The steps to change a playlist cover on Spotify iPhone

Open Spotify on your iPhone and go to the playlist you want to edit. Tap the three dots (menu icon) in the top right corner of the playlist screen. Select Edit Playlist from the menu that appears. Tap the current cover image — this will open your photo library. Choose a photo from your phone or take a new one, then tap Choose to confirm. Tap Save at the top right to explore the new cover.

The cover image you select will appear when ready on your playlist, both on your own device and to anyone else who follows or views the playlist. Spotify accepts most standard image formats, and the app will automatically crop or resize your photo to fit the square cover format.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be the playlist owner to change its cover — followers cannot edit playlists they do not own.
  • The three-dot menu icon appears in the top right corner of any playlist you own, and Edit Playlist is the option that lets you change the cover.
  • You can use any photo from your iPhone's camera roll, or take a new photo directly from the edit screen.
  • Changes to the cover appear when ready on your device and sync across all devices where you use your Spotify account.

What happens if you are not the playlist owner

If you follow a playlist but did not create it, you will not see the Edit Playlist option. Only the person who created the playlist can change its cover. If you want to customize a playlist you follow, you can create your own version by saving the songs to a new playlist you own.

If someone else owns a playlist you follow and changes the cover, you will see the new image the next time you open Spotify or refresh the app.

Choosing a photo that works well as a cover

Spotify displays playlist covers as small squares on your library screen and larger squares when you open the playlist. Photos with a clear focal point — a single subject or bold color — tend to look better than busy or detailed images. Avoid photos that are too dark or have small text, since they may be hard to see at small sizes.

The app will crop your photo to a square, so make sure the part of the image you want visible is centered. If your photo is wider or taller than it is square, Spotify will remove the edges to fit the format.

Troubleshooting cover changes that do not appear

If you change a cover but it does not show up, try closing and reopening Spotify. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to display the new image. Make sure you tapped Save after selecting your photo — if you did not save, the change will not stick.

If you are using an older version of Spotify, update the app from the App Store. Older versions sometimes have bugs with the edit feature. Log out of your account and log back in if the cover still does not appear after closing and reopening the app.

Changing covers on collaborative playlists

If you created a playlist and invited others to add songs to it, only you can change the cover. Collaborators can add, remove, or reorder songs, but the cover image remains under your control. This prevents collaborators from changing the playlist's appearance without your permission.

If you want collaborators to be able to change the cover, you would need to transfer ownership of the playlist to them, which removes you as the owner. Spotify does not have a middle ground where multiple people can edit the cover.

Why Spotify might reject a photo

Spotify rarely rejects photos outright, but the app may fail to upload if the image file is corrupted or extremely large. If you cannot select a photo, try taking a new one with your iPhone camera instead of using an old photo from your library. Make sure you have given Spotify permission to access your photos — check Settings > Privacy > Photos on your iPhone.

If a photo still will not upload, try a different image. Some very old or unusual file formats may not work, but standard photos taken with your iPhone camera or saved from the web should work without trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo from the internet as my playlist cover?

Yes. Save the image to your iPhone's camera roll first, then follow the normal steps to change the cover. Open Safari or another browser, long-press the image you want, tap Save Image, and it will go to your Photos app. Then open Spotify and select it from your library.

What if I want to remove the cover and go back to the default?

Spotify does not have a "remove cover" option. You can change it to a blank or solid-color image instead. Create a straightforward image in Notes or another app, save it to your photos, and use that as the cover.

Do I need to be connected to the internet to change a playlist cover?

Yes. Spotify must upload the new cover to your account, so you need an active internet connection. If you are on WiFi or cellular data and the change still will not save, check that your connection is stable.

Will the new cover show up on Spotify Web Player or Android if I change it on iPhone?

Yes. Your Spotify account syncs across all devices, so a cover you change on iPhone will appear on your computer, Android phone, or any other device where you log in.