Spotify may soon let users pick real, customizable usernames, a long-requested change hinted at in a recent Android app teardown. Code references in the latest build point to a new “Edit username” interface and language that frames usernames as social handles, signaling a shift toward a more social, discoverable Spotify.
What the Android app code suggests about usernames
Strings discovered in Spotify’s Android app version 9.1.20.1132 reference a dedicated “Edit username” screen and a label explicitly named “Username.” The copy calls these identifiers social handles, the kind of terminology you’d expect from a social network rather than a strictly music player. While hidden flags and placeholders don’t guarantee a launch, they’re a strong indication of active development.
Today, Spotify assigns auto-generated alphanumeric usernames to most accounts, a system introduced in 2018 when the company moved away from user-created, permanent usernames. That approach is fine for private listening but becomes a friction point once messaging, group chats, and collaborative features enter the picture.
Why editable usernames matter for Spotify’s social features
As Spotify expands social tools like Jams, Blends, collaborative playlists, and in-app messaging, discovery remains awkward. You can search by display name, but with millions of users sharing common names, finding the right person is a guessing game. Messaging also leans on prior interactions or invite links, as reported by outlets tracking the feature’s rollout, which slows organic connection.
Introducing unique, user-chosen handles would fix the basics: type a friend’s handle, open a profile, start a chat or follow. For a service with more than 600 million monthly listeners, even small gains in discoverability can translate into meaningful engagement increases, especially around shared listening sessions and playlist collaboration.
Real-world example: try finding the right “Alex Smith” to build a running playlist. Today you might sift through dozens of profiles or rely on a share link. A simple @alexruns handle would make that process instant and, crucially, predictable.
How Spotify could implement editable handles and safeguards
Technically, Spotify can keep the existing alphanumeric IDs as the immutable account key, while layering editable handles on top—similar to how many platforms use internal IDs beneath vanity names. That would preserve all historical data and links while enabling human-readable identities for search and messaging.
If this ships, expect common guardrails:
- Global uniqueness
- Length and character limits
- Policies against impersonation or trademark abuse
Handle history is another consideration—will changes be limited over time, and will old handles be recycled? Competing platforms often throttle changes and park abandoned handles to curb squatting.
Migration is a delicate step. Early access for existing users, reservations for verified artists and major brands, and prompts during profile editing are all plausible. Spotify already verifies artists and public figures, so extending that framework to handles would help prevent copycats when a high-demand namespace opens.
Discovery, safety, and social design considerations for handles
Editable usernames could unlock true user search and cleaner profile sharing, but they also raise privacy questions. Expect opt-outs for being discoverable by handle, tools to restrict who can message you, and controls for minors—a pattern established by larger social networks like Instagram and YouTube. If Spotify wants group messaging to grow, it will need robust reporting, blocking, and rate-limiting to stop spam.
On the upside, handles would make it easier to credit playlist curators, surface tastemakers, and strengthen the follower graph around genres and local scenes. That’s good for engagement and potentially for commerce, from merch to live events, areas Spotify has been investing in alongside music and podcasts.
What to watch next as Spotify tests editable usernames
Because these clues come from an APK teardown, rollout timing is unknown and features may change or never ship. Still, the language and UI hooks look beyond simple relabeling, and they line up with Spotify’s steady push into messaging and social discovery.
Indicators to look for include:
- Server-side tests that expose a handle field under profile editing
- Reserved-name notices for artists
- New search filters focused on users
If Spotify follows the playbook used for recent features, editable usernames could appear first for a small Android cohort before broader expansion.
Whether this is a minor profile tweak or the keystone for a more social Spotify, editable usernames would address one of the platform’s longest-standing usability complaints—and make finding people as straightforward as finding songs.
