Spotify video ad specs are simpler than they look once you know where video actually appears inside the app: full-screen "Video Takeover" ads that play when a listener opens Spotify, and occasional companion video tied to audio placements. Get the aspect ratio, length and sound design right for those two spots, and the rest of the brief is just good creative practice.
Video ad specs for Spotify video ads at a glance
Most briefs for video ad specs for Spotify video ads boil down to two placements: a vertical full-screen takeover for phones, and a horizontal version for desktop and tablet listeners. Both are short-form, sound-optional and designed to be skimmed in a few seconds before someone taps back into their music. If you already produce vertical 9:16 ads for other feeds, you are close — you mainly need a horizontal cut and a design pass that assumes the video starts without sound. For a deeper look at why 9:16 has become the default canvas across platforms, see this guide on the ideal file format for vertical video ads.
Where video ads actually show up in Spotify
Spotify is primarily an audio product, so video inventory is more limited than on a video-first app. Video typically appears as a full-screen takeover shown when the app is in the foreground — for example when someone opens Spotify or switches tabs — rather than playing silently in the background while a track is on. This matters for creative: you are competing for attention at the exact moment someone is deciding whether to stay in the app, not interrupting a passive listening session.
Audio-only placements, often grouped under names like Sponsored Session or Audio Everywhere, play during listening and sometimes pair with a static or lightly animated companion banner rather than a full video. If your campaign objective is strictly audio, you may not need a video spec at all. If you want full-screen video reach, plan for the takeover format on both mobile and larger screens, since inventory and available canvas differ by surface.
Spotify video ad specs by placement
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Typical length | File type | Sound behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video Takeover — mobile app | Vertical 9:16 (e.g. 1080×1920) | 15s or 30s | MP4 or MOV, H.264 | Starts muted, viewer can tap to unmute |
| Video Takeover — desktop / tablet | Horizontal 16:9 (e.g. 1920×1080) | 15s or 30s | MP4 or MOV, H.264 | Starts muted, viewer can tap to unmute |
| Sponsored Session companion video | Matches the surface it runs on | 15–30s | MP4 | Usually silent, paired with a separate audio ad |
Designing a Spotify video ad that works whether or not sound is on
Because Video Takeover ads start muted by default, the ad has to earn a tap for sound rather than rely on it. Design for a muted first impression and let audio be a bonus, not a requirement.
- Put the hook in the first one to three seconds as a visual, not a spoken line — a bold claim on screen, a close-up of the product, or a before/after frame.
- Burn in captions for any voiceover or key line, sized to be readable on a phone screen at normal viewing distance.
- Keep text blocks short and centered, away from where player controls or a close button typically sit on the screen.
- Show the product or the core benefit early, since a listener who taps away after a couple of seconds should still get the gist.
- End on a clear call-to-action frame that holds for at least a beat — don't cut away the moment the CTA appears.
Common mistakes that get Spotify video ads rejected or ignored
- Submitting only a vertical cut and missing the horizontal version needed for desktop and tablet inventory.
- Building the whole message around a voiceover with no captions, so the ad says nothing on mute.
- Placing the logo or CTA only in the final one or two frames instead of reinforcing it earlier.
- Using rapid cuts or heavy flashing that read poorly on the smaller full-screen canvas of a phone.
- Ignoring safe zones near the edges of the frame, where player UI or a close icon can sit on top of your creative.
Repurposing one video across Spotify, TikTok, Reels and Shorts
The vertical 9:16 canvas used for Spotify's mobile Video Takeover is the same canvas used by TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. A well-built vertical ad with a strong visual hook, captions and an early product reveal can usually be reused across all of them with only copy or offer tweaks — the structural work (hook, problem, benefit, proof, call to action) doesn't need to change by platform. If you're also running video on Meta's automated campaign types, this guide to video ad specs for Meta Advantage+ ads covers the overlapping requirements. For short-form placements elsewhere in the funnel, this breakdown of video ad specs for YouTube bumper ads is a useful companion since bumper ads share the same discipline of saying one thing fast.
How FrameNotion fits
FrameNotion is built to produce exactly the kind of asset this spec calls for. Paste a product or landing page link and FrameNotion AI writes and renders a 30-second vertical ad from scratch — hook, problem, benefit, proof, offer and call to action — with an AI voiceover, word-by-word captions, a music track and sound effects, or music-only or silent if you prefer. Because the ad is designed to work on mute as well as with sound, it matches the muted-start behavior of Spotify's Video Takeover format without any extra edit.
Every finished ad also comes as 4:5, 1:1 and 16:9 automatically, so the horizontal version needed for Spotify's desktop and tablet placements is ready at the same time as the vertical mobile cut. You can see the full workflow on how FrameNotion works and browse finished examples on the examples page. The first ad is free on signup, and plans start from €39 a month — details are on the pricing page.
A quick pre-upload checklist
- Confirm you have both a vertical 9:16 and horizontal 16:9 export before submitting.
- Watch the ad fully muted — does the message still land without sound?
- Check captions are legible on a small phone screen, not just on a desktop preview.
- Verify the CTA frame holds long enough to read and isn't blocked by UI safe zones.
- Double-check file size, length and codec against Spotify's current ad specs page, since limits can change.
Frequently asked questions
Do Spotify video ads need a voiceover if the format starts muted?+
A voiceover is optional. Since Video Takeover ads start without sound, the message should work visually first, with captions carrying any spoken line. Add music or voiceover as a layer that rewards a tap to unmute, not as the only way to understand the ad.
Can I use a square 1:1 video for Spotify video ads?+
Spotify's video placements are generally built around vertical for mobile and horizontal for desktop or tablet, so a square export usually needs to be cropped or re-laid-out rather than uploaded as-is. Check the current accepted formats in Spotify Ad Studio for your specific campaign type before submitting a square file.
Is there a minimum length for a Spotify video ad?+
There's no strict minimum worth building around, but 15 and 30 seconds are the lengths most commonly offered as presets, so they're a sensible starting point to test rather than a hard floor.
Do Spotify video ads support a clickable call-to-action?+
Video Takeover ads typically include a clickable CTA that sends the listener to a landing page or app store listing tied to your campaign objective. The exact CTA options can vary by campaign type, so confirm what's available inside Spotify Ad Studio before finalizing your creative.
How is a Spotify video ad different from a Spotify audio ad?+
An audio ad plays during normal listening, often with little or no visual component beyond a static companion banner. A video ad, by contrast, is a full-screen takeover shown when the app is open in the foreground, which is why it needs its own vertical and horizontal specs rather than reusing an audio-ad asset.