With hundreds of millions of users, many of whom are paid subscribers, Spotify is the undisputed king of music streaming services. However, being the market leader doesn't mean Spotify is exempt from problems. Given its huge user base and the number of devices it supports, it shouldn't be surprising that issues can occur.
Some of those Spotify glitches happen more frequently than others. If your Spotify isn't working or you're encountering a Spotify glitch, this article is for you.
1. Spotify Could Not Be Started: Error Code 17
Spotify won't open on Windows? This issue has plagued users for several years, and yet it still pops up frequently.
The problem occurs when you try to launch Spotify. Everything will appear to be running smoothly, but just as the client is about to open, you'll get an on-screen pop-up, and the program will crash.
The solution is to:
- Download the Spotify installer for Windows and save it on your desktop.
- Right-click the installer and select Properties.
- Open the Compatibility tab, check the box by Run this program in compatibility mode for, and choose Windows XP (Service Pack 3).
- Click Apply and run the installer.
If that doesn't work, it might be an anti-virus or firewall issue. Turn off any providers (or whitelist Spotify), then try again.
If that doesn't work, boot into Safe Mode and repeat the above steps.
2. Cannot Add Local Files to a Spotify Playlist
One of the coolest features is the ability to play your own music on Spotify. It allows you to mingle Spotify's songs with your own tracks in your playlists.
Spotify changed how its Windows and Mac desktop clients handle local music. Previously, you could drag and drop your desired files into a playlist, but now it's a bit more complicated—the change in process has led some users to mistakenly believe the service was broken.
To add files, head to Edit (Windows) or Spotify (Mac) > Preferences > Local Files. You can ask Spotify to search your iTunes files or your Music Library or point it in the direction of your saved music.
3. Cannot Download Songs for Offline Playback
Spotify lets you download songs for offline playback. It's a fantastic feature for the gym, your car, or whenever Wi-Fi is unavailable, as it means you won't be eating through your data allowance.
However, there is a little-known restriction. Each device can only sync a maximum of 10,000 songs for listening offline. You have up to five devices, each with its own limit. If you hit that limit, you won't be able to download any more tracks until you delete some of your existing offline music.
Toggling a playlist's Download option in the More menu will slowly delete its content. Or, for a speedier resolution, you should delete the cache (we'll cover how to do so further down the article).
It's also important to note that you'll need a premium plan to download more than 30 songs. So if you can't seem to download more than 30, you'll need to upgrade or delete some of your previously downloaded tracks.
4. Missing Daily Mixes
Spotify offers up to six Daily Mix playlists. These combine tracks in your music library with a smattering of other similar songs that Spotify's algorithms think you'll like and are themed around specific genres.
They should appear in the Made for You section of Your Library. However, some users complain that they don't show up. If you can't see them, Spotify's official advice is to log out and back in again. If that still doesn't work, Spotify suggests deleting and reinstalling the app.
For quicker results, you can search Made For You in the Search bar. This should show some of the past playlists that were made for you.
5. Your Spotify Account Has Been Hacked
Although this isn't really a technical issue, it's a surprisingly common problem. Spotify users often complain about their accounts being hacked; cybercriminals have posted users' details on Pastebin more than once, with the most famous incident occurring in April 2016.
How Can You Tell if Your Spotify Account Has Been Hacked?
There are a few telltale signs. Are you seeing songs listed in your play history that you don't recognize? Are you suddenly getting a lot of Swedish hip-hop or Japanese pop music in your Discover Weekly playlist, despite never listening to that genre? Were you kicked out of the app while playing a track?
If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, there is a high chance your account has been compromised.
What Should You Do?
If you're lucky, your email and password will not have been changed. Log in to your account on the Spotify website, then head to Account Overview > Sign Out Everywhere. If that's successful, change your password immediately. If your account is linked to Facebook, change your Facebook password as well.
Unfortunately, you'll need to contact Spotify if you have lost access to your account. You can use Spotify's online form, the @SpotifyCares Twitter account, or Spotify's Facebook page.
For the future, check our tips on how to keep Spotify secure.
6. Spotify Is Not Working on Android
If the Spotify app isn't loading or working correctly, consider taking the following steps on your Android device.
Before working through this troubleshooting guide, try logging out of the app and logging back in, as it'll often solve smaller issues. Keep reading if you're experiencing a blank screen when you start the app, playback problems, track skipping, offline syncing issues, or unavailable songs.
Clear the Cache and Perform a Clean Install
The cache is where Spotify saves data so it can operate faster and more efficiently in the future. Sometimes, the data in the cache will become corrupted, and you'll experience usage problems.
Thankfully, Android makes it simple to clear your cache, thus allowing the app to rebuild a new, uncorrupted set of data. Just head to Settings > Apps and Notifications > Spotify > Storage and Cache and tap on Clear Cache. You should also tap on Clear Data.
Next, use an Android file manager to make sure the following four files no longer exist:
- /emulated/0/Android/data/com.spotify.music
- /ext_sd/Android/data/com.spotify.music
- /sdcard1/Android/data/com.spotify.music
- /data/media/0/Android/data/com.spotify.music
If they are still visible, delete them manually.
Finally, uninstall the Spotify app and reinstall it via the Google Play Store. This issue is more likely if you have a rooted Android device or if you're using an older version of Spotify. If this fix is too technical for you, you can also reset your Android device. Just make sure not to use a backup that may contain the corrupted Spotify file.
Delete Cleaning Apps, Process Managers, and Battery Managers
Several cleaning apps contain a process-killing feature that can affect Spotify. Similarly, process managers and battery managers can interfere with the various running processes Spotify uses. They can be particularly aggressive when the screen is off or an app is running in the background for a long time.
If you really need/want to keep these apps installed, try adding Spotify to the apps' whitelists.
7. Spotify Troubleshooting on iPhone and iPad
Is Spotify not working on your iPhone or iPad? Unlike Android, there is no clear cache button. Instead, you will need to delete and reinstall the app. This will solve most Spotify issues on iOS. This is because Spotify can quickly take up a lot of space, especially if you download a lot of songs or podcasts.
If this doesn't work, you can also go to Settings > Storage, find the Spotify app, tap Offload App first, and then delete it. Some users claim this works better for some apps, especially if you have a jailbroken device or an older version of Spotify on an older iOS.
Some older versions of iOS will also allow you to delete the cache when there are a lot of documents and data taking up space.
8. You Accidentally Deleted a Spotify Playlist
Next up is an extremely common problem and entirely of a user's own making: accidentally deleted playlists.
Playlists are works of art—you can spend days, weeks, months, or even years creating the perfect playlist for an activity or event. You don't want to accidentally remove it through a misplaced tap.
If you delete your favorite playlist, don't despair; you can easily recover it. Log into your account on the Spotify website, then go to Account > Recover Playlists > Restore. You can do this for up to 90 days, but after that, it's sadly permanently deleted.
9. Spotify Music Stutters During Playback
Sometimes, you will be listening to a track on Spotify, and it will sound crackly as if the song hasn't fully buffered. When this happens, the music is unlistenable.
Typically, the issue can be fixed by turning on Spotify's hardware acceleration. Open the Spotify app and head to More > View > Hardware Acceleration. Keep in mind that if your computer is old and struggles with power, the app might slow down considerably.
If you're experiencing this issue on a mobile device, you might have a bad connection. Consider downloading offline tracks to avoid this issue in areas with limited data.
10. No Sound During Playback
The most common cause for the lack of sound during Spotify playback on the desktop app is either a muted device or a misconfigured line out. To check on Windows, right-click the volume icon in the system tray and select Volume Mixer. On Mac, hold the Option button and click the speaker icon.
If you're encountering issues with headphones on Android or iOS, try clearing the headphone jack with compressed air or disconnecting your Bluetooth headphones and connecting them again.
Learn More About Using Spotify
We've covered many of the most common Spotify issues here, but there will always be user-specific examples beyond this article's scope.
Remember, if you still have problems, your first port of call should always be the official support channels. In addition to Spotify's various official accounts, the Spotify forums and the troubleshooting subreddit are great places to find help.