Is Spotify finally fixing one of its biggest nits? Playlist folders could be coming to the mobile app, lifting its 16-year-long desktop-only access

• Spotify could be bringing playlist folders to mobile after 16 years of desktop exclusivity
• If it drops, you'll be able to create and manage folders from the mobile app
• Users have begged for this, and it could be a serious quality-of-life upgrade

Spotify works non-stop to elevate its in-app experience with innovative new features and tools, but there’s one popular desktop feature that could be making its mobile debut after 16 long years — playlist folders.

Thanks to the observant eyes over at Android Authority, a new set of code strings referring to playlist folders in the mobile app was found. According to the outlet, creating playlist folders could become native to the mobile app under the Create button in the bottom right corner. If you’ve disabled the Create icon, you’ll have the option to make playlist folders from Your Library.

With this, Spotify will also allow you to actively manage your folders in the mobile experience, as additional code strings point to the options to add and remove playlists from folders, as well as naming and deleting them. Android Authority also notes that deleting a folder could potentially delete all the playlists within it, but it seems that Spotify will warn you and ask you to confirm this with a pop-up before any changes are made.

As it is with every rumor, it’s difficult to tell when this tool will roll out or if it will become available at all. That said, features like SongDNA were also spotted in code strings first before Spotify unveiled its plans to launch it, which we’re expecting to drop sometime this year, so we’re being optimistic with this one. We’ve reached out to Spotify for a comment on playlist folders in the mobile app, but we’ll update this story as soon as we hear back.

Bridging the gap between desktop and mobile experiences

Since it was launched in 2010, playlist folders have been integral to organizing your Library in Spotify for desktop, giving you an easier way to group playlists into specific folders based on their mood and vibe. Not only does this help with keeping your slew of workout playlists, car journey mixes, and party playlists all together, but it means you don’t have to sift through Spotify’s cluttered Library interface to find the one you’re looking for.

However, the limitations of creating and managing folders from the mobile app are a huge setback for many, especially those who are keen playlist curators and rely on them for daily listening. Therefore, this update would remove the tedious task of having to switch to Spotify’s desktop app to do this — but it’s taken Spotify quite a while to get there.

As for the other best music streaming services, playlist folders are a standard feature, especially in Apple Music and Tidal, so that Spotify hasn’t acted until now is quite odd to say the least. On top of this, users have been begging for playlist folders in mobile, with many taking to the Spotify Community forum to vent their frustrations.

It’s a long-overdue change, but a highly logical one, given that Spotify’s millions of users interact with its mobile app more than any other format. On the other hand, I believe that it’ll encourage users to make even more of their own playlists and remove the fear of having several playlists for one activity or vibe (I know firsthand the struggles of this). With that said, having access to playlist folders at my fingertips would give me a newfound peace of mind with organizing my collection of personal soundtracks.

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