The second most annoying thing after Spotify ads is Spotify struggling to play songs. There can be numerous reasons why Spotify has decided to give you the silent treatment. But fret not; this article will delve into the causes and provide you with the 11 best fixes if Spotify is not playing songs on your mobile and computer.
The most apparent reason for Spotify not playing songs might be the Wi-Fi or mobile data. If you have already checked those and there’s no issue with your internet connection, move on to the below fixes. Let’s get started.
1. Try Logging in and Out of Spotify
Sometimes, a simple login and logout can work wonders, especially if Spotify won’t play music. Here is how to log out and log in on Spotify on your mobile and computer devices.
On Mobile
Step 1: Launch Spotify on your smartphone and tap the gear icon (Settings).
Step 2: Scroll down on the Settings page and tap Log out.
Once logged out, wait a couple of seconds and try logging in. Here are the steps to do so:
Step 3: Open Spotify and tap Log in.
Step 4: Enter your credentials and tap Log in.
On Computer
Step 1: Launch Spotify on your computer and click on your profile picture.
Step 2: Click Log out.
Wait for a couple of seconds, and then try logging in.
Step 3: Click on Log in, and you’ll be redirected to your browser to log in.
Step 4: Enter your username and password and click Log in.
Step 5: Click ‘Continue To The App’ and you’ll be logged in.
2. Check if Spotify Is Down
If there’s an issue with the Spotify server, it can also cause an issue in the playback. You can check on the web to see if Spotify is down. Go to the Downdetector website using the below link and see if there’s an outage.
3. Turn off the VPN
Some songs on Spotify are geo-restricted, so if you are using a VPN, Spotify won’t play music unavailable in the region selected in the VPN. Turn off the VPN, and you can play songs uninterruptedly.
On iOS and Android Devices
On Android: Turning off VPN on Android can differ from device to device due to different OEMs; generally, navigate to the VPN app on your Android smartphone and turn off the VPN from there.
On iPhone: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and turn off the toggle for VPN.
On Computer
Note: Launch the VPN app and click disconnect to turn off the VPN on your Windows computer.
Here are the simple steps to turn off the VPN on a Mac:
Step 1: Launch the System Settings on your Mac.
Step 2: Click VPN and toggle it off.
Must Read: How to Recover Deleted Playlists on Spotify.
4. Turn Off Offline Mode (Mobile)
Spotify’s offline mode blocks off internet connection and allows you to play only downloaded songs. It won’t let you stream a song that has not been downloaded on your device. In such a scenario, try turning off the offline mode from the settings and resume your playback.
Here are the simple steps to take:
Step 1: Open the Spotify mobile app and tap Settings.
Step 2: Tap Playback.
Step 3: Turn off the toggle for Offline. And that’s it.
5. Turn On Autoplay Similar Content
If the songs on Spotify are not playing automatically and end after playing one song, turn on Autoplay similar content. This can happen if you have logged in to your Spotify account on a new device. Here’s how to do so:
On Mobile
Step 1: Open the Spotify mobile app and tap Settings.
Step 2: Tap Playback.
Step 3: Turn on the toggle for Autoplay similar content.
On Computer
Step 1: Open the Spotify app on your computer and click on your profile picture.
Step 2: Click Settings from the drop-down.
Step 3: Turn on Autoplay.
6. Enable Allow Explicit Content
Spotify has a toggle that lets you control whether you want to enable explicit songs/podcasts in your account. Hence, turning it on will let you play all kinds of songs without restriction.
Here are the steps to follow:
On Mobile
Step 1: Launch the Spotify app and tap Settings.
Step 2: Tap Explicit Content from the Settings.
Step 3: Turn on the toggle for Allow explicit content.
On Computer
Step 1: Open the Spotify app on your computer and click on your profile picture.
Step 2: Now, click Settings from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Turn on Explicit content, and that’s it.
7. Switch Playback Devices
You can play songs using Spotify on one device at a time. So, if you are signed into multiple devices with the same Spotify account and are trying to play music on your current device, Spotify will play the song on the last device you were using it on. You can try switching the device.
Tip: If you see an unrecognized device, learn how to remove a device from Spotify.
On Mobile
Step 1: Open the Spotify now playing screen.
Step 2: Tap on the current device near the button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Step 3: Tap your device name (This iPhone, in our case) to start playing on the selected device.
On Computer
Step 1: Open Spotify on your computer and click on the current device near the bottom right corner.
Step 2: Click on This computer from the pop-up to play on your current computer.
8. Enable Auto-Adjust Quality
Spotify lets premium users set the audio quality for streaming to ‘Very high’. But this can also cause Spotify not to play songs when the internet speed is too slow. Switching to ‘Auto-adjust quality’ will let you play songs back again. Here’s how to do it.
On Mobile
Step 1: Open the Spotify app on your mobile and tap the gear icon.
Step 2: Tap Audio Quality from the Settings.
Step 3: Now, turn on the toggle for Auto-adjust quality.
On Computer
Step 1: Open the Spotify app on your computer and click on your profile picture.
Step 2: Click on Settings from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Turn on the toggle for Auto adjust quality.
9. Turn Off Download Using Mobile Data
If you are trying to play a song while downloading a playlist on mobile data, Spotify will struggle to play songs. Hence, try turning off downloading with mobile data. Let’s look at the steps to do so:
Step 1: Open Spotify on your mobile and tap Settings.
Step 2: On the Settings page, tap Audio Quality.
Step 3: Now turn off the toggle for ‘Download Using Mobile Data’.
10. Clear Spotify Cache
The cache accumulated over time might also be why Spotify is not playing downloaded songs. Hence, clearing the cache once in a while can be helpful.
If you’re unaware, check our guide to learn What happens when you clear Spotify cache. Now, follow the steps below to do so.
On Mobile
Step 1: Launch Spotify on your mobile and tap the gear icon.
Step 2: Tap Storage.
Step 3: Tap on Clear cache.
Step 4: A pop-up will appear on the screen; tap Clear cache to confirm.
On Computer
Step 1: Open the Spotify app on your computer and click on your profile picture.
Step 2: Click Settings from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Click the Clear cache button in the Storage section to clear the cache.
11. Tweet to Spotify for Personalized Support
If you have tried all the fixes and are still facing issues, we suggest you tweet to Spotify on X (formerly known as Twitter). They will guide you with personalized support to help you restore your musical flow.
FAQs Related to Spotify
Greyed out songs mean they are unavailable in your current region. So, you can’t play them. You can check our guide to fix greyed out Spotify songs.
No. You’ll merely notice a difference if your internet connection is running perfectly.
Play Spotify Worry-Free
These 11 solutions are the best troubleshooting steps to fix if Spotify is not playing songs. Try all these fixes, say goodbye to interruptions, and embrace the rhythm of uninterrupted listening on Spotify. Also, learn how to make Spotify louder.
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Last updated on 20 September, 2023
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