Spotify mandates in-person QR scans for shared plan verification

Spotify has activated a new verification process for its Duo and Family subscription tiers. The update requires members to physically scan a QR code on the plan manager's device to confirm their residence.

The company established a seven-day window for users to complete the scan. Accounts that fail to verify their address within this period will automatically downgrade to the free tier. Additionally, those users will be prohibited from joining another shared plan for the next 12 months.

Spotify confirmed the policy in its support documentation. The update follows recent user reports on Reddit detailing the new QR code prompts. The requirement aligns with the existing rule that all members of a shared plan must reside at the same address.

The strict enforcement may impact households that do not fit the traditional cohabitation model. Situations such as a student living at a university or a spouse traveling for work could trigger the verification alert. Families who have used the plans according to their intent may now face additional steps to maintain their status.

Financial analysts have long suggested that tighter controls could boost revenue. In an October 15 report titled "Music in the Air: 10 Years On," Goldman Sachs estimated that a meaningful share of family plan users are friends sharing costs rather than actual household members.

The Goldman Sachs report noted that enforcement of the residency rule had been minimal in practice. The firm identified a monetization opportunity by closing the gap between written rules and actual user behavior. The new QR code step indicates that Spotify is now actively implementing these verification controls.