Spotify brings AI-powered Running Mode to Android users

Spotify has expanded its AI-powered fitness features to Android, bringing its Running Mode playlist tool to users in several markets. The feature creates playlists designed around a user’s run and offers controls that can tailor the music to different workout preferences.

Running Mode is now available on Android in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden. The launch builds on Spotify’s earlier efforts to connect music streaming with exercise, while also extending the company’s use of artificial intelligence to create more personalised listening experiences.

Running Mode arrives on Android

Android users can find Running Mode in Spotify’s Fitness Hub, where the feature offers 25 presets covering different workouts and music genres. These presets are meant to give runners a quick way to start a playlist without building one manually before exercising.

The feature also allows users to customise how their playlists work during a run. Runners can specify the expected duration of their workout and choose whether they want the music to match their pace through beat matching. Audio cues can also be switched on or off, giving users more control over how much guidance they receive while listening.

The Android version follows the Running Mode experience already offered through Spotify’s iOS app. By bringing the feature to Android, Spotify is making the AI-powered playlist system available to a wider group of users in supported markets.

Running Mode also represents a return to an idea Spotify explored several years ago. The company previously experimented with running-focused features in 2018, but its latest approach uses AI to provide more flexibility and personalisation than the earlier experiment.

Spotify expands its AI approach to fitness

The Android launch comes as Spotify continues to develop its use of AI for playlist creation. The company introduced its Prompted Playlists feature in January 2026, allowing users to describe the kind of music they want using natural language rather than relying solely on traditional playlist tools.

The service’s growing focus on fitness appears to reflect what users are already asking for. In April, Spotify said workout-related playlist requests were among the most common prompts it received through its AI playlist system.

That demand has also coincided with Spotify’s broader push into the fitness space. The company recently announced a partnership with Peloton, further linking its music platform with exercise and connected fitness experiences.

Running Mode gives Spotify another way to use its AI technology for a specific activity rather than simply generating playlists based on broad musical preferences. By taking factors such as workout length, pace and audio cues into account, the feature is designed to make the playlist better suited to the user’s exercise session.

The approach could also help Spotify differentiate its AI playlist tools from more conventional music recommendations. Rather than simply suggesting songs that fit a particular mood or genre, Running Mode is built around the practical needs of someone working out.

More AI-powered fitness features could follow

Spotify’s growing interest in fitness suggests that Running Mode may be part of a wider effort rather than an isolated feature. The company has already combined AI-generated playlists with its broader fitness strategy, and its partnership with Peloton provides another route for integrating music into exercise.

AI could allow Spotify to develop more specialised experiences in the future. Running is only one type of workout, and the same approach could potentially be adapted for activities where tempo, workout duration or changes in intensity influence the music a user wants to hear.

For now, Running Mode remains focused on running and is available only in the markets included in Spotify’s Android rollout. Users in supported countries can access it through the Fitness Hub and select from the available presets before adjusting the experience to suit their workout.

The expansion also shows how Spotify is using AI to move beyond simply recommending songs. As users increasingly turn to the service for workout music, the company is positioning its playlist technology as a tool that can respond to specific activities and listening needs.

Spotify’s continued investment in AI, alongside its fitness partnerships and the popularity of workout-related prompts, suggests that exercise could become an increasingly important area for its personalised listening features.