The music streaming platform Spotify is making sure people actually follow its household rules for Premium Family plans. It now requires members to prove they live at the same address as the plan manager using a live QR code scan. This move aims to stop friends and extended relatives from splitting the cost of a single subscription, forcing unverified accounts back to the free tier.
Dynamic QR codes make quick screenshots impossible for remote users
The new location check relies on a QR code that refreshes every few seconds. When a plan member gets a prompt, they must scan the code directly from the manager’s device. Since the image changes constantly, taking a picture and sending it to a friend living elsewhere does not work.
According to the official support documentation, members have a seven day window to complete this check. If someone misses the deadline, the platform downgrades their account to the ad-supported free version. The company also blocks these unverified users from joining any other shared plan for a full 12 months.
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Users find workarounds using screen sharing to bypass the blocks
Despite the new digital hurdles, clever users are already finding ways around the system. People discussing the changes on Reddit have shared methods to beat the fast-changing codes. By using live video software across multiple devices, a plan manager can share their screen with a remote friend, who then scans the live code successfully from a separate phone.
This is not the first time the company has tried to stop account sharing. It tested GPS location checks back in 2018 but dropped the idea after people complained about privacy. Now the situation is different. With major video and music services cracking down on shared passwords to boost profits, holding onto a remote family spot is getting harder. Paying for an individual account might soon be the easiest choice.
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