Many Spotify users have noticed that music stops playing unexpectedly. You open the app to listen, but it pauses after a few seconds, sometimes only working when you unlock your phone or reopen the app. This can happen in the background, on your car controls, or on external devices like Sonos or BlueOS. Either way, it makes listening to music hard.
Fortunately - though a little trial and error may be needed, there are practical steps that can help stop sticking in the random stops. By following them, most users can get their music playing smoothly again and regain control of their listening experience.
Part 1. Why Spotify Randomly Stops Music
Here are the common reasons why Spotify keeps stopping randomly and how each one might be causing trouble. You can try the quick checks below on your device.
1. Check Your Internet Connection
A weak or unstable internet connection is the biggest reason for random stops. Make sure your Wi-Fi or mobile data is strong and stable. If your connection drops, songs may pause or fail to load. Slow networks, VPNs, or firewalls can also interfere, so double-check these if you notice random stops whether you're on a phone, tablet, or computer.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open your device Settings.
Step 2 Go to Wi-Fi or Mobile Data / Cellular.
Step 3 Turn the switch off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
Step 4 Try connecting to another Wi-Fi network if possible.
Step 5 If using mobile data, check your signal strength and move to an area with better coverage.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Make sure your computer is connected to a stable network.
Step 2 Turn Wi-Fi off and on, or reconnect your Ethernet cable.
Step 3 If you're using a VPN or firewall, turn it off temporarily to see if Spotify works better.
2. Check Offline Mode or Downloads
If Spotify is in Offline Mode, only downloaded or recently played tracks will work. Incomplete or corrupted downloads can also fail. Make sure your songs are fully downloaded, redownload anything suspicious, and toggle Offline Mode off and back on for about 15 seconds.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Tap Settings & Privacy (gear icon).
Step 3 Go to Data-saving and offline > Offline Mode.
Step 4 Turn Offline Mode off, then back on again.
Step 5 Check your downloaded songs and confirm they're not grayed out.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Go to Settings.
Step 3 Scroll to Offline Mode.
Step 4 Turn the switch off, then on again.
Step 5 Check that your downloaded playlists still have the green download icon.
3. Check Spotify Connect
Spotify Connect lets you control music across devices signed in with the same account and on the same Wi-Fi. It's convenient, but it can also cause random stops when another device tries to take over your session. If someone pauses or plays something on another device, your session may suddenly stop too. Since this isn't always predictable, check which devices are signed in and log out of any you're not using.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Tap Settings.
Step 3 Go to Devices.
Step 4 Look through the available devices list.
Step 5 Tap any device you don't use and choose Forget Device or disconnect it.
Step 6 Switch playback to This Phone.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Click your profile menu (top right).
Step 3 Select Settings.
Step 4 Scroll to Devices.
Step 5 Remove devices you don't use or don't recognize.
Step 6 Switch playback to This Computer.
4. Check Headphone or Speaker Connection
Loose cables, low battery in wireless headphones, or incompatible speakers can cause Spotify to pause unexpectedly. Make sure your audio devices are properly connected and charged to see if that fixes the issue.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Ensure wired headphones are plugged in fully.
Step 2 If using Bluetooth, check that your device is paired and connected.
Step 3 Confirm your headphones or speaker have enough battery.
Step 4 Try another pair of headphones or another speaker.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Check your audio device connection (USB, jack, or Bluetooth).
Step 2 For Bluetooth, confirm it's paired and charged.
Step 3 Open your system sound settings and pick the correct output device.
Step 4 Test using another headphone or speaker if possible.
5. Check Discord or Other Apps
Apps like Discord can pause Spotify due to audio conflicts or integration features like voice channels, listening activity, or "listen together." It's strange, but it does happen in real use. Even disconnecting Discord can make a noticeable difference.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open Discord.
Step 2 Leave any active voice channels.
Step 3 Go to User Settings > Connections and turn off the Spotify link temporarily.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Leave any voice channels in Discord.
Step 2 Open User Settings > Connections.
Step 3 Disconnect Spotify for now.
Step 4 Fully close Discord from the system tray or menu bar.
6. Check Background Apps
Running too many apps at once can drain memory and processing power. Background apps like YouTube, games, or system tools may use resources that slow Spotify down. Try closing unnecessary apps and see if playback improves.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open the recent apps screen.
Step 2 Close apps you're not using, especially video or audio apps.
Step 3 Clear heavier apps to free up memory.
On Windows
Step 1 Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Step 2 Go to the Processes tab.
Step 3 Look for apps using a lot of CPU or memory.
Step 4 Select unused apps and click End Task.
On Mac
Step 1 Press Command + Space and open Activity Monitor.
Step 2 Go to the CPU tab.
Step 3 Find apps using a lot of resources.
Step 4 Select them and choose Quit.
7. Check Audio Quality Settings
Very High or Lossless streaming uses more bandwidth and device power. If your network is slow or your device is older, downgrading to Automatic, Low, or Normal can prevent pauses or stuttering.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Go to Settings > Music Quality.
Step 3 Under Wi-Fi and Cellular streaming, choose Automatic, Normal, or Low.
Step 4 If Data Saver is on, make sure it's not lowering performance too much.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Spotify > Settings (Mac).
Step 3 Scroll to Audio Quality.
Step 4 Set Streaming Quality to Normal or Low.
Part 2. How to Fix Spotify Stops Playing
Spotify still keeps stopping randomly? Try these troubleshooting steps:
Step 1. Restart Spotify and Your Device
Start with the easiest fix: restarting the app and your device. Close Spotify completely, not just minimize it, and reopen it. If that doesn't work, restart your phone or computer. This refreshes memory and clears small glitches that can stop playback. Often, this alone solves the problem.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Close Spotify from the recent apps screen.
Step 2 Reopen the Spotify app and try playing a song again.
Step 3 If it still stops, restart your phone and try again.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Fully close Spotify (don't leave it running in the background).
Step 2 Reopen Spotify and test playback.
Step 3 If it still stops, restart your computer.
Step 2. Clear Spotify Cache
Next, go to Settings > Clear Cache. Clearing the cache removes those files. Don't worry - it won't delete your downloaded songs unless you choose to clear download data specifically.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Tap Settings & Privacy.
Step 3 Go to Data-saving and offline.
Step 4 Tap Clear cache.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Go to Settings.
Step 3 Scroll down and click Clear Cache.
Step 3. Update Spotify
Check if your Spotify is up to date. Updates often fix bugs and improve performance, which can help playback. If you're running an older version, that could be why your music stops. Install any updates and restart the app.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS).
Step 2 Search for Spotify.
Step 3 If an update is available, tap Update.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Click Help in the top menu.
Step 3 Select Check for Updates.
Step 4 Follow the prompts to download and install the latest version.
Step 4. Sign Out or Log Out Everywhere
If you've logged into Spotify on other devices - like smart TVs, speakers, or old phones - those sessions can interfere. Go to your profile menu and choose Sign Out Everywhere. This resets all sessions. Then log back in and try playback.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Tap Settings & Privacy.
Step 3 Scroll down and choose Log out.
Step 4 Sign back in and test playback.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Click your profile menu.
Step 2 Select Log out.
Step 3 Sign in again and test playback.
Step 5. Disable Data Saver (Mobile)
On mobile, check if Data Saver is on. Open Spotify, go to Settings, and turn Data Saver off. This mode lowers audio quality and limits streaming to save data, but it can also make music stop if your connection is weak. Turning it off lets Spotify stream smoothly.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Go to Settings & Privacy.
Step 3 Tap Data-saving and offline.
Step 4 Turn Data Saver off.
Step 6. Disable Battery Optimization (Mobile)
Still on mobile, check your system's battery optimization settings. Both Android and iOS can pause apps in the background to save power. If Spotify is paused, playback can stop when the screen is off or when switching apps. Disabling battery optimization lets Spotify keep playing.
On Android
Step 1 Open Settings.
Step 2 Go to Battery or Battery & Device Care.
Step 3 Tap Battery optimization or App power management.
Step 4 Find Spotify in the list.
Step 5 Select Don't optimize or Allow background activity.
On iOS
Step 1 Open Settings.
Step 2 Go to Battery.
Step 3 If Low Power Mode is on, turn it off.
Step 7. Disable Hardware Acceleration (Desktop)
On desktop, go to Advanced Settings and turn off Hardware Acceleration. Spotify uses your GPU by default, which can sometimes clash with older drivers and cause stutters. Turning it off makes Spotify use software processing instead, which is usually more stable.
On Windows & Mac
Step 1 Open Spotify.
Step 2 Click your profile menu (top right).
Step 3 Go to Settings.
Step 4 Scroll to Compatibility or Advanced Settings.
Step 5 Turn Hardware Acceleration off.
Step 8. Reinstall Spotify
If nothing else works, reinstall Spotify. Uninstall it completely, then download a fresh copy from the official site or app store. This removes corrupted files and leftover update bits that can stop playback. After reinstalling, log in and check if music plays without stopping.
On Android & iOS
Step 1 Long-press the Spotify app icon on your home screen.
Step 2 Select Uninstall (Android) or Delete App (iOS).
Step 3 Go to the Google Play Store or App Store and reinstall Spotify.
On Windows
Step 1 Press Win + R, type control, and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
Step 2 Go to Programs > Programs and Features.
Step 3 Find Spotify, right-click, and select Uninstall.
Step 4 Follow the prompts to remove Spotify.
Step 5 Download the latest version from the Spotify website and install it.
On Mac
Step 1 Open Finder and go to Applications.
Step 2 Drag Spotify to the Trash.
Step 3 Empty the Trash to completely remove it.
Step 4 Visit the Spotify website, download the latest Mac version, and install it.
Step 5 Restart your computer.
Part 3. Best Alternative to Fix Spotify Stops Playing
If all these methods fail, then unfortunately, you may have encountered an unknown bug in Spotify. Contacting the Spotify support team could be tedious, and there's no guarantee you'll get the solution you need.
However, we have an ultimate tip that not only fixes the "Spotify stops playing" issue but also helps you avoid Spotify bugs altogether. By using ViWizard Spotify Music Converter, you can get unprotected Spotify audio files and play them anywhere. This means you can enjoy your Spotify songs seamlessly, without worrying about interruptions or other Spotify bugs.
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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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