Spotify has confirmed that it is actively verifying whether Family Plan members actually live in the same household, using a new QR code system that forces members to scan a code shown on the plan manager's phone. The company addressed the rollout during its third-quarter earnings call on Thursday, after reports of the verification method surfaced earlier this week.
The change matters because Spotify's Family Plan, which covers up to six accounts, has long been shared between friends and adult children living at different addresses. The new check tightens that loophole, and users who fail to complete verification within seven days risk losing access to shared plans entirely.
How Spotify's Family Plan verification works
According to Spotify's support documentation, Family Plan members may receive a notification asking them to prove they live with the plan manager. The member must scan a QR code that appears on the plan manager's phone, using their own device. The code refreshes every few seconds, making screenshots useless as a workaround.
Members have seven days from the notification to complete the scan. If they miss that window, they cannot join another Family or Duo plan for 12 months and would need to switch to an individual Premium subscription, which they pay for themselves.
- Family Plan covers up to six accounts
- Individual Premium costs $13 per month
- Family Plan costs $22 per month
- Verification window is seven days after notification
