Hi Spotify Developer Team,
I’m the developer of Mixport, a music-migration app that helps users move playlists between services (Spotify → Apple Music, etc.). I’m trying to move my Spotify app out of Development Mode, but the current requirements appear to make that transition impossible for any indie developer, no matter how legitimate or compliant their app is.
The Catch-22 Problem
Spotify’s extended access requirements state that an app must have:
A registered business entity
Proof of commercial revenue
Active public launch
Market-share data
And most critically: 250,000 Monthly Active Users
However:
Apps in Development Mode can only authenticate 25 manually whitelisted users.
This creates a circular barrier:
To obtain extended access, I need a large user base.
To obtain a user base, I need extended access.
To request extended access, I need the user base I cannot obtain.
It’s a loop with no escape path for any legitimate indie-built Spotify integration.
No Path to Request Extension
The documentation mentions that developers may “request an extension” or “apply for extended access,” but in the actual Spotify Developer Dashboard there is:
The only method appears to be posting here publicly.
This Blocks All Indie Integrations
Spotify benefits immensely when users move their playlists into Spotify. Apps that help users organize, discover, migrate, and maintain their libraries are complementary, not harmful.
But under the current policy, even the simplest, harmless utility app:
cannot onboard real users
cannot grow
cannot leave development mode
cannot even request approval
Which effectively shuts out small developers entirely.
Respectful Request
Can Spotify please clarify:
How can an indie developer request extended access or increased user limits?
Is there an official path for apps that do not meet the 250K MAU threshold?
If not, does Spotify intend for indie apps to be permanently restricted to 25 test users?
I want to comply with all Spotify policies and offer users a stable, official OAuth integration—but as written, the requirements make this impossible.
Thank you for your time,
Wes
