Are you having problems with Spotify lyrics desktop not showing? It’s a frustrating issue, and we have the fixes you’re looking for!
With over 180 million subscribers, the lyrics feature on Spotify is certainly the next step they can take for an upgraded listening experience.
Sometimes, issues can arise that can stop it from showing.
We’ve come up with proven solutions that will get it back in a matter of minutes.
Time to find out how right now!
To get your Spotify lyrics showing on desktop again, you want to click on the microphone icon while listening to the song. Reinstalling the desktop app also helps resolve this, but make sure you remove all residual Spotify folders on your computer.
Now that you have a better picture of the lyrics issue with the Spotify app, let’s look at the different possible causes.
What Causes Spotify Lyrics Not Showing on Desktop
Spotify’s lyrics feature is not just available on desktop, but it’s the platform that experiences this issue the most.
That’s why we’re focusing on it so you can fully understand the causes and how to approach fixing it.
You’ve got to consider that sometimes the lyrics are not loaded to Spotify yet, account and software issues can also cause the lyrics feature to malfunction.
Let’s dive deeper to know what can possibly cause this error on the Spotify desktop app.
1. Lyrics Not Available for The Song
Simply put, the lyrics for a particular song might not be loaded yet. This is true if you’re listening to obscure songs or listening to your own music on the platform.
2. Spotify Account Issues
Account and server sync malfunctions can cause this error. The servers can be down, or there are issues that can affect your account.
3. Outdated Software
An outdated Spotify app can also cause the lyrics to now to display on the app. You want to make sure that you have the latest versions for updated features.
4. Bug or Glitch with The Spotify App
Bugs and glitches are unavoidable, and they can happen on the desktop app as well.
Now that you know the possible causes of this issue, we can proceed with some of the proven solutions we’ve come up with.
How to Fix Spotify Desktop Lyrics Not Showing
There are some simple troubleshooting steps that can help resolve this issue quickly.
You should first try to restart the app on your computer. You can also log out of the Spotify app and log back in.
These steps should allow Spotify to refresh and resync with your account resolving any software issues like the lyrics not showing up.
If these steps do not work out, you can go ahead with the rest of the solutions to fix the problem.
Solution #1: Play a Different Song to Check if Lyrics are Active
Spotify’s new lyrics feature is certainly an excellent addition. It’s available on the web, desktop, and mobile versions of Spotify.
So, whatever you’re using to listen, you should have access to your favorite artist’s lyrics allowing you to sing along.
If the lyrics are not showing on Spotify, it’s usually a software issue. One of the easier ways to check if your lyrics feature is activated is by playing a different song.
This way, you’ll know if you’re dealing with a glitch or your song simply doesn’t have it.
Here’s how to check if the lyrics feature of Spotify is active:
- Open Spotify on your computer.
- Play a song on Spotify.
- Check if the lyrics are showing.
- If not, play a different song to confirm.
- If lyrics are still not showing up, proceed to the next steps.
Note: You can also try logging in using a different Spotify account on your computer to check if the lyrics feature is active there or not.
Solution #2: Clear Spotify’s Local Storage and Cache
Too many files in the cache storage can cause havoc with your Spotify app.
There are instances when corrupted files can be stored there, which can stop your Spotify app from working properly.
To get the lyrics showing on Spotify desktop again, clearing the offline cache certainly helps.
Here’s how to clear your Spotify’s local cache:
- Open Spotify on your computer.
- Click on your name at the top right, and click on Settings.
- Scroll down and click on the Show Advanced Settings button.
- Under Offline storage locations, list down the path of the cache folder.
- Navigate to the folder using Explorer and delete it.
Pro Tip: Whether you’re experiencing an issue or not, it’s recommended that you clear Spotify’s offline cache every once in a while, for optimum performance.
Solution #3: Clear Your Browser Cache
If you’re using your browser to access Spotify, you’re not going to have access to its offline local storage and cache.
However, most of the Spotify files will be saved directly to your browser’s cache.
Similar to clearing the local folder, you’re also going to need to remove the browser cache.
The downside to this is that you’re going to be deleting all files in the cache. There’s no way to specify that you only want to delete files from Spotify.
However, this step effectively resolves issues like the lyrics not showing up whenever you play a song.
Here’s how to clear your browser cache:
- Open your browser, and open the menu.
- Select More tools, then Clear browsing data.
- Choose a time range, we recommend choosing All Time.
- Check the boxes for Cookies and Cached images and files.
- Click on Clear data.
Note: Other settings are also deleted, so be prepared to sign in again to your accounts, including Spotify.
Solution #4: Allow Spotify Through Your Firewall
One of the reasons why Spotify can stop showing the lyrics whenever you play the song is related to its connection to the server.
The lyrics are loaded from a different server. If the connection is blocked or disrupted, you may hear the song but not see the lyrics.
The firewall on your computer is something that will keep you safe from unwanted internet traffic.
However, it can also block connections from legitimate sources and can cause issues.
If your firewall is blocking Spotify, the lyrics not showing up is one of the problems you’ll likely face.
Here’s how to allow Spotify through your computer’s firewall:
- Open Control Panel on your computer.
- Go to System and security, then Windows Firewall.
- Click on Allow an app through the Firewall.
- Search for Spotify on the list of apps.
- Check both the Private and Public boxes.
Note: If you still can’t see the lyrics after allowing Spotify through your Firewall, you can restart your computer.
Solution #5: Perform a Clean Reinstall of the Spotify Desktop App
If you’re using the Spotify desktop app and the lyrics are not showing when you play a song, you might be dealing with a software issue.
You can update the Spotify app, which will require you to reinstall it. However, it may not be enough.
If you do a simple reinstall, residual files that can affect the performance of the app can stay.
In this case, nothing will change, and you’re still going to experience the same problem. The most effective way to deal with this would be to do a clean reinstall of the app.
Here’s how to do a clean reinstall of the Spotify app on your computer:
- Uninstall the Spotify app like normal.
- Open the search bar on your computer and type in %AppData%.
- This will open up your computer’s system folders.
- Go to AppData\Roaming, then delete the Spotify folder.
- Go to AppData\Local, then delete Spotify folders.
Tip: You should restart your device first before downloading and installing the latest version of the Spotify app.
Solution #6: Activate Lyrics by Clicking on the Microphone Icon
Spotify’s lyrics feature can be turned on or off. Now, this is a simple solution, but it can be often overlooked as you might be panicking.
If this happens to you, it’s important that you remain calm and make sure that the lyrics feature is actually activated.
As you play songs on Spotify, you have a choice to access the lyrics or not. The switch is in the form of the microphone icon.
Turning it on should display the lyrics so you can sing along to your favorite songs.
Here’s how to activate Spotify’s lyrics feature:
- Open the Spotify app on your computer.
- Play a song from your playlist.
- Go to the Now Playing section.
- Select the Microphone icon during the song.
- See the lyrics scroll in real-time.
Note: Make sure that the microphone icon is activated and check that the lyrics are showing up for all songs.
These are the various solutions you can try if the lyrics on your Spotify desktop are not showing.
If you continue to have issues with the lyrics feature, you can contact Spotify customer support so they can help you resolve it as quickly as possible.
Bottom Line
Now that you know the causes and different solutions for Spotify lyrics desktop not showing, you should be able to get it to work again in a matter of minutes.
You don’t need any type of expertise with software or networking, as these are all quick fixes that will help you take your listening experience to the next level.
Read Next: How to Sync Songs on Spotify to iPhone?
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.