Spotify has rolled out a new feature called User Notes. It gives listeners a simple way to attach personal memories to the songs in their playlists. The streaming giant announced the update on Thursday. Alongside it came a separate fitness feature called Running Mode, marking one of Spotify’s biggest pushes yet into personalized, lifestyle driven features.
With User Notes, users can now add short captions to individual tracks. A note might explain why a song was added to a playlist, where it was first heard, or who introduced the listener to the artist. Spotify described the addition as a way to turn playlists into a more personal space for music discovery. In short, it blends personalization with added context around the songs listeners already love.
Using the feature is easy. First, open a playlist you created, or one containing tracks you added. Then tap the three dot menu next to a song and select “Add note.” From there, type in your memory and save it. Once published, the note appears beneath the track. Anyone with access to that playlist can see it, and the author’s name links back to their profile. Because of this visibility, users may want to check their sharing settings before adding anything too personal.
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User Notes is currently open to both free and Premium users aged 16 and above. However, the rollout is limited to select markets for now, rather than a full global release. Still, the feature brings back something familiar. It echoes the handwritten mixtape note, a habit many music lovers associate with sharing feelings through curated song lists long before streaming existed.
This move also sets Spotify apart from rivals like Apple Music and YouTube Music. Neither currently offers a similar journaling style feature built directly into playlists. By leaning into memory and storytelling, rather than just discovery, Spotify seems to be betting that emotional attachment to music will keep users engaged, not just smart recommendations.
Notably, User Notes was not the only announcement this week. Spotify also introduced Running Mode, a workout focused feature that builds playlists automatically based on a user’s pace, preferred beats per minute, and running style. That includes interval, steady, or pyramid formats. Running Mode offers 25 curated presets, plus optional audio cues to guide users through a session. For now, it is rolling out to Premium subscribers on iOS in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden through the app’s Fitness Hub.
Together, these two features point to a broader shift in Spotify’s strategy. The app is moving beyond simply playing music. Instead, it is becoming a companion for everyday memories and active lifestyles alike. Whether User Notes expands to more markets soon is still unclear. Either way, early reaction suggests plenty of users are already eager to start writing their own musical stories.
