Spotify has introduced a new Running Mode feature designed to help users spend less time hunting for the right music and more time moving. The company announced the launch of the AI-powered experience, which builds on its existing Prompted Playlists technology.
Running Mode is available to Premium subscribers on the iOS app starting Wednesday. The service is launching in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden.
The feature offers 25 curated running playlist presets. Users can customize their workout by selecting the type, such as interval, steady, or pyramid runs, as well as defining the duration, beats per minute (BPM), and music genre.
Running Mode includes optional audio prompts that provide cues and motivation during the workout. These audio cues are currently available only in English.
Evolution from previous tools
Spotify previously offered a similar running feature between 2015 and 2018, which was later retired. According to single-source reports, that earlier version used phone hardware to detect the runner's pace, whereas the new feature requires the user to define the parameters manually.
Fitness has become one of the most popular requested themes for Spotify's AI-generated Prompted Playlists. The company launched a dedicated Fitness hub in April and partnered with Peloton earlier this year to offer guided workout classes for Premium members.
The launch comes as other integrations shift. Single-source reports indicate that Strava's Record feature stopped integrating with Spotify within the app a couple of months ago.
New User Notes feature
Alongside Running Mode, Spotify is introducing a 'User Notes' feature. This tool allows users to leave notes throughout their library, acting like a personal caption for each track.
The User Notes feature is being rolled out to both free and Premium users in select markets. To use the feature, users must be aged 16 or older. Notes written by a user are visible to others if they appear in a playlist shared by the note's author.