Spotify requires shared plan members to scan QR codes in person

Spotify is enforcing its address rule for shared subscriptions through a new in-person verification step.

Members of Duo and Family plans must now scan a QR code on the plan manager's device to keep their paid access. The requirement was confirmed in Spotify support documentation after users reported receiving the prompts on Reddit. The move tightens enforcement of a long-standing rule that requires all members of a shared plan to live at the same address.

Spotify introduced the shared plan concept years ago to allow groups to share costs. The company previously relied on self-declared household status. Recent internal reviews and analyst reports indicated that enforcement had been minimal. This led to a gap between written policy and actual usage. The new QR code protocol addresses that gap by requiring physical proximity during verification.

Users have a seven-day window to complete the scan. If a member fails to scan the code in time, their account drops to the free tier. They are also blocked from joining any other Duo or Family plan for 12 months. This penalty applies whether the user was a friend sharing a plan or a relative living apart.

The policy affects households that do not fit a standard model, such as children away at college or spouses working away from home. Goldman Sachs analysts noted in an October 15 report that a meaningful share of family plan users are friends rather than household members. They stated that tightening verification offers additional monetization upside. The firm estimated that most plans require cohabitation, but past enforcement was rare.

The verification process requires the plan manager and the member to be in the same location. The member must physically scan the code displayed on the manager's screen. No remote or digital alternative is currently listed in the support documentation. Users who miss the deadline lose their premium features immediately upon the seven-day mark.