How to block images and videos on Spotify
Images and videos can both be blocked for the Spotify app by using settings in the app or DNS-based restrictions. We recommend DNS restrictions because they are not as easy to disable.
If you are trying to limit and block videos and images while using the Spotify app, it is possible to do this without blocking audio content. This can be done both by using settings available in the Spotify app and additional measures that restrict images and videos at the network level.
We recommend using the most effective approach first if you’re a parent who is trying to enable these restrictions for their children or Teens, which is to block the servers Spotify uses to provide images and videos.
This advice also applies to adults who are managing their own devices and have their own Spotify account, since it’s fairly easy to bypass and undo any restrictions made within the Spotify app later.
Block Spotify’s servers that host Images and Videos
One of the most comprehensive ways to block images and videos is to block the servers Spotify uses to host video content. Typically, this needs to be done on each device, although you can block these servers on your home’s Wi-Fi network if you're setting up monitoring on your home router for the best results.
There are a few different approaches we recommend for different types of devices. The most comprehensive way to do this is by creating a DNS firewall. For example, Tech Lockdown’s DNS Content Policy can directly block the servers used by Spotify.
Use a DNS firewall for smartphones and computers
Using a DNS firewall, you can directly block the servers Spotify uses to host video and image content. This can be done without blocking audio playback for songs or podcasts.
Here are the domains you’ll want to block to disable images on Spotify:
image-cdn-fa.spotifycdn.com seed-mix-image.spotifycdn.com misc.scdn.co newjams-images.scdn.co lexicon-assets.spotifycdn.com image-cdn-ak.spotifycdn.com merch-img.scdn.co heads-fa-tls13.spotifycdn.com lineup-images.scdn.co i.scdn.co dailymix-images.scdn.co p.scdn.co fex.spotifycdn.com seeded-session-images.scdn.co pickasso.spotifycdn.com misc.spotifycdn.com thisis-images.spotifycdn.com wrapped-images.spotifycdn.com daylist.spotifycdn.com canvaz.scdn.co concerts.spotifycdn.com
Here are the domains you’ll want to block to disable videos on Spotify:
default.cdn-gslb.spotify.com podz-content.spotifycdn.com video-fa.scdn.co video-akpcw.spotifycdn.com
For example, if you're using Tech Lockdown's Content Policy on your smartphone, use our rule preset to block images on Spotify without copy/pasting domain names:
After blocking these domains, you may need to clear Spotify's cache; do this by going to "Data-saving and offline".
Use the Hosts file on Windows or Mac
Similar to a DNS firewall, the Hosts file is a feature available on Windows and Mac computers (not smartphones, sadly) that also disables your computer’s ability to get images and videos from Spotify’s servers.
For a full walkthrough for both Windows and Mac, see our dedicated guide for blocking websites with the Hosts file .
Add these domains to your Hosts file to block images and videos on Spotify:
# Spotify Images # 0.0.0.0 image-cdn-fa.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 seed-mix-image.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 misc.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 newjams-images.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 lexicon-assets.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 image-cdn-ak.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 merch-img.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 heads-fa-tls13.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 lineup-images.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 i.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 dailymix-images.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 p.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 fex.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 seeded-session-images.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 pickasso.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 misc.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 thisis-images.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 wrapped-images.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 daylist.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 canvaz.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 concerts.spotifycdn.com # Spotify Video # 0.0.0.0 default.cdn-gslb.spotify.com 0.0.0.0 podz-content.spotifycdn.com 0.0.0.0 video-fa.scdn.co 0.0.0.0 video-akpcw.spotifycdn.com
After blocking these domains, you may need to clear Spotify or your web browser's cache. In the Spotify application, clear the cache by going to "Data-saving and offline".
Disable Canvas and Video content in Spotify's settings page
Video content can be disabled directly from the Spotify app, although if you are an adult who manages your own Spotify account, this change could be undone later. Do this by navigating to settings from the Spotify app and turning off video content (and explicit content, while you're at it):
You can take it a step further and use Data Saver Settings to Audio only:
Consider DNS-based filtering or the Hosts file as more robust options that are difficult for adults to disable.