account active. Once prompted, you must verify within seven days or risk being locked out of Family and Duo plans for a full year. According to Spotify's support page, both users must be in the same location to complete the scan, though there is a workaround. Table of Contents If you are on a Spotify Family plan, you may need to verify your location to keep your account active. Like many streaming services, Spotify is cracking down on family sharing for users who don't live in the same household by requiring QR code verification for some plan members—and once prompted, you must verify within seven days or risk being locked out of Family and Duo plans for a full year. Spotify family plan verification rulesSpotify does require users on shared plans to verify their address when they join to confirm that they live with the plan manager and to re-verify if the manager changes addresses. Users may also be prompted via to re-enter their full address if Spotify "can't confirm" their location. This obviously doesn't prevent users from sharing plans, as Spotify isn't actually tracking your location but rather cross-checking addresses. Some users may start seeing a QR code verification requirement, which has stricter parameters and may be more difficult to get around if plan members aren't in the same location. In these cases, the plan manager must open a QR code on their phone via Profile > Your Premium > Manage, and plan members must scan it with the camera on their phone. According to Spotify's support page, both users must be in the same location to complete the scan, and the QR code changes every few seconds, making it hard to send screenshots to anyone not present in person. However, as 9to5Google notes, some users have been able to work around these restrictions with video calls, using multiple devices to complete the scans. What do you think so far? If you are prompted to complete location verification either by email or QR code, make sure you do it within seven days of the notification—otherwise you'll be lose access and be downgraded to a free plan. Spotify says that you can rejoin the same Family or Duo plan again, but you'll be restricted from joining a different shared plan for a full year. Lifehacker has been a go-to source of tech help and life advice since 2005. Our mission is to offer reliable tech help and credible, practical, science-based life advice to help you live better. Our Mission Our Team Newsletter © 2001-2026 Ziff Davis, LLC., A ZIFF DAVIS COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Lifehacker is a federally registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of Lifehacker. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.