7 ways to troubleshoot your Spotify app if it's not working (2024)

For many people, Spotify is the modern equivalent of an FM radio, delivering a steady stream of tunes anywhere and everywhere they go. Which is why it's so frustrating when Spotify is not working. There's no single problem that causes most Spotify playback issues, so here are the most common solutions to try.

You never know exactly which troubleshooting trick is going to get your Spotify app back up and running, so try each of these in order, from simplest to most complex.

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Close other apps you're not using

If Spotify isn't working for you, it might be because of a conflict with another app or because your device is running dangerously low on memory and there isn't enough space on the device to stream audio. In either case, the remedy is to try closing any other apps you're not currently using — or close all the other apps and see if Spotify starts to work. If that is successful, then you can restart any apps you absolutely need to use at the same time as Spotify. As a reminder, here is how to close apps on Android and how to close apps on iPhone.

Update the Spotify app

If you're having trouble with Spotify, make sure the app is up to date — if it hasn't updated in a while, you might be running an older version that has a bug or is now incompatible with other software on your device.

On Android and OS devices, an easy way to see if there's an update available is to open the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) and search for "Spotify." If there's an update available, the download button will be marked Update. Tap it to update the app.

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Try using Spotify on another device or in the web player

A common troubleshooting technique is to see if you can reproduce the same error somewhere else. If Spotify isn't working on your iPhone, for example, try playing Spotify using the desktop app on your Windows computer or Mac. If the problem is actually with the desktop app, then open Spotify on your phone if you can, or in a web browser using the Spotify web player.

7 ways to troubleshoot your Spotify app if it's not working (1)

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Check online for current service issues

Is Spotify down? You can always look at Spotify's status page at DownDetector to see if the entire service is offline, but it doesn't hurt to check Spotify's Twitter account, @SpotifyStatus. This account is regularly updated with news about service issues, bugs, and issues you might need to know about.

7 ways to troubleshoot your Spotify app if it's not working (2)

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Make sure you have enough space available

Spotify streams audio from its servers to your device, whether it's a phone, tablet, or computer. It takes storage space and memory to process and cache those streams, so Spotify requires at least 250MB free. If your device is dangerously low on free space, Spotify can fail to work properly.

If you need to do some house cleaning, there are several easy techniques to free up storage space on your Android device or free space on your iPhone.

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Make sure your firewall isn't blocking Spotify

This isn't a problem on mobile devices, but if you are trying to play Spotify on a computer and it's not working, it's possible that Spotify's ability to stream audio is blocked by your computer's firewall.

On the Mac, start the System Preferences app and select Security & Privacy. Click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner. You might need to enter your password. On the Firewall tab, click Firewall Options and, in the pop-up, clear the checkbox next to Block all incoming connections, then click OK.

On a Windows computer, click the Start button and search for "firewall." When it appears in the search results, click Windows Defender Firewall. On the left side of the Windows Defender Firewall window, click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. At the top of the app list, click Change settings and then make sure that Spotify Music has all three checkmarks. Click OK.

7 ways to troubleshoot your Spotify app if it's not working (3)

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Explore additional fixes for a crashing Spotify app

If the issue you're encountering with Spotify is that your desktop or mobile app crashes repeatedly, see our guide to keeping Spotify from crashing for additional troubleshooting tips.

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Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

7 ways to troubleshoot your Spotify app if it's not working (2024)

FAQs

How to fix Spotify if it's not working? ›

App and web troubleshooting
  1. Close and restart the app.
  2. Reinstall the app to check you're on the latest version. ...
  3. Close any other apps you aren't using.
  4. Ensure you have a stable and active internet connection.
  5. Switch off your device's WiFi connection, wait 30 seconds, then switch it back on.

How do I restart Spotify? ›

Restart the app and your device

Start by closing and reopening the app. If that doesn't solve your problem, power down your phone and turn it back on. First, force close the Spotify app by opening the app switcher menu and swiping up on the Spotify card to close it.

Why wont my Spotify account work? ›

Spotify login errors are usually caused by internet connectivity problems or a glitch relating to the Spotify app or the device that it's installed on. Using the incorrect username or password is also a common cause behind being unable to log in to Spotify, as is mistakenly trying to log in to the wrong app.

Why does Spotify keep stop working? ›

This is usually why Spotify keeps pausing because whenever someone logs into your account on another device and starts playing music, your music will stop. You can fix this by logging your account out of all connected devices and changing your password.

How to fix Spotify app not responding? ›

If you're having technical issues when playing something on the Spotify app, try these first:
  1. Restart the Spotify app.
  2. Update the app.
  3. Reinstall the app. Note: You need to re-download any downloaded music and podcasts after reinstalling the app.

Is there a problem with Spotify right now? ›

User reports indicate no current problems at Spotify

Spotify is an online music streaming service.

How do I unfreeze Spotify? ›

Close any other apps you're not using

Quit all of the applications you're currently not using. Alternatively, restarting your computer or phone can help clear any background processes.

How do I refresh my Spotify app? ›

Android
  1. Open the Google Play Store.
  2. Use the search bar to find Spotify.
  3. Tap UPDATE. If no update option is visible, your app is on the latest version.
Jun 18, 2024

How do I reset my Spotify device? ›

Remove the device from the list to avoid connecting to it by mistake: click on the three dots next to the device you want to remove > click Forget Device. Unlink your Spotify account from the manufacturer's app, like Amazon Alexa. Sign out everywhere on your account page, and for extra safety reset your password.

Why can't Spotify play this right now? ›

A full or corrupt Spotify cache often causes this error. Clear the cache, then restart Spotify. If the problem continues, switch to mobile data from Wi-Fi (or vice-versa) to rule out internet problems. If you're on a Windows PC, Spotify may be trying to play music out of the wrong audio output.

What's wrong with my Spotify Premium? ›

Check the manager hasn't removed you from the plan. Or, you may have lost access if we can't verify you. You can ask the manager to invite you again or choose a different Premium plan.

Why has Spotify stopped working? ›

Check the Google Play Store for pending updates and install them. Restart your Android device. Go to Settings > Apps > Spotify to clear the app cache and data. If the previous options fail, uninstall the app, reboot your phone, and reinstall the app.

Why is Spotify so unresponsive? ›

There is not enough bandwidth available to handle all of the data Spotify needs to deliver a smooth, uninterrupted flow of music. Buffering is like you sitting in your car on a crowded freeway, where it's not your car's fault. Do you often check to see if Spotify is down from your mobile device?

How do I fix my Spotify? ›

Let us now see how you can easily fix Spotify Not Working issue.
  1. Restart Spotify. ...
  2. Check Internet Connection. ...
  3. Update Spotify. ...
  4. Uninstall an Update. ...
  5. Uninstall and Reinstall Spotify. ...
  6. Check if Spotify is Down. ...
  7. Try Spotify Using the Web App. ...
  8. Clear App Cache and/or Data.

Why can't i listen to my Spotify? ›

Here are some common fixes for if the app appears to be playing, but you can't hear it. In your device's sound or volume settings make sure the correct audio output is selected, e.g. your laptop's speakers. On mobile, there can be different settings for different sounds, e.g. media or phone calls.

How do I fix Spotify try again? ›

Try this: Go to your Spotify account @ spotify.com, log-in, head to the offline devices tab and remove those devices. Log-out of the spotify app, uninstall, install from app store, and log-in again and try again. And make sure your Spotify app is on 1.1.

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