Spotify implements location verification for shared subscription plans
Spotify has introduced a mandatory QR code verification process to enforce household residency requirements for its Family and Duo subscription tiers.
Spotify is tightening enforcement of its multi-user subscription plans, requiring members of Family and Duo accounts to verify their residency through a physical QR code scan. According to company documentation, users must scan a code on the primary account manager's device to confirm they reside at the same address. Failure to complete this process within seven days results in the account being demoted to the free ad-supported tier.
Furthermore, users who fail to comply with the verification are restricted from joining any other multi-user plan for 12 months. While the company has long maintained a policy requiring all members to share a single household address, enforcement has historically been lenient. The shift reflects a broader trend among streaming services to curtail unauthorized account sharing.
Industry analysts have suggested that the enforcement move is intended to capture lost revenue. A recent report by Goldman Sachs identified that a significant portion of multi-user plan subscribers are not legitimate household members, noting that stricter location verification presents a clear path to increasing the company's average revenue per user.