If you're anything like me, you've probably noticed Spotify slowly taking up more and more space on your phone or computer. Even without downloading much music, the app can still grow in size over time. That's because Spotify uses something called cache - a behind-the-scenes tool that helps music load faster and play more smoothly.
The good news is that you don't have to let Spotify eat up all your storage? You can manage this cache without deleting your downloaded songs. It only takes a few quick steps, and it's a simple way to free up space and keep the app running well.
Since Spotify updates often, the settings might look a little different depending on your device. But don't worry - the process is still easy to follow. Read on to learn how Spotify cache works - and how to keep it under control without losing your music.
Part 1. What Is Spotify Cache?
Spotify cache is temporary data stored to improve app speed and responsiveness. Instead of existing as one visible folder, cache is spread across different types of background data, including audio fragments, album artwork, playlist metadata, search results, podcast segments, recently played tracks, and interface elements. This is why Spotify storage can gradually increase even when your downloads appear unchanged.
Cache is different from downloads. Downloads are saved for offline listening, while cached data is created automatically as you use the app. Over time, cache can continue building and sometimes exceed 10GB even without offline downloads enabled.
Part 2. How Does Spotify Cache Work?
Like a web browser storing cached files to load websites faster, Spotify stores temporary data so previously accessed content can load more quickly the next time you open it. Playing songs, opening albums, browsing playlists, and scrolling through recommendations can all generate small local data fragments.
Spotify manages cache automatically in the background, deciding what data to keep, replace, or remove based on usage patterns. By storing this information locally, Spotify reduces loading times, minimizes buffering, and improves navigation performance.
As cache builds over time, commonly accessed content loads faster because parts of that data are already stored on the device. This helps playback feel smoother and the app respond more quickly during everyday use.
Part 3. Why Should You Clear Spotify Cache?
While cache is designed to improve performance, it can eventually consume large amounts of storage and contribute to issues such as slower loading or missing artwork. In many cases, the app itself is functioning properly and only the cached data has become overloaded or corrupted. Clearing cache allows Spotify to rebuild fresh temporary files without requiring a reinstall.
Manual cleanup can also help when Spotify storage usage becomes unusually high or the app starts behaving inconsistently during playback and browsing. Since cached data is separate from your music library, clearing Spotify cache does not remove playlists, liked songs, saved albums, or account information. It only removes temporary data used for speed and performance.
What happens when you clear Spotify cache?
Only performance data is removed. Your playlists, liked songs, account details, and downloads stay the same. Spotify rebuilds cache automatically as you use the app again, and it may feel slightly slower at first.
How often should you clear Spotify cache?
Most users do not need to clear it regularly. Spotify uses cache to improve speed, reduce buffering, and make browsing smoother. Clearing it too often can temporarily slow performance. It is mainly useful when storage is high or the app starts misbehaving. Occasional cleanup is enough.
Part 4. Where Does Spotify Store Cache?
Spotify stores cache locally on your computer in different system folders depending on your device and installation type.
On macOS:
01Open Finder.
02Click Go in the menu bar, then select Go to Folder.
03Enter ~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client/ and press Return.
04Open the Storage folder.
05Select all files inside the Storage folder.
06Delete the selected files.
On Windows (Official installer):
01Open File Explorer.
02Go to C:\Users[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Spotify\Storage.
03Select all files in the Storage folder.
04Delete the selected files.
On Windows (Microsoft Store version):
01Open File Explorer.
02Enter appdata in the address bar and press Enter.
03Go to Packages > SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic_zpdnekdrzrea0 > LocalCache > Spotify > Data.
04Open the Data folder.
05Select all folders inside Data.
06Delete the selected folders.
Part 5. How to Clear Spotify Cache on Desktop (Windows & Mac)
On desktop, the fastest way to stop Spotify using extra storage is through its built-in cache controls. Most users skip this section, but this is where storage issues are managed. Go into Settings > Storage > Cache. You can also check downloads storage and offline storage location, but the focus here is cache. If it is taking up space, this is often what slows the app or fills storage.
For Windows:
01Open Spotify and sign in to your account.
02Click your profile icon in the top-right corner of the app window.
03Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
04Scroll down to the "Storage" section in Settings.
05Click "Clear cache" under Storage.
06Confirm the action in the pop-up window.
For Mac:
01Open Spotify from your Applications folder or Dock.
02Click "Spotify" in the top Mac menu bar next to the Apple logo.
03Select "Settings" (or "Preferences" on older versions).
04Scroll down to the "Storage" section.
05Click "Clear cache" under Storage.
06Confirm when prompted.
Part 6. How to Clear Spotify Cache on Mobile (iPhone & Android)
On mobile, cache can be cleared through app or system settings. Go to Settings & privacy > Data-saving and offline > Storage. You will see a breakdown of storage use, including "Other apps," "Spotify downloads," "Spotify cache," and "Free space." Check next to "Spotify cache" to see the size, for example "50MB." If storage is high but downloads look normal, this is usually where missing space is.
For iOS & Android (In-App Method):
01Open the Spotify app on your device.
02Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner.
03Tap "Settings and privacy" (gear icon menu).
04Scroll down and tap "Storage" or "Data-saving and offline".
05Tap "Clear cache" under the Storage section.
06Tap "Clear cache" again to confirm.
For Android Only (System Settings Method):
01Open your device's Settings app.
02Tap "Apps" or "Apps & notifications".
03Tap "See all apps", then select Spotify.
04Tap "Storage & cache".
05Tap "Clear cache" (avoid "Clear data" unless resetting the app).
Part 7. How to Fully Clear Spotify Data and Reinstall the App
If clearing cache is not enough, a full reinstall resets all app data. This removes cache and deeper local files that normal cleanup does not reach. Uninstall the app first, then delete remaining data and cached files from hidden folders if they still exist, and reinstall from the official website. You will need to log in again. Your library stays intact, but offline downloads must be re-added. This is mainly used when storage is unusually high or performance issues persist.
For iOS (iPhone and iPad)
01Open Settings, go to General, then tap iPhone Storage or iPad Storage.
02Select Spotify, then tap Delete App to remove the app and its data.
03Confirm deletion, then return to the home screen.
04Press and hold Side button and either Volume button until the power slider appears, then turn off the device.
05Wait a few seconds, then restart by holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
06Open App Store, search Spotify, then reinstall the app.
07Sign back into your account after installation.
For Android (Android 6.0 and Newer)
01Open Settings, go to Apps or Apps & notifications, then select Spotify.
02Tap Storage & cache, then tap Clear storage and Clear cache.
03Go back and tap Uninstall to remove the app.
04Open File Manager, go to Internal Storage > Android > data, then delete com.spotify.music if present.
05If using SD card, check SD Card > Android > data and remove the same folder if found.
06Restart the device.
07Open Google Play Store, search Spotify, then reinstall the app.
08Sign back into your account.
For Older Android Devices
01Open Settings, go to Apps or Applications, then Manage applications if available.
02Select Spotify, tap Storage, then tap Clear data.
03Open File Manager, go to Internal Storage > Android > data, then delete com.spotify.music if present.
04Check SD card storage and remove any Spotify folder if found.
05Restart the device.
06Reinstall Spotify from Google Play Store, then sign in.
For Windows
01Open Settings, go to Apps > Installed apps, then select Spotify.
02Click Uninstall and follow prompts.
03Open File Explorer, type %AppData%, then delete Spotify folder in Roaming if present.
04Go to %LocalAppData%, then remove Spotify folder if it exists.
05Restart the computer.
06Download Spotify from the official website, then reinstall.
07Sign back into your account.
For macOS
01Quit Spotify, then open Finder and go to Applications.
02Drag Spotify to Trash, then empty Trash.
03Click Go, hold Option, then select Library.
04Open Caches and delete Spotify folders if present.
05Open Application Support and delete Spotify folder if it exists.
06Restart the Mac.
07Reinstall Spotify from the official website or App Store.
08Sign back into your account.
Part 8. Best Tips to Manage Spotify Storage and Free Up Space
Tip 1: Advanced Cache Limit Adjustment via Finder
Spotify stores cache data in system folders, and macOS allows limited access to these settings through Finder. This method is for users who want to view or adjust system-level Spotify storage behavior on Mac.
For macOS (Within Finder):
01Open Finder from your Dock.
02In the top menu bar, click Go, then select Go to Folder.
03In the dialog box, enter ~/Library/Application Support/Spotify/, then press Enter.
04Find the file named prefs, then open it with TextEdit or another plain text editor.
05Scroll to the bottom of the file, then add the line:
storage.size=8192
06Save the file, then close the editor.
07Restart Spotify to apply the new cache limit.
Tip 2: Move Spotify Cache and Downloads to External Storage
Spotify downloads and app data are normally saved to internal storage by default. On some devices, storage locations can be adjusted or redirected depending on system support.
For Android
01Open Spotify and tap your profile picture, then go to Settings and privacy.
02Tap Storage, then open Download location or Storage location.
03Select your SD card as the storage location.
04Confirm the change if prompted.
05Future downloads will now be saved to the SD card.
06Note that cache will still be stored in internal storage.
For Windows / macOS (Advanced Symlink Method)
01Open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on macOS.
02Locate Spotify's default cache folder in the system application data directory.
03Create a new folder on your external drive for cache storage.
04Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS).
05Create a symbolic link from the original Spotify cache folder to the external drive folder.
06Restart Spotify to apply the new cache location.
07Back up your original cache folder before making changes.
Tip 3: Remove Spotify Downloads You No Longer Need
Downloaded content can accumulate over time as users save music for offline listening. Spotify includes built-in options to manage and remove stored downloads directly in the app.
01Open Spotify and tap your profile picture, then go to Settings and privacy.
02Tap Storage.
03Select Remove all downloads or similar option.
04Confirm to delete all offline music.
Tip 4: Clear Spotify App Data (Android Only)
Android devices store app data separately from the app itself, which can sometimes be reset through system settings. This option is available within Android's app management tools for Spotify.
01Open Settings and go to Apps or Apps & notifications.
02Select Spotify.
03Tap Storage & cache.
04Tap Clear cache and Clear data.
05Confirm the action.
06Reopen Spotify and sign in again.
Tip 5: Reinstall Spotify to Reset Cache
Reinstalling Spotify refreshes the app's local files and resets its stored data. This process is available across all platforms through standard app removal and installation steps.
01Uninstall Spotify from your device.
02Restart your device.
03Install Spotify again from the App Store or Google Play Store.
04Open the app and sign in to your account.
Tip 6: Move Spotify Music to USB or SD Card
If you're not a Premium user - or want more control over your cache, downloads, or files - ViWizard Spotify Music Converter lets you download and move Spotify tracks directly to your computer for external devices like SD cards or USB drives. It works with both Free and Premium accounts.
Simply choose the Windows or macOS version and sign in via its built-in Spotify Web Player. Select your favorite songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, or audiobooks (Premium required), and start converting. ViWizard saves everything locally, removing any app restrictions. It preserves full metadata - track title, artist, album, genre - keeping your library organized and easy to navigate. You can also automatically sort downloads by artist or album to keep your collection tidy.
With bulk download support, you can convert entire playlists or albums at once - though it's best not to download too much at once to protect your account.
Download Spotify music, podcasts and audiobooks as MP3 and more. Keep full sound and listen offline anytime.
Part 9. Conclusion & FAQs
Managing Spotify storage is not just about clearing cache once, but about keeping the app running smoothly over time. From clearing cache and removing downloads to lowering audio quality or adjusting storage settings on Android, each method helps reduce stored data in a different way.
For more control, advanced options like system-level adjustments on macOS or using external storage on supported devices can also help when built-in settings are not enough.
In general, checking downloads, cache, and app data from time to time helps prevent storage issues.
Why is Spotify cache taking so much storage?
Spotify cache builds up as the app stores temporary streaming data, including recently played songs, album artwork, and playback files. This data accumulates with use to improve loading speed and reduce buffering. Spotify may also update data in the background, which can increase cache even without active listening.
Why does Spotify cache keep coming back after I clear it?
Cache is automatically rebuilt during normal use. Each song or playlist you open generates new temporary data.
Why is Spotify still using storage after clearing cache?
Clearing cache only removes temporary files. Core app data and login information remain, so total storage usage does not fully reset.
Is Spotify cache the same as downloaded songs?
No. Cache is temporary streaming data created automatically. Downloads are offline files saved by the user. Clearing cache does not affect downloads.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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