Spotify adds Running Mode and Playlist Notes to boost personalization
The streaming giant is rolling out tools to sync music with workout goals and allow users to caption their favorite tracks.
Spotify is introducing two new features, Running Mode and Playlist Notes, designed to deepen user personalization and integrate the app more closely with physical activity. The rollout marks a shift toward making the platform an interactive companion rather than a passive audio player.
Running Mode allows Premium subscribers to generate playlists tailored to specific workout goals and preferences, including the option to include audio cues. While the feature launched first on iOS, it became available for Android users on August 18, 2026. Currently, the tool is limited to select markets, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden.
Alongside the fitness update, Spotify is deploying Playlist Notes (formerly User Notes) to iOS and Android users in over 100 global markets. This feature enables listeners to attach personal captions to individual tracks, podcast episodes, and audiobooks. The functionality also extends to editorial notes provided by Spotify's own curators, adding a layer of professional context to the listening experience.
The push for personalization
These updates follow a broader strategic pivot toward health and wellness, highlighted by the launch of the Spotify Fitness Hub in April 2026. By combining biometric-adjacent tools like Running Mode with the sentimental utility of Playlist Notes, Spotify is attempting to increase user retention. The ability to document why a specific song was added to a playlist addresses a long-standing user request for better curation and memory preservation within their libraries.
Market implications
By integrating fitness-specific utility and social-style captioning, Spotify is seeking to differentiate its service from primary competitors like Apple Music and YouTube Music. The move transforms the playlist from a simple list of songs into a documented journal of a user's life and fitness journey. This strategy aims to create higher "stickiness," as users are less likely to migrate to a different platform if their personal history and workout data are embedded in the Spotify ecosystem.
What to watch
While the core features are now live in many regions, the full global rollout of Running Mode remains pending. Industry observers are watching to see if Spotify will further integrate with wearable hardware to automate workout triggers. Additionally, it remains to be seen how the editorial notes feature will be used to drive discovery of new artists through curator-led storytelling.