How to Download Music from Spotify to Your Mac

By Matt Smith Updated on June 18, 2024

download spotify music on mac

Once you've subscribed to Spotify Premium, you can not only listen to nonstop Spotify music without ads online but also download music from Spotify for offline listening anywhere. After downloading music, however, you may be disappointed to find out that you don't fully own those songs as they are encrypted with digital rights management. In other words, you can only play downloaded songs on those devices compatible with Spotify, instead of any portable devices.

To break the limitation, you should seek for help from some third-party tools. At this point, Spotify downloaders can be a good helper, enabling you to download songs from Spotify to your computer. However, not all Spotify downloaders on the internet can work well on Mac. Fortunately, we'll uncover how to download Spotify music on Mac even though you are a Spotify Free user. Read on to learn more about how to download Spotify songs on Mac for free.

Part 1. How to Download Music from Spotify to Mac

Step 1Install Spotify's Mac Version

  1. Open Safari or Chrome on your Mac.
  2. Type "https://www.spotify.com/de-en/download/mac/" in the address bar and hit Enter.
  3. Click the "Download" button to start downloading the Spotify app for Mac.
  4. Once the download is complete, open the installation file from your "Downloads" folder. Drag the Spotify app icon into your Applications folder.

Step 2Download Music from Spotify with Premium

  1. Find the Spotify app in your Applications folder or Dock and open it.
  2. Enter your Spotify Premium username and password.
  3. Use the search bar to find songs, playlists, or albums you want to download. Create a playlist for individual songs if needed.
  4. Click the Download button (downward arrow) at the top of the playlist or album to save the music for offline listening.
  5. mac spotify download playlist

Step 3 Listen to Downloaded Music Offline on Your Mac

  1. Click "Your Library" in the app to find all your saved music.
  2. mac spotify downloaded playlist

  3. Use the "Downloaded" filter to show only tracks you've saved for offline listening.
  4. spotify desktop your library sorting downloaded

  5. Play your downloaded music without an internet connection. For exclusive offline listening, select "Offline Mode" from the "Spotify" menu.
  6. spotify mac offline mode

Extra Tip: Find the Downloaded Music on Your Mac

  1. By default, Spotify stores cached files here: /Users/"yourusername"/Library/Application Support/Spotify/PersistentCache/Storage.
  2. Launch the Spotify desktop app.
  3. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select "Settings."
  4. mac spotfiy settings offline storage location

  5. Scroll down to the "Storage" section to see your storage location.
  6. Click "Change location" to modify where your music is stored.
  7. Open the Finder app, navigate to the directory mentioned, and find the cached files for your downloaded music.
  8. mac applications support

Part 2. How to Download Spotify Music to Mac Locally (MP3 for free)

While a Premium subscription lets you download music for offline listening, finding the music files in plain formats like MP3 for your offline music library can be tough. Thankfully, ViWizard Spotify Downloader is a great solution for anyone who wants free MP3s or uses the free Spotify tier to download music, podcasts, and audiobooks without any limits.

Why Choose ViWizard Spotify Downloader for Mac?

ViWizard Spotify Downloader is a powerful tool that lets you download content from Spotify, whether you have a Premium subscription or not. With ViWizard, you can download individual songs, playlists, albums, podcasts, artists, and even audiobooks from Spotify. The best part is that ViWizard converts these downloads into common audio formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, and FLAC with high-quality sound. This means you can enjoy your music however you want, without being restricted to the Spotify app or needing a Premium subscription.

If you're using Spotify without a Premium account or plan to cancel it, ViWizard allows you to download any music track you want from Spotify to your Mac. This gives you a Premium-like experience for free and lets you build your offline music library without needing a Premium account.

Note: ViWizard Spotify Music Converter works with macOS 10.8 to macOS 13, ensuring compatibility for many Mac users. To get started, simply click the "Download" button for the Mac version of ViWizard from the official website, and you're all set to enhance your Spotify experience on your Mac.

spotify music converter

Key Features of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

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* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.

  • Download Spotify songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, audiobooks
  • Convert Spotify music to lossless MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, M4B
  • Support playing offline Spotify music on any device at any time
  • Compatible with Windows and macOS, as well as, the latest Spotify

Step 1Upload Spotify Songs to ViWizard Software

main screen mac

Run ViWizard Spotify Music Converter on your Mac computer. Then it completely loads the Spotify app. Once done, log into Spotify account and find any music track or playlist in Spotify you want to download to Mac. Then simply drag your chosen titles to the interface of ViWizard.

Step 2Adjust the Output Profile for Spotify Music

output format mac

Click the menu bar of Mac and choose the Preferences option. Then you'll be able to select the output format. ViWizard supports MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, and M4B. You can also customize other parameters including channel, bit rate, and sample rate if you like.

Step 3Begin to Download Spotify Music on Mac

convert spotify mac

To start downloading Spotify songs on Mac, go back to the main window of ViWizard and click on the Convert button at the right corner. It will begin to download music from Spotify to Mac at up to 5× faster speed with original audio quality and ID3 tags preserved.

Part 3. How to Transfer Spotify Downloads to iOS Locally (Recommended)

For those entrenched in the Apple ecosystem and accustomed to using the Apple Music app across their devices, transferring Spotify downloads to Apple Music allows for seamless integration and backup of your music library.

Step 1Add Spotify Downloads to Apple Music (or iTunes) on Mac

  1. Launch the Apple Music app on macOS Catalina and later, or iTunes on earlier versions.
  2. Click on "File" in the menu bar, then select "Add to Library" or "Import." Navigate to the folder where your downloaded Spotify songs are stored, select them, and click "Open." This will add the songs to your Apple Music library.
  3. Create playlists in Apple Music (or iTunes) for better organization if you have multiple tracks or albums.

Step 2Sync Your Music to iOS Devices

sync music mac

  1. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to your Mac.
  2. On macOS Catalina and later, open Finder. For earlier versions, open iTunes.
    • In Finder, click on your device's name under "Locations." In iTunes, click on the device icon in the top-left corner.
    • Sync Music:
      • In Finder: Click on the "Music" tab, check the "Sync music onto [device name]" box, and choose "Selected artists, albums, genres, and playlists." Select the playlists or songs you want to transfer and click "Apply."
      • In iTunes: Click on "Music" in the sidebar, check the "Sync Music" box, choose "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres," select the playlists or songs, and click "Apply."

Step 3Access Your Music on iOS Devices

  1. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, open the Apple Music app.
  2. Your synced songs and playlists should appear in your library. You can now enjoy your Spotify downloads on your iOS device, just like any other Apple Music content.

Part 4. How to Fix Spotify App Not Downloading on Mac

If you're experiencing issues with downloading the Spotify app or downloading music on your Mac, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the problem.

1. Try a Different Internet Connection

Sometimes, your internet connection might be the issue. Switching to a different network can help.

  1. Connect to a different Wi-Fi network or use a mobile hotspot.
  2. Ensure your internet connection is stable and has sufficient speed.

2. Install Spotify App in Safe Mode

Installing Spotify in Safe Mode can bypass some software conflicts.

  1. Restart your Mac and hold the Shift key as it boots up.
  2. Once in Safe Mode, download and install the Spotify app from the official website.

3. Check Spotify Isn't Blocked by Firewall

Your firewall settings might be blocking Spotify. Here's how to check and adjust them:

  1. Go to the Apple menu and select "System Preferences."
  2. mac apple menu system preferences

  3. Click on "Security & Privacy" and then the "Firewall" tab.
  4. Click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner and enter your password.
  5. Click "Firewall Options" and make sure Spotify is allowed through the firewall. If it's not listed, add it manually.
  6. allow spotify firewall mac

4. Clean Uninstall Spotify App

A clean uninstall can resolve many issues. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to "Go" in the menu bar, select "Utilities," then open "Activity Monitor."
  2. Quit any processes related to Spotify.
  3. Open Finder, go to "Applications," find Spotify, and move it to the Trash.
  4. Hold the Option/Alt key and click "Go" in the menu bar.
  5. Select "Library" > "Caches" and delete the "com.spotify.client" and "com.spotify.client.helper" folders.
  6. Go to Spotify's download page, download the app, and install it again.

Conclusion

The process of downloading music from Spotify to Mac is pretty simple with the help of the above tools. If you want to save Spotify music with the original audio quality and ID3 tags, ViWizard Spotify Music Converter could be a better choice for you.

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