Spotify Account Hacked? Here's Your Recovery Plan

Random music playing and new playlists are often the common signs that someone has taken over your Spotify account. This means hackers may know your Spotify password and can access your other online accounts if you reuse the same password.

While Spotify assures that intruders don't have access to your financial information, it's still essential to kick out anyone who has unauthorized access to your account.

Recovering your Spotify account is a priority, but you also need to consider how to prevent it from happening again. Learn how to protect yourself and the best antivirus software to stop viruses, phishing emails, and other cyberattacks.

What to do if your Spotify account has been hacked

If you still have access to your Spotify, then you have a few options to recover your account.

1. Reset your password

The first step is to change your password by requesting a Spotify password reset.

You want to use a unique, secure password that hackers won't be able to guess. Here are a few tips on how to create a strong password:

• Use uppercase and lowercase letters
• Include numbers and/or symbols
• Choose a password you've never used before or used on other accounts

2. Verify your account information

Double-check that your account information hasn't changed. Open Spotify on your browser and click on your account icon in the upper right corner. Select Account. Then choose Edit Profile.

From there, you can verify that your email address is correct. If it's not, you can change it and then click on Save Profile.

3. Log out of connected devices

The next step is to log out of devices connected to your account. It's a crucial part of kicking out the hacker from your Spotify account. You can do this by going to your Account page and selecting Sign out everywhere. You'll find it under the Security and privacy section.

4. Disconnect third-party apps

You'll want to remove third-party accounts, especially any that you don't recognize. Go to your Account page and select Manage apps under the Security and privacy section. Click Remove Access on all apps to ensure your account's security.

You can reconnect these apps later. But before you do, you want to change the passwords to those accounts. For example, you should change your Facebook password before reconnecting it to Spotify.

5. Review your receipts and subscription plan

Make sure that the hacker hasn't changed your subscription plan. Go to the Account page and click on Manage your plan. Check to see if that's the correct plan. You can also check your receipts by clicking on Order history on the Account page.

6. Keep Spotify updated

Apps like Spotify routinely update their software, and you need to be using the most updated version. You can have Spotify automatically update by going to Google Play or Apple Store and selecting Enable auto-update.

7. Run a full antivirus scan

Once you've secured your Spotify account, you'll want to check if your devices have a virus. Malware or keyloggers may have allowed hackers to gain access to your account. Antivirus software works by offering real-time protection against cyberthreats. Running a full antivirus scan can make sure that your device is free of malicious programs.

How to recover a hacked Spotify account

In some situations, you may not have access to your Spotify account anymore. You'll need to contact Spotify customer support to recover your account. Tell the chatbot that someone's taken over your account, which will start the process and get your account restored to you.

How to recover your playlists

Sometimes a hacker has messed around with your playlists. If you notice some playlists missing, it's still possible to recover them. Go to your Account page and select Recover playlists.

From here, you can view deleted playlists and restore them to your account.

Another option is to contact Spotify customer support. They may be able to help restore anything lost on your account. You may need to prepare a screenshot of a past Spotify receipt or bank statement to confirm you are the owner of the account.

Signs your Spotify account has been hacked

There are a few ways to tell if your Spotify account has been hacked. Most of these telltale signs are obvious and aren't necessarily a Spotify glitch.

But make sure that you are up to date on your Premium subscription payment. A missed payment may be why some features have changed on your account. If you have multiple Spotify accounts, you'll also want to double-check that you are using the correct account.

Your account may have been hacked if:

• Your playlists have changed or are not showing up. New or deleted playlists are indicators of a hacked account.
• Music randomly plays. Are you listening to your favorite artist, and then it suddenly changes to a different song? Someone else might be using your account to listen to music.
• Your “Recently played” list shows unfamiliar music. If you don't recognize the playlists or songs appearing in the "Recently played" section, then someone else might be using your Spotify account.
• You receive notifications about suspicious activity. If your email address or password was changed, you might receive an email from Spotify. You may also get an email if your account was accessed from an unfamiliar location. If this wasn't you, follow the instructions in the email to recover your account.
• You discover unknown social accounts connected to your account. Having someone else's social media account linked to your Spotify account is a huge red flag. You can check for this by going to your Account page and selecting Manage apps.
• You find unauthorized subscription changes. View Manage your plan or Order history to check if unauthorized changes were made to your account.
• You've been logged out on all your devices. Can't log in on any of your devices? A hacker may have logged you out.
• Your login details aren’t working. Not being able to log in to your account is often a sign that someone has taken over your account and changed the login details.

If any of these happen to you, then you should take immediate action to recover your account. The good news is that your financial details aren't exposed if a hacker gains access to your Spotify account.

How do hackers hack Spotify accounts?

Hackers have several methods to hack your Spotify account. Some of these are more common than others, but it's important to protect yourself from all possible cyberattacks. Here are a few ways hackers may access your Spotify account:

• Leaked passwords: If you use the same password for several accounts, then a data breach could expose your password and make those accounts vulnerable.
• Malware: Some faux software claims to give you access to Spotify Premium for free, but it’s actually malware that can steal your login credentials.
• Keyloggers: Keyloggers can be used maliciously as part of a virus, and they will track every keystroke you make.
• Cookie theft: Cookies store your login information so you don't have to log in every time you access Spotify. Hackers can copy these cookies to gain access to your Spotify account.
• Phishing scams: Phishing involves a hacker attempting to manipulate you into sharing your login information. A popular method involves sending a phishing email posing as a trusted source (like Spotify) and then asking for your password.
• Brute force: A brute force attack involves hackers attempting to guess your password several times until they guess correctly. If you have a strong password, then it's harder for this method to work.

Tips to keep your Spotify account safe from hackers

Luckily, there are a few ways to keep your Spotify account safe from hackers. Implementing these security tips can help protect your privacy and account.

1. Only use a unique, strong password.
2. Consider using a password manager.
3. Be wary of unverified third parties, and only download from official sources.
4. Use a VPN when using public Wi-Fi networks.
5. Be aware of email phishing scams and don't interact with them.
6. Keep your devices and Spotify updated.
7. Run antivirus scans to detect malicious software.

Normally, we would recommend enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), but Spotify doesn't offer that feature. That's why you must have a strong and complex password to protect your account from hackers.

Best antivirus software to protect your Spotify account

Antivirus software is a useful tool to protect your devices from malicious software that aims to steal your personal information. Based on our research and testing, these offer some of the best antivirus protection for your Spotify account:

• TotalAV: TotalAV is compatible with all operating systems. It lets you protect your devices with automatic virus scans and data breach monitoring, and it even blocks tracking cookies. It's a good option for 1 or 2 people on a budget.

  Get TotalAV | Read TotalAV Review

• Bitdefender: Bitdefender comes with features to protect you from malware, spyware, and adware, including options for parental controls and a firewall. There are even free plans for Windows and Android. However, some of its flagship features are missing on the macOS version.

  Get Bitdefender | Read Bitdefender Review

• Avast: Avast offers free antivirus protection for all operating systems. But its affordable premium plans are worth considering since they offer access to multiple device protection, password data breach alerts, and a VPN.

  Get Avast | Read Avast Review

FAQs

Bottom line: Regain your groove and your Spotify account

Having your Spotify account stolen by someone else is a stressful experience, but there are steps you can take to recover your account. Changing your password and logging out of all devices are your best bet to kick out the intruder. If you no longer have access to your Spotify account, contacting Spotify customer support can help you recover it.

Staying safe online is a process, but it's important to protect yourself from the constant threat of data breaches and malware. Investing in tools like the best antivirus software will go a long way in protecting your data and devices.

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Author Details

Sara J. Nguyen

About the Author

Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.