A Spotify Canvas is the short, looping vertical visual — 3 to 8 seconds — that plays behind your song on the Now Playing screen in the Spotify mobile app. It replaces the static cover with motion, and when a listener shares your track to Instagram or messages, the Canvas goes with it. You add one yourself in Spotify for Artists, for free, any time after your song is live. Here's what it is, why it's worth doing, and exactly how to add one.
Haven't claimed your profile yet? Do that first via our Spotify for Artists guide.
What a Canvas is — and isn't
It's a looping visual, not a music video. There's no sound, no progress bar, and no skipping — it just loops while the song plays. Think of it as a moving album cover: a mood, a texture, a simple animation, or a short clip of you. It shows only in the mobile app's Now Playing view, not on desktop.
Why bother adding one
A Canvas makes your track feel finished and current, and it travels: when fans share your song, the moving visual is far more eye-catching in a feed than a static square, which can pull new listeners back to your music. Spotify has pointed to Canvases helping lift shares, saves, and playlist adds. It won't fix a song nobody's hearing — pair it with real promotion like a Reels strategy and the work of growing your monthly listeners.
The specs you need
- Format: MP4 or JPEG (use MP4 for motion).
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 vertical.
- Dimensions: 720×1280px or larger.
- Length: 3–8 seconds, designed to loop seamlessly.
- Content: your own footage or art only — no logos, URLs, or other people's content, and no explicit material.
Step 1: Open Spotify for Artists
Log in to Spotify for Artists on the web or the mobile app, using the account that has access to your artist profile.
Step 2: Find your track
Go to your Music/Catalog, and select the song you want to add a Canvas to. You can add a Canvas to any live track, not just new releases.
Step 3: Upload your Canvas
Choose the Canvas option for that track and upload your 9:16 MP4 (3–8 seconds). Preview the loop to check it transitions cleanly with no jarring cut.
Step 4: Save and publish
Save it. The Canvas appears on the Now Playing screen in the mobile app shortly after. You can swap or remove it any time, so it's easy to test different visuals.
Quick tips
Design the clip so the end flows back into the start for a clean loop; keep it simple — a single moving element reads better than a busy edit; and match the mood of the song, not just its cover. A consistent visual style across your Canvases makes your whole catalog feel like one body of work.
Once your release is live, adding a Canvas takes five minutes. Not released yet? Start with Grootin — see the plans.