Imagine you are on a road trip or about to take a long flight. You downloaded your Spotify playlists for offline listening, but the songs do not play. It is frustrating, and it can ruin the mood when you were counting on music without using mobile data.
This problem happens more often than you think. Sometimes Spotify cannot access the downloaded files, a setting is wrong, or the downloads get corrupted. Other times, it is because your subscription or device limit is reached, which matters more than you think. The result is the same. Spotify will not play your downloaded music when you need it most.
In this post, we will explain why this happens and how to fix it. You can start with simple steps like turning offline mode off and on or signing out and back in. If that does not work, clearing the cache or reinstalling the app usually helps. If you want a faster solution, you can also try a music converter to turn downloads into MP3 files.
Part 1: Why Spotify Won't Play Downloaded Songs
If Spotify will not play downloaded songs, it usually means the app cannot access the files or a setting is blocking offline downloads from playing. This can happen when Offline Mode is on or off, and it often shows up as grayed out songs or sudden silence. Once you know the cause, you can pick the right fix and get your music back.
Offline Mode ON but Downloaded Songs Still Won't Play
Subscription expired (offline downloads disabled)
Most users report that downloaded songs stop playing right after their Premium plan ends, because Spotify can no longer verify offline access. For some users, the songs still appear in the library but show errors when played.
Spotify lost permission to play offline songs
Some users report that Spotify loses its offline playback permission even with an active subscription. This can happen after an app update, device restart, or when Spotify cannot recheck the account status.
Downloaded files got corrupted
A number of users find that downloaded tracks become damaged or incomplete, especially after interrupted downloads or storage problems. When this happens, songs may skip, show errors, or not play at all.
App cache issues
Several users report that cache problems can stop Spotify from reading downloaded songs correctly. Clearing the cache usually forces the app to recheck the downloads and fixes the issue.
Storage space or SD card problems
Users with full storage or faulty SD cards often see downloads fail or become inaccessible. In these cases, Spotify may show the songs as downloaded but still cannot play them.
Offline Mode OFF but Downloaded Songs Still Won't Play
Internet is unstable (streaming fails)
Most users experience playback issues when their Wi-Fi or mobile data is weak, because Spotify tries to stream the songs. In this case, the music may pause, buffer, or stop playing.
Spotify "thinks" songs aren't downloaded anymore
Some users report that Spotify suddenly forgets downloaded songs after app updates or storage changes. Even though the songs are still on the device, the app treats them as unavailable and tries to stream instead.
Downloaded files were removed or moved
Users sometimes find that songs stop playing after downloads were deleted, moved to a different folder, or relocated during device cleanup. Spotify then cannot find the files and playback fails.
Part 2: How to Fix Spotify Not Playing Downloaded Songs
Many playback problems are caused by simple issues like wrong settings, full storage, or a app glitch. Sometimes the downloads are corrupted or your device has reached the download limit. Work through these steps, so you find the cause and get Spotify back to play your downloaded songs in no time.
Fix 1: Turn Offline Mode OFF and ON
The first step is to toggle Offline Mode off and on in Spotify. This helps refresh the offline playback system and can often fix the issue without doing anything else. Go to Spotify settings, find Offline Mode, turn it off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on again.
Mobile (iOS & Android):
Open the Spotify app on your phone.
Tap Home at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the profile icon in the top right.
Tap Settings & privacy.
Tap Data-saving and offline.
Scroll down to the Offline section.
Tap the Offline mode toggle to turn it off.
Wait 5–10 seconds.
Tap the Offline mode toggle again to turn it on.
Go to Your Library and try playing a downloaded song.
Desktop (Windows):
Open the Spotify app on your PC.
Click the three-dot menu in the top left corner.
Click File.
Click Offline Mode to turn it off.
Wait 5–10 seconds.
Click Offline Mode again to turn it on.
Go to Your Library and try playing a downloaded song.
Desktop (Mac):
Open the Spotify app on your Mac.
Click Spotify in the top menu bar.
Click Offline Mode to turn it off.
Wait 5–10 seconds.
Click Offline Mode again to turn it on.
Go to Your Library and try playing a downloaded song.
Fix 2: Check Your Spotify Account
Next, check your Spotify account status to make sure your Premium subscription is still active. Offline downloads only work with Premium, so if your plan has expired or changed, Spotify will block offline playback. You can check this in the account settings.
Mobile (iOS & Android):
Open Spotify.
Tap Home at the bottom.
Tap the profile icon in the top right.
Tap Settings & privacy.
Tap Log out if the account is wrong.
Log in again with the correct account.
Go to Your Library and try playing downloaded songs again.
Desktop (Windows & Mac):
Open Spotify.
Click your profile icon in the top right corner.
Check the displayed username and email.
Click Log out if the account is wrong.
Log in again with the correct account.
Go to Your Library and try playing downloaded songs again.
Fix 3: Check Download and Device Limits
Spotify has limits on how many songs you can download and how many devices you can use for offline playback. If you reach these limits, downloads may stop working. Check your download limits and remove downloads from older devices if needed.
Mobile & Desktop:
Open Spotify.
Tap or click the gear icon or profile icon to open Settings.
Scroll to the Account section.
Look for Offline devices and check the number of devices.
If you have 5 devices, tap Remove device on an old one.
Scroll to Downloads and check the total number of downloaded songs.
Make sure the total is under 100,000 songs.
Go back to Your Library and try playing a downloaded song.
Fix 4: Check for Grayed-Out Songs or Local Files
Now, look through your downloaded songs for any that are grayed out. These tracks may be missing or not available for offline playback. Also check your local files to make sure Spotify can access the downloaded music properly.
Mobile:
Open Spotify.
Tap Your Library at the bottom.
Tap Playlists or Albums.
Open the playlist or album.
Look for songs that are grayed out.
Tap a grayed-out song to confirm it won't play.
Remove the song and re-download if possible.
Desktop:
Open Spotify.
Click Your Library in the left sidebar.
Click Playlists or Albums.
Open the playlist or album.
Look for songs that are grayed out or labeled Local Files.
Right-click the grayed-out song and choose Remove from this playlist if needed.
Re-download the playlist or album.
Fix 5: Check Internet Connection
Even if your songs are downloaded, Spotify may try to stream if the app thinks the downloads are not available. Make sure your Wi-Fi or mobile data is stable and strong to prevent playback errors.
Mobile & Desktop:
Open your phone or computer Settings.
Turn Wi-Fi off.
Turn Mobile data on (or connect to a different Wi-Fi network).
Open Spotify and try playing downloaded songs.
If the songs play, your previous network was unstable.
Fix 6: Check VPN
If you use a VPN, it may interfere with Spotify's ability to verify your account or download status. Disable the VPN temporarily and try playing your downloaded songs again to see if that fixes the issue.
Mobile & Desktop:
Open your VPN app or system VPN settings.
Turn VPN off.
Open Spotify and try playing downloaded songs.
If the songs play, your VPN was blocking Spotify.
Fix 7: Check Device Storage
If your device storage is full or has errors, Spotify may not be able to play downloads. Check both your internal storage and SD card storage.
7.1 Phone or Tablet Storage (Mobile)
Open Settings on your phone.
Tap the profile icon in the top right.
Tap Settings & privacy.
Tap Data-saving and offline.
Check the available storage space.
Delete unused apps or files to free up space.
Open Spotify and try playing downloaded songs again.
7.2 Desktop Storage (Windows & Mac)
Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
Check available disk space.
Delete unused files to free up space.
Open Spotify and try playing downloaded songs again.
7.3 SD Card Storage (Android only)
Power off your Android device.
Remove the SD card from its slot.
Reinsert the SD card securely into the slot.
Power on the device.
Open Settings → Storage → SD card.
Check the SD card status.
Open Spotify and try playing downloaded songs again.
Fix 8: Adjust Download Settings
Next, check your Spotify download settings. Make sure downloads are set to the correct storage location and that the quality settings are not causing conflicts.
Mobile:
Open Spotify.
Tap Home at the bottom.
Tap the profile icon in the top right.
Tap Settings & privacy.
Tap Media quality.
Scroll down to Download quality for both Cellular and Wi-Fi.
Select Normal or High.
Toggle Download using cellular on if needed.
Go back to Your Library and try playing downloaded songs.
Desktop:
Open Spotify.
Click your profile icon in the top right.
Click Settings.
Scroll to Audio Quality.
Set Download quality to Normal or High.
Go back to Your Library and try playing downloaded songs.
Fix 9: Re-download the Problem Songs
If only a few songs are not playing, remove them from your downloads and download them again. This often fixes corruption or incomplete download issues.
Desktop:
Open Spotify.
Click Your Library in the left sidebar.
Open the playlist or album with problem songs.
Click the Download toggle to turn it off.
Wait 5–10 seconds.
Click the Download toggle again to turn it on.
Try playing the songs again.
Mobile:
Open Spotify.
Tap Your Library at the bottom.
Open the playlist or album with problem songs.
Tap the three dots (top right).
Tap Remove downloads.
Wait 5–10 seconds.
Tap Download again.
Try playing the songs again.
Fix 10: Clear Spotify Cache
Clearing the Spotify cache forces the app to refresh its offline library and can fix playback problems caused by cache errors. This is a common fix for many users.
Desktop:
Open Spotify.
Click your profile icon in the top right.
Click Settings.
Scroll down to Storage.
Click Clear cache and confirm the action.
Restart Spotify and try playing downloaded songs again.
Mobile:
Open Spotify.
Tap Home at the bottom.
Tap the profile icon in the top right.
Tap Settings & privacy.
Tap Data-saving and offline.
Scroll down to Clear cache and tap Clear.
Confirm the action.
Restart Spotify and try playing downloaded songs again.
Fix 11: Update Spotify App and Device
Make sure both Spotify and your device software are updated to the latest versions. Updates often include bug fixes that can solve offline playback issues.
Mobile:
Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
Search for Spotify.
Tap Update if available.
Restart your device.
Open Spotify and try playing downloaded songs again.
Desktop:
Open Spotify.
Click the three-dot menu in the top left.
Click Help → About Spotify.
If an update is available, Spotify will download it automatically.
Restart Spotify and try playing downloaded songs again.
Fix 12: Reinstall Spotify (Clean Uninstall)
If nothing else works, try reinstalling Spotify. A clean uninstall removes corrupted files and resets the app, which often fixes persistent playback problems.
Mobile (iOS)
From the Home Screen, press and hold the Spotify icon.
Tap Remove App.
Tap Delete App.
Open the App Store.
Search for Spotify and reinstall it.
Open Spotify and sign in with your account.
Re-download your songs and try playing them again.
Mobile (Android)
From the Home Screen or app list, press and hold the Spotify icon.
Tap Uninstall.
Open Settings.
Tap Apps.
Tap Spotify.
Tap Storage.
Tap Clear data.
Open File Manager.
Go to Android → Data.
Delete the com.spotify.music folder.
Open the Google Play Store.
Search for Spotify and reinstall it.
Open Spotify and sign in with your account.
Re-download your songs and try playing them again.
Desktop (Windows)
Open Settings on your PC.
Click Apps or Apps & features.
Find Spotify and click Uninstall.
Press Win + R.
Type %AppData% and press Enter.
Delete the Spotify folder.
Press Win + R again.
Type %LocalAppData% and press Enter.
Delete the Spotify folder.
Restart your computer.
Reinstall Spotify from the official website.
Open Spotify and sign in with your account.
Re-download your songs and try playing them again.
Desktop (Mac)
Open Finder.
Go to Applications.
Drag Spotify to the Trash.
Click Go in the top menu bar.
Click Go to Folder.
Type ~/Library/ and press Enter.
Delete the following folders:
- Caches/com.spotify.client
- Caches/com.spotify.client.helper
- Application Support/Spotify
Empty the Trash.
Restart your Mac.
Reinstall Spotify from the official website.
Open Spotify and sign in with your account.
Re-download your songs and try playing them again.
Part 3: Best Workaround to Fix Downloaded Songs Not Playing on Spotify
If the usual fixes do not work, there are still ways to listen to your music without waiting for Spotify to work again. You can try downloading music on another device, even those that are not supported by Spotify, such as your MP3 player.
By default, Spotify requires both a Premium account and the Spotify app to download music to your device. This is supposed to help music load faster, but sometimes it can still go wrong. Spotify also needs to check your subscription status whenever you connect to the internet so you can keep your downloads. But what if there was a way to download your favorite music without relying on any of this?
Both Premium and free users can try ViWizard Spotify Music Converter to download music, podcasts, and even audiobooks directly to their computer as normal audio files. These files can be used anywhere, including smartphones, MP3 players, TVs, game consoles, and more. Just select the tracks you want, choose a preferred format, and start downloading. Once downloaded, the files are no longer protected by DRM and are yours to keep forever.
Key Features of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter
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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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