How To See When Your Spotify Account Was Created

Ever feel like you've been bopping to Spotify tunes since the dawn of time? Me too! Sometimes I wonder, "Was I listening to Lizzo before Lizzo was even... Lizzo?"

Turns out, there's a (slightly sneaky) way to find out exactly when you first unleashed your eardrums upon the Spotify universe. It's not exactly front-and-center, mind you. Think of it as a hidden level in your favorite video game.

Let's Unearth Your Spotify Birthday!

Ready to go on a digital archeological dig? Prepare to be amazed (or mildly interested, depending on your excitement level for internet sleuthing!).

Step 1: Request Your Spotify Data

First, you need to ask Spotify for a copy of your personal information. Think of it like filing a Freedom of Information Act request...but for your listening habits. Head to the Spotify website and log into your account.

Scroll down, down, down like you are searching for lost treasure. Eventually you'll find the "Privacy Settings" area.

Look for something like "Download Your Data" or "Request My Data." Click it! This is where the magic…er, data processing…begins.

Spotify will probably give you two options: "Account data" or "Extended streaming history". Choose "Account Data". It's the easier option.

Brace yourself for a waiting game. Spotify will email you when your data is ready. In my experience, it can take up to 30 days. It's like waiting for your online shopping order, but instead of shoes, you get…information.

Step 2: Unzip the Goodies!

Once you get the email, download the zipped file. Find a program on your computer that can unzip compressed files.

Then, click the file and open it.

Step 3: Dive into the "Account" File

Inside the unzipped folder, look for a file called "account.json". Don't be scared by the ".json" – it just means it's a text file with organized information. You can open this file with Notepad or TextEdit.

Now, get ready to put on your detective hat. The file will look like a jumble of code. Fear not!

Use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F on Windows, Cmd+F on Mac) and search for "creation_time".

Aha! There it is! Next to "creation_time" you'll find a date and time. That's it! That's the day you officially joined the Spotify party.

Celebrate Your Spotify-versary!

Now you know! Mark that date in your calendar. Throw a virtual party! Blast your favorite Spotify playlist from that era. Did you join in 2010? Were you an early adopter, rocking out to the hottest tracks before everyone else caught on?

Or maybe you're a newbie, just dipping your toes into the vast ocean of audio. No matter when you joined, welcome to the Spotify family!

So there you have it! A slightly convoluted but ultimately rewarding quest to uncover your Spotify origin story. Now go forth and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge!