Spotify is currently testing a new feature designed to enhance the listening experience for users with unstable internet connections. The new feature, dubbed “Offline Mix,” is a playlist that automatically saves a selection of recently played songs, creating a solution for those high-vibe moments when the internet connection is low.
The screenshot of the feature, shared by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, shows a playlist approximately three and a half hours long. While Ek has not yet provided a specific timeline for a broader rollout, his public tweets about the test suggest that its official release may not be far off.
Spotify has long offered its users the ability to download playlists or albums for offline listening, a feature that is particularly useful when on the move or away from Wi-Fi. However, the process of selecting which music to download can be cumbersome, especially for those who enjoy a wide variety of music. The new Offline Mix feature seems to streamline this process by automatically curating a playlist based on the user’s recent listening history.
Interestingly, Spotify’s Offline Mix feature is not entirely novel. YouTube Music has offered a similar feature, called Offline Mixtape, for several years. There is evidence that Spotify has been working on its own offline mix feature since at least mid-2020. The delay in its rollout could potentially be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which greatly reduced the amount of time people spent outside and away from Wi-Fi connections.
While users await the full launch of the Offline Mix feature, it is suggested that they download their “Your Top Songs” playlist, a compilation created by Spotify based on each user’s listening history from the previous year. This could serve as a satisfactory starting point for offline listening during internet downtimes.
