Spotify Not Playing Songs? 10 Quick Fixes

Quick Fix

Force close Spotify and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and swipe Spotify away. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Spotify > Force Stop. This clears temporary glitches that prevent playback.

Understanding Spotify Playback Issues

When Spotify won’t play songs, you might see the play button grayed out, songs skipping immediately, or playback stopping after a few seconds. These issues can affect both free and Premium users across all devices.

Common causes include internet connectivity problems, corrupted cache files, outdated app versions, or account issues like being logged in on too many devices. Sometimes Spotify’s servers have outages that affect playback temporarily.

Most playback issues are easily fixed with the methods below, and you won’t lose your playlists or saved music.

Method 1: Check Internet Connection

1. Try loading a website or other app to verify internet works
2. If on WiFi, try switching to mobile data or vice versa
3. Toggle Airplane mode on for 10 seconds, then off
4. Restart your WiFi router if other devices also have issues
5. Move closer to your router for stronger signal
6. Try playing a song after connection is stable

Method 2: Force Close and Restart Spotify

1. iPhone: Swipe up from bottom, swipe Spotify card up to close
2. Android: Settings > Apps > Spotify > Force Stop
3. Windows: Right-click taskbar > Task Manager > End Spotify
4. Mac: Right-click Spotify in Dock > Quit
5. Wait a few seconds
6. Reopen Spotify and try playing

Method 3: Clear Spotify Cache

1. Open Spotify and tap the gear icon (Settings)
2. Scroll down to Storage
3. Tap Clear Cache
4. Confirm when prompted
5. This won’t delete your downloads or playlists
6. Restart Spotify after clearing cache
7. Try playing a song

Method 4: Log Out Everywhere

1. Go to spotify.com in a web browser
2. Log into your account
3. Click your profile > Account
4. Scroll down and click Sign Out Everywhere
5. This logs you out of all devices
6. Log back into Spotify on your device
7. Try playing music

Method 5: Check Offline Mode

1. Open Spotify Settings (gear icon)
2. Look for Offline Mode or Offline toggle
3. Make sure it’s turned OFF
4. Offline mode only plays downloaded songs
5. If you don’t have Premium, you can’t download songs
6. Turn off offline mode to stream normally

Method 6: Update Spotify App

1. Open your device’s app store
2. Search for Spotify
3. If an update is available, tap Update
4. Wait for the update to install
5. Open Spotify and try playing
6. Updates often fix playback bugs

Method 7: Reinstall Spotify

1. Uninstall Spotify from your device
2. iPhone: Hold app icon > Remove App
3. Android: Settings > Apps > Spotify > Uninstall
4. Restart your device
5. Download Spotify fresh from the app store
6. Log in with your account
7. Your playlists sync from the cloud

Method 8: Check Spotify Server Status

1. Visit downdetector.com/status/spotify
2. Check if others are reporting issues
3. Check Spotify’s Twitter (@SpotifyStatus) for outage info
4. If there’s an outage, wait for Spotify to fix it
5. Server issues usually resolve within an hour

Preventing Future Playback Issues

• Keep Spotify updated to the latest version
• Clear cache monthly to prevent buildup
• Download playlists for offline listening on unreliable connections
• Don’t log into too many devices simultaneously
• Maintain a stable internet connection

FAQ

Why do songs play for a second then stop?

This usually indicates a licensing or regional restriction, or your session needs refreshing. Try logging out and back in. If specific songs won’t play, they may be unavailable in your region.

Why is the play button grayed out?

A grayed-out play button means Spotify can’t play that content. You might be in offline mode without downloads, have no internet, or the content is unavailable. Check your connection and offline mode settings.

Can I play Spotify on multiple devices at once?

Free accounts can only play on one device at a time. Premium allows playback on one device, but you can use Spotify Connect to switch between devices. Family and Duo plans allow simultaneous playback.

Why won’t Spotify play downloaded songs offline?

Downloads require Premium. Also, you must go online at least once every 30 days to keep downloads active. If downloads expired, connect to internet to refresh them.

Why does Spotify work on WiFi but not mobile data?

Check Spotify settings for “Download using cellular” or data saver options. Also check your phone’s settings to ensure Spotify has permission to use mobile data.

Will clearing cache delete my playlists?

No, your playlists are stored in the cloud. Clearing cache only removes temporary files and downloaded songs. You’ll need to re-download any offline playlists.