Solved: How to Upload Local Files to Spotify

Part 1. Can I Upload Local Files to Spotify?

What Are Local Files on Spotify?

Local files are songs saved on your own device — not ones from Spotify's library. When you add these files to Spotify, they show up in a "Local Files" playlist. This lets you play your personal music right alongside everything you stream from Spotify, all in one app.

How Do Local Files Work on Spotify?

You can add up to 10,000 local tracks and play them on up to three devices. Once added, these songs work offline, so you don't need an internet connection or even a Premium account to listen. Just keep in mind — if you move or delete the original files, Spotify won't be able to find them anymore, and the tracks may appear grayed out in the playlist.

Can I Upload Local Files on Spotify?

Yes, you can. There are two main ways to add your local music:

• 1. Use the desktop app: Open the Spotify desktop app on your computer. Go to Settings, scroll down to Local Files, and turn on "Show Local Files." From there, you can choose specific folders (like "Downloads" or "Music") that contain your songs. Spotify will scan those folders and automatically add the music to your Local Files playlist.
• 2. Add music directly on your phone (if files are already on your device): On your mobile device, go to Settings > Local Files and enable "Show audio files from this device" (or a similar toggle). The app will then scan your phone and add supported music files. These tracks will appear in the Local Files section of your Library.

Both Free and Premium users can upload and play local files anytime, without shuffle-only limits. Just make sure your music comes from legal sources — and you're good to go.

Part 2. How to Upload Local Files to Spotify Desktop

1. Open the app: Launch the Spotify desktop app on your Windows PC or Mac.
2. Go to Settings: Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Settings from the dropdown. Alternatively, you can go to the app menu, click Edit, then select Preferences.
3. Enable Local Files: Scroll down to the Library section and find the toggle labeled Show Local Files. Switch it on. This will reveal extra options under Show songs from.



4. Click "Add a Source": Click the Add a Source button. A file browser will open.



5. Choose your music folder: Navigate to the folder where your music is stored — such as your Downloads, Music, or iTunes folder — then click OK (Windows) or Open (Mac).
6. Confirm your source: After selecting a folder, you'll see it added to the list under Show songs from. Make sure each folder you want to include is toggled on so Spotify knows where to look.

Once this is set up, your local music will appear in a playlist called Local Files in your Library. You can now play them in the app, add them to playlists, or sync them to your phone for offline listening (we'll cover that in Part 4). You can also change the folder location anytime to add more music from a different source.

Part 3. How to Upload Local Files to Spotify Mobile

• For Android:

  1. Transfer files to your phone: Use a USB cable or a file transfer app to move MP3s or other supported audio files from your computer to your Android device. Good storage locations are the Downloads or Music folder.
  2. Open Spotify: Launch the Spotify app on your Android phone or tablet.
  3. Enable Local Files:
     • Tap your profile icon (top left or right, depending on your app version).
     • Go to Settings and privacy > Apps and Devices.
     • Scroll down and toggle on Show audio files from this device.
  4. Find your files: Go to Your Library > Playlists, then scroll down until you see Local Files. All compatible audio files stored on your device will appear here.
  5. Play and organize: You can play these files directly or add them to other playlists—just like Spotify tracks.

• For iPhone (iOS):

  

  To get your local music into Spotify's Local Files playlist on iPhone, you'll need to transfer files manually using Finder, iTunes, or the Files app.

  Option 1: Using Finder or iTunes (macOS or Windows)

  1. Connect your iPhone: Use a USB cable to connect your device to your computer.
  2. Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows): Select your iPhone from the sidebar.
  3. Drag and drop files: In the Files or Music section, drag your music files into the Spotify folder. This will copy the songs to your device.
  4. Enable Local Files in Spotify: On your iPhone, open Spotify, go to Settings and privacy, and ensure Local audio files is enabled under Apps and Devices.
  5. Find your files: Go to Your Library > Playlists and locate the Local Files playlist.

  Option 2: Using the Files App (No Computer Needed)

  1. Transfer files to the Files app: Use AirDrop or iCloud Drive to move your audio files into the Files app on your iPhone.
  2. Move files into Spotify folder: In the Files app, go to On My iPhone > Spotify, then paste or move your songs into this folder.
  3. Enable Local Files in Spotify: In the Spotify app, go to Settings and privacy, scroll to Apps and Devices, and toggle on Local audio files.
  4. Access your music: Your songs will now appear in the Local Files playlist under Your Library.

Part 4. How to Play Local Files on Spotify

• On Desktop:

  

  1. Open your playlists: In the Spotify desktop app, scroll through the sidebar and look for the playlist called Local Files. If you have a large music library, you can use the Playlists filter at the top to find it faster.
  2. View your local files: Click on the Local Files playlist to see all the tracks you've added from your computer.
     Tip: If you enabled multiple folders in your settings, tracks from those folders will also show up here.
  3. Play offline: These songs can be played in Offline Mode, even without an internet connection.
  4. Add to playlists: You can add local tracks to any playlist — new or existing — just like regular Spotify songs.
  5. Add to another playlist: To move a song, drag and drop it into the playlist of your choice, or right-click and choose Add to Playlist.

• On Mobile:

  1. Open the app: Launch Spotify on your phone or tablet.
  2. Go to Your Library: Tap Your Library at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Find Local Files: Under the Playlists section, look for the one labeled Local Files — your uploaded songs will be listed here.
  4. Play offline: These tracks play just like downloaded songs — no internet connection needed.
  5. Add to another playlist: Tap and hold any song in the Local Files playlist, then select Add to Playlist.
  6. Choose a playlist: Pick an existing playlist or create a new one where you want the local track to go.

Part 5. How to Sync Local Files across Devices

To access and play your local files on mobile devices like smartphones or tablets, you can also manually sync them — and have a Premium subscription. If you're on the free plan, local files can only be played on the desktop app where they're stored.

1. Connect to the same Wi-Fi: Make sure your computer and your mobile device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Create a new playlist on desktop: In the Spotify desktop app, click the + button next to Your Library and select Create Playlist. Give your new playlist a name.



3. Add local files to the playlist: Go to your Local Files playlist on desktop. Select the songs you want to sync, right-click them, choose Add to Playlist, and pick the new playlist you just created.
4. Open Spotify on your mobile device: While connected to the same Wi-Fi, launch the Spotify app on your phone or tablet.
5. Sign in to the same account: Make sure you're logged in with the same Spotify account used on your computer. Your library will sync automatically.



6. Find your playlist: On mobile, go to Your Library and find the playlist containing your local files.
7. Download the playlist: Open the playlist and tap the Download button. This starts syncing the playlist and its local files to your mobile device. The playlist will then be available offline.
8. Wait for syncing to finish: Once complete, you can play the synced local files directly from your mobile Spotify app — even without an internet connection.

Part 6. Best Tips for Spotify Local Files