How to Make a Spotify Canvas
A Spotify Canvas is the short looping video that plays full screen behind your track in the Spotify mobile app. This guide covers the official requirements, three ways to create the video, and exactly how to upload it through Spotify for Artists.
Updated 2026-07-04
What is a Spotify Canvas?
Canvas is a 3 to 8 second vertical video that replaces your album artwork in the Now Playing view of the Spotify mobile app. It loops continuously while your track plays and has no sound of its own. Listeners see it every time they open your track, which makes it one of the few pieces of visual real estate you fully control on Spotify.
The official Canvas requirements
Spotify accepts a Canvas only if it matches these specs exactly. If the length or size is even slightly off, the upload can fail.
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 to 8 seconds |
| Aspect ratio | Vertical 9:16 |
| Height | 720px to 1080px tall |
| File type | MP4 or JPG |
| Audio | None (Canvas is silent) |
For the full breakdown of dimensions and common upload errors, see our Spotify Canvas size and specs guide.
Step 1: Create the looping video
You have three ways to get a Canvas video, depending on how much footage you already have:
- Use your own photo or video. Upload it to MakeCanvas, crop it to the vertical 9:16 frame, add a filter or motion effect such as a slow zoom, and export. The export is already in the exact format Spotify accepts: 720x1280 MP4, 8 seconds, no watermark.
- Use free stock footage. Inside the MakeCanvas editor you can search the Pexels stock library for videos and photos that match the mood of your track, then trim and style them.
- Let AI generate it from your song. With AI Canvas, paste your Spotify track link and the AI analyzes the mood and energy of the music, then generates a unique looping video automatically. No footage or design skills needed.
Not sure what your Canvas should show? Browse our 10 Spotify Canvas ideas for inspiration.
Step 2: Check the format
Before uploading, confirm your file is a 9:16 vertical MP4 between 3 and 8 seconds, at least 720px tall. If you exported from MakeCanvas you can skip this step, the output already matches. If your clip is too long, trim it with the free video trimmer, which cuts videos right in your browser.
Step 3: Upload in Spotify for Artists
Canvas uploads happen through Spotify for Artists, which is free for artists and their teams:
- Open the Spotify for Artists app (or artists.spotify.com) and make sure you have access to your artist profile.
- Go to the Music tab and pick the track you want to add a Canvas to.
- Select Add Canvas (or Create Canvas), choose your video file, and confirm.
The Canvas usually appears on the track shortly after upload. You can replace or remove it at any time from the same screen.
Tips for a Canvas that loops well
- Design for the loop. The video restarts every few seconds, so avoid a clip with an obvious beginning and end. A slow zoom, a drifting texture, or a rebound loop (the clip plays forward, then in reverse) all feel continuous.
- Keep motion calm. Spotify's own guidelines recommend avoiding rapid cuts and intense flashing, and choosing footage without talking, singing, or rapping.
- Mind the edges. Phone screens vary and the edges of your Canvas may get cut off on some devices, so keep anything important near the center.
- Follow the content rules. Spotify's Canvas policy does not allow URLs, promotions for other songs or products, or contest announcements. Keep it about the track.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to add a Canvas on Spotify?
Yes. Uploading a Canvas through Spotify for Artists is free. Creating the video with MakeCanvas is also free: the Free plan includes 3 canvas exports with no watermark.
Do I need Spotify for Artists to upload a Canvas?
Yes. Canvas uploads are only possible through Spotify for Artists, so you (or your team or distributor) need access to your claimed artist profile.
Can a Spotify Canvas be a still image?
Yes, Spotify accepts JPG images as well as MP4 videos. A looping video usually feels more alive, but a well designed still image is allowed.
How long should a Spotify Canvas be?
Between 3 and 8 seconds. Most artists use the full 8 seconds because it gives the loop more room to breathe. MakeCanvas exports exactly 8 seconds.
Does a Spotify Canvas have sound?
No. Canvas videos are silent. Your track plays as usual and the Canvas loops behind it as a visual.
Why does my Canvas upload keep failing?
Almost always because the file does not match the specs exactly: it must be a vertical 9:16 MP4 or JPG, 3 to 8 seconds long, and 720px to 1080px tall. Exporting from MakeCanvas produces a file in exactly this format.
Ready to make yours? Create a Spotify Canvas in the exact format Spotify accepts, free and with no watermark.
Open the Canvas Maker