How to Upload Local Files to Spotify on Computer/Mobile

"I have many songs on my local computer and wanna listen to them on Spotify while working. Is that possible to import these tracks to Spotify library for listening? If so, how to do?" - Nick from Spotify Community.

Undoubtedly, Spotify is one of the best music services in the world that offers us an extremely easy access to over 70 million songs. In addition, it also serves as an all-in-one music player to play any kind of music, even including the local files stored on your computer. With just a few clicks and adjustments, you can easily control and play your own music on Spotify desktop and mobile wherever you are. Wonder how to upload local files to Spotify? The following steps will tell.

Part 1. How to Upload Local Files to Spotify for Desktop

Local Files is a feature that lets Spotify users to use the Spotify app to upload and play other audio files stored on your device. For starters, you should make sure your own files are compatible with this feature.

1.1 Local Files: Compatible Audio Files with Spotify

Compatible Audio Files with Local Files: MP3, MP4 and M4A.

Important: Files or downloads from illegal sources are not permitted.

1.2 Local to Spotify: how to add local files to Spotify

To manager and listen to your own files with Spotify desktop on Mac or Windows, you can follow this instruction.

Step 1Upload Local Files to Spotify for Desktop

1. On Windows or Mac, open the Spotify app for desktop.

2. To go to Spotify's settings, either use the profile icon > Settings or More (horizontal 3 dots) > Edit > Preferences.

3. Scroll to Local Files, then switch on Show Local Files to show songs from the added source (for example: Downloads and Music Library on Windows) in which your own local files are stored.

4. To add your own files to Spotify, click Add a source to select your "Music" or "My Music" folder in which audio files in MP3, MP4 or M4A are stored.

Once the folder added, the compatible audio files with Local Files can be activated on Spotify for desktop.

Step 2Activate Local Files on Spotify for Desktop

1. In the side menu, click Your Library.

2. Under the Playlist section, click Local Files described as "Files from your computer".

Note: If Local Files hasn't accesses to uploaded Files, you won't see you own files here. It requires you to Go to Settings to repeat the steps to ADD A SOURCE.

3. Based on your own files, Spotify creates a playlist the same name as "Local Files".

Now the uploaded songs are activated for listening on Spotify with the Now Playing for them. You can also use the More (vertical 3 dots) next to the title > Add to playlist to combine them with your Spotify Library.

Part 2. How to Download Local Files on Spotify for Mobile

To access your own files on iOS or Android device, you must sync Local Files to Spotify for mobile - with Premium required. After that, you can play and download the same songs on mobile for listening.

2.1 Desktop to Phone: how to access local files on Spotify

Step 1Sync Local Files to Spotify for Mobile

1. On iOS or Android, open the Spotify app for mobile using the same Wi-Fi network as the app for desktop.

2. On mobile, go to the Home > Settings icon at the top right corner. Then scroll to Local Files > Local audio files and switch the Local audio files on (green).

3. On desktop, go to the side menu to locate the created playlist with local files. Then switch the Downloading button on (green).

4. On mobile, go to the same playlist to play or shuffle the songs included.

Step 2 Download Local Files on Spotify for Mobile

1. To take these files with you on mobile, go to the same playlist > Download.

Note: If you fail to see the downloads to download, please follow this additional step:

2. On mobile, go to the Home > Settings icon. Then scroll to Playback > Crossfade and switch the Hide Unplayable Songs off (grey).

Now the playlist has been downloaded to the Spotify app for mobile for offline listening.

2.2 How to Fix Local Files Not Working on Spotify

While the Local Files work find to stream on Spotify Premium, the listening experience is not as seamless as expected.

#1. Can't import local files to Spotify?

Local files feature is notorious for the breaking from time to time and need fixes to Spotify can't play local files.

1. On both the device, check the same account is logged in to the Spotify app.

2. Check the PC and phone devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Also, try this to fix the network. On mobile and desktop, delete the playlist with the local songs to restart both apps. After that, create a mobile Hotspot and connect both devices to it (Have Wi-Fi switched off at this point), then Open both apps and uploaded the files.

3. On both the devices, keep Spotify app up-to-date.

4. On both the devices, check there's no VPN/firewall services turned on.

For example on Windows: use Windows Search Box > Check firewall status > Windows Defender Firewall in the side menu > Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall, then scroll to spotify.exe and allow it for Private and Public connections.

5. On mobile, check Show unavailable songs in playlists.

To check this setting, Go to Home > Settings > Display Options > Show unavailable songs in playlists. Then you can see what local songs are currently unavailable and upload them again on Spotify app for desktop.

#2. Some files are not imported properly?

You should note that Spotify only supports .mp3, .mp4, and .m4p files. It doesn't support .mp4 files that contain video. So you should make sure the songs you are trying to upload to Spotify are encoded in those compatible formats.

As stated, files or downloads from illegal sources are not permitted. Besides, if the songs you want to add are from other music services - like Apple Music and Amazon Music, unfortunately the exclusives to them are protected with DRM, which prevents users from syncing to Spotify. But if you want to upload files to Spotify from other music services - like Apple Musicand Amazon Music. Go ahead to find out how to make them compatible.

Part 3. How to Upload Local Files to Spotify from Other Music Services

There're still possibilities that users can upload local files to Spotify from other music services mentioned above.

3.1 Apple Music to Spotify: How to Make Apple Music as Local Files

You can import iTunes Library to Spotify with the iTunes files compatible with Spotify Local Files.

Step 1. Activate iTunes Share with Spotify for Desktop

1. On desktop, open iTunes app.

2. At the top menu, use Edit > Preferences > Advanced Preferences > Advanced, then check the Share iTunes Library XML with other applications option.

3. Click OK to activate iTunes Library on Spotify, then close the iTunes app.

Step 2. Activate iTunes Library on Spotify for Desktop

1. Restart the Spotify app for desktop.

2. Repeat the steps to go to Settings > Local Files, now the iTunes button should be available.

3. Switch iTunes on (green).

4. In the side menu, go to Your Library > Local Files, then you'll see the mixed iTunes Library files in the list.

However, the uploaded files from iTunes are those in MP3, MP4, M4A and the streaming files are still DRM-protected. To import iTunes playlists to Spotify, you'll need to use a smart Apple Music DRM Removal tool - like ViWizard Audio Converter to make Apple Music local files compatible.

3.2 Amazon Music to Spotify: How to Make Amazon Music as Local Files

Regarding Amazon Music, you can choose to purchase MP3 from Amazon Music Digital Store for Spotify Local Files. To save efforts and time, we'd like to recommend another ViWizard software - ViWizard Amazon Music Converter to make Amazon Music compatible with Spotify Local Files in MP3.

Part 4. How to Save Spotify Songs as Local Files

Same as above, Spotify is a streaming service and all its songs are protected by DRM technology. If you have a Premium account, you're able to download them for offline listening. But they're still not local files and will be gone once you cancel your subscription. Fortunately, you can still use ViWizard Spotify Music Converter to download and save them in MP3, M4A, WAV, AAC, FLAC, M4B format on your local computer.