Spotify downloaded songs not playing can be a nuisance, especially for music lovers. Given the size of Spotify as an application, issues are bound to crop up.
When you encounter a problem with your music, you can perform some troubleshooting steps to have your downloaded songs appear in your playlist and play them offline.
If you are having problems with Spotify downloaded songs are not playing, we suggest you try a clean reinstall of the app. Uninstall the app and log back into Spotify to solve temporary bugs and cache issues. You should be able to play your downloaded music then.
Spotify premium allows you to listen to your favorite tunes offline. However, quite a few users reported they could not play their downloaded songs.
This could be due to several reasons, which we will discuss here and solve.
Why is My Downloaded Spotify Songs Not Playing
Even if you have downloaded songs from Spotify to listen offline, you may experience the annoying halt to your favorite jam.
It ruins your mellow, but there are ways to get your audio bliss back. First, let us explore the possible reasons why your downloaded songs on Spotify are not playing.
1. Check Spotify Status
If your downloaded songs are not playing offline, check your Spotify’s status at their Twitter account @SpotifyStatus or by using Downdetector to see if it’s a systemic issue.
2. Device Storage
Spotify requires at least 200MB of free storage so you can use the streaming service. If your drive is almost full, the app may not play your songs.
3. Over Your Device Limit
Your Spotify account only allows you to stream on one device at a time. If you have a family plan, you can stream music on five devices at a time. However, only 10,000 downloaded songs can be played offline.
4. New Version of Spotify Available
Spotify may not play downloaded songs if the app is not up to date. Check whether a new version is available by going to the App Store or Google Play Store.
5. Disabled Offline mode
You have not enabled Offline mode while trying to play your downloaded songs. A lot of users have fixed the issue by simply allowing the Offline mode.
If you know what causes your Spotify not to play downloaded songs, it is easier to find a solution to your problem.
We recommend you make sure your SD card is working or you have not re-installed the app recently before applying any fix.
How to Fix Spotify Downloaded Songs Not Playing
If Spotify is not playing your downloaded songs offline, there are many things you can do to solve the issue.
You can start with the most straightforward option and end with the most advanced steps until you straighten out the problem and get your premium audio experience back.
Solution #1: Restart the Spotify App
A surefire way to fix problems with any app is by restarting it. Like other services, you can turn off and turn back on Spotify to give it a fresh start.
Close and open the app by following these steps:
- Tap the Tasks button at the bottom of the screen.
- Find the Spotify app from the list of apps.
- Swipe Spotify away to close it.
- Once closed, tap it again in your apps list to open it again.
This can fix many problems you may encounter on Spotify.
But make sure you completely shut down the app before you try playing more songs.
Solution #2: Restarting the Device and Log In to Spotify
If the first step does not work, log out of your account and log back in. This is the simplest and easiest way to fix the issue.
For mobile users:
- Use the Power button to turn off your Android device.
- Press the Power button of your iPhone and move the slide to select Off.
For desktop computers:
- Select the Restart button from the Start menu.
Next, launch the Spotify app on your desktop or mobile and log into your account. Once you have done this, you should be able to play your downloaded songs offline.
Solution #3: Make Sure You Have Enough Storage
If your drive is almost full, Spotify may not play your downloaded songs offline.
To make sure you have enough storage, you may do the following:
- Clear some photos and videos.
- Delete an app or two.
- Try moving content to your SD card (if available).
Note: If you have an old phone, it may be running on low internal storage due to system files.
It may be time to upgrade to a phone with larger storage or expandable memory.
Solution #4: Connect to the Internet to Resync Spotify
If you have downloaded many songs and use Spotify only in Offline mode, you may encounter the same issue.
But, this can be quickly resolved with a simple trick:
- Log back in every 30 days.
- Download the songs that won’t play again.
If it has been over 30 days since your last login, log back in. Once you do, you can switch to Offline Mode once more. Then, your songs should work.
Solution #5: Enable Offline Mode
Spotify uses the Offline Mode to make sure you only play your downloaded songs.
Once disabled, it stops the app from connecting to any network and using any bandwidth for other offline activities.
To check if Spotify is on Offline Mode:
- Click the Settings gear icon at the top left of the screen.
- See if the Offline Mode has a check mark beside it.
- If yes, toggle the Offline Mode option.
A lot of users fixed their Spotify not playing downloaded songs by enabling the Offline mode.
Solution #6: Reinstall the Spotify App
If all of the above solutions do not work, there is only one thing left to do. Uninstall the Spotify app from your device and do a fresh and clean install.
The bugs in your system may have corrupted the installation files, preventing you from playing your downloaded songs.
iOS:
- Tap the Spotify app icon and hold it for a few seconds.
- Choose Delete App, and then Delete.
- Search for it in the App Store and install it.
Android:
- Go to Settings and select Apps.
- Search for Spotify in the list of apps and select it.
- To reinstall, tap Storage, then press Clear Data.
- Tap Uninstall.
- Find Spotify in Google Play and install it.
Note: You need to re-download your downloaded music and podcasts after re-installing the application.
If your Spotify downloaded songs are not playing, re-installing the app can fix this. This makes sure it is entirely up to date, and you can start Spotify afresh on your device. A clean reinstall can wipe the bugs in your system that corrupted the installation files.
Read Next: Why Spotify Won’t Connect to Sonos?
Last Thoughts
If you have Spotify downloaded songs not playing issue, then the methods in this post will help you understand the cause of the problem and guide you into fixing it.
However, after exhausting all possible solutions, you may reach out to the Spotify support team for additional assistance if you still have issues.
If you find this post helpful but face a different difficulty with another device with a Spotify, our blog can help you solve the issue.
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.