Troubleshooting Spotify Mobile and Desktop Not Syncing

Part 1. How to Fix Spotify Not Syncing on Desktop and Mobile

Spotify is supposed to sync your playlists, liked songs, and library automatically across your devices - and it doesn't even require the same Wi-Fi. Most of the time it works perfectly, but sometimes songs or playlists don't appear on your other devices. If that happens, don't panic - there are a few simple fixes you can try.

1. Ensure You're Logged into the Same Spotify Account

Syncing only works when both your desktop and mobile are using the same account. If you've got multiple accounts or someone else shares a device, you might accidentally be logged into the wrong one. Double-check and log into the correct account on both devices - it's the first and easiest step to fix most syncing issues.

On Android/iPhone:

1. Open the Spotify app.
2. Tap the Gear icon to open Settings.
3. Scroll down and tap Log out.
4. Confirm the log-out request.
5. Log back in with the correct Spotify account.

On PC/Mac:

1. Open the Spotify app.
2. Click your Profile icon in the top-left corner.
3. Select Log out.
4. Log back in with the correct Spotify account credentials.

2. Check Your Internet Connection

Spotify needs an internet connection to sync playlists and library data. If your songs aren't updating, try playing a track on both devices to see if it streams smoothly. Switching from mobile data to Wi-Fi can often help, and even using the same Wi-Fi can make syncing faster. Some cellular networks limit data for certain apps, whereas Wi-Fi usually avoids those restrictions.

1. Make sure both devices are connected to the internet.
2. Play a song on each device to confirm streaming works.
3. Switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi if needed.
4. Using the same Wi-Fi on both devices can help syncing go faster.
5. Retry syncing your playlists and library.

3. Toggle Offline Mode On and Off

Offline Mode is great when you want to listen without using data, but it can stop your playlists from syncing. If you see content missing on one device, check Offline Mode on both devices. Turn it on and then back off - this often forces Spotify to refresh your library and sync everything properly.

On Android/iPhone:

1. Open Spotify > Settings (Gear icon) > Playback > Offline.
2. Toggle Offline Mode off, then on, then off again.

On PC:

1. Open Spotify > Click the three horizontal dots at the top-left > File > Offline Mode.
2. Make sure it's deselected.

On Mac:

1. Open Spotify > Click Spotify in the Apple menu > Offline Mode.
2. Disable the feature.

4. Refresh Your Playlists

If a playlist isn't updating, try refreshing it or even recreating it. This sounds small, but it tells Spotify to check for changes and can get your songs syncing again.

On PC/Mac:

1. Open Spotify > Go to Your Library > Select the playlist not syncing.
2. Right-click > Add to other playlist > Create new playlist.
3. Name the new playlist. All songs from the original playlist will be added.

On Android/iPhone:

1. Open Spotify > Your Library > Select the playlist not syncing.
2. Tap the three horizontal dots > Add to other playlist > Choose an existing playlist or create a new one.
3. This forces the playlist to sync to your other device.

5. Log Out and Log Back In

Logging out and back in refreshes your account session. This is especially useful if the app hasn't updated changes you made on another device. It's a simple step, but it often solves syncing problems.

6. Clear App Cache on Your Device

Cached data can get messy and stop Spotify from syncing properly. Clearing your cache on both desktop and mobile lets the app reload your playlists and library from scratch. Think of it as giving the app a little "spring cleaning."

On Android/iPhone:

1. Open Spotify > Settings > Storage > Clear Cache.

On PC/Mac:

1. Open Spotify > Settings > Scroll down > Show Advanced Settings > Offline Songs Storage > Clear Cache.
2. Restart Spotify on both devices.
3. Open playlists to see if syncing works.

7. Update the Spotify App to the Latest Version

Outdated apps can have bugs that interfere with syncing. Make sure both desktop and mobile are running the latest version. Updates usually fix bugs and improve performance, so keeping Spotify updated is a smart move.

On Android/iPhone:

1. Open App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
2. Search for Spotify > Tap Update if available.

On PC/Mac:

1. Open Spotify > Click your Profile icon > Update now.
2. Follow prompts to install the latest version.
3. Restart Spotify and check if playlists and library sync correctly.

8. Reinstall the Spotify App if Needed

If all else fails, uninstalling and reinstalling Spotify can help. It removes corrupted files and ensures you're starting fresh with the latest version. Sometimes a fresh install is the easiest way to get everything syncing again.

1. Uninstall Spotify from your device.
2. Restart your device.
3. Download and install the latest version of Spotify.
4. Log in with your account.
5. Open playlists and check if syncing works.

9. Disable Spotify Connect

The Connect feature lets you control playback on one device from another, but it can sometimes interfere with syncing. If your library isn't updating, try turning it off and see if that helps.

1. Open Spotify > Settings > Devices.
2. Toggle Spotify Connect off.
3. Restart Spotify and see if your playlists and library sync correctly.

10. Check and Turn Off Firewall or Security Software

Strict firewall or antivirus settings can block Spotify from connecting to its servers. If syncing still isn't working, check your firewall or security software settings. You can choose to turn them off for a while or allow Spotify through to solve this issue.

On PC:

1. Open Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
2. Select Turn off for both Private and Public networks > Click OK.

On Mac:

1. Open Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall.
2. Click the lock > Enter your password > Click Turn Off Firewall > Click the lock again.
3. Open Spotify and verify playlists and library now sync.

Part 2: Best Alternatives to Sync Spotify Between Desktop and Mobile

As a viable alternative, if you're still facing issues with Spotify's automatic playlist sync and you want to ensure that your favorite music is available on your computer device, downloading the Spotify music as transferrable files is the best solution.

You can use a tool called ViWizard Spotify Music Downloader to transfer your Spotify music manually to all your devices from your computer, not just your mobile phone. Designed for both computer users and users on the free tier, ViWizard ensures the access to the downloading feature for songs, playlists, albums, podcasts and even audiobooks from the Spotify desktop app. By transferring the music to your mobile device, you ensure that the content you desired is available offline without relying on Spotify's sync feature.

On your computer, download and install both the Spotify desktop app and ViWizard Spotify Music Downloader. Launch the ViWizard converter app, and you can select and add your playlists from the Spotify desktop client. After that, you can adjust the output format to a compatible one for your mobile device, such as MP3. After downloading the files, feel free to connect your mobile device to the computer and transfer your music for offline playback on any media player.

Key Features of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

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• Download Spotify songs, playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks extremely fast at up to 15x speed
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• Lets you play Spotify tracks offline on any device without restrictions
• Works seamlessly on Windows and macOS, supporting the built-in Spotify Web Player