Imagine this: you’re in the mood for your favorite tunes. You’ve crafted the perfect playlist for the moment.
You eagerly open Spotify, ready to let the music wash over you. But, instead of harmonious melodies, you’re met with the dreaded loading screen. Minutes pass, and the music is still out of reach. The frustration kicks in.
It can be a real pain when Spotify is not playing songs as it should. Fortunately, many of these issues have simple solutions.
Today, we’re going to tackle the common problems that can cause Spotify to malfunction, along with step-by-step instructions on how to fix them.
15 ways to fix Spotify not playing music
Try following the below steps to ensure Spotify’s working condition:
Fix unstable internet
A weak internet connection is one of the most common issues causing your song not to load properly.
Although music streaming does not usually take a massive toll on your wifi or mobile data, it still might cause Spotify to act up. Make sure you have good internet coverage.
Try turning off/on your wifi or mobile data from the button in your notification panel. It will likely solve your problem.
Restart Spotify
Once you have ensured your internet connection is not faulty, try using other apps like Google or YouTube to verify.
If they do not show streaming errors, it is actually a problem with your Spotify. Try closing the app and restarting it again.
Clear Cache and Data
Caches and temporary data stored by the Spotify app can sometimes lead to playback issues. Clearing them in phone settings might help.
For Android:
- Open Settings.
- Open Apps (then App Management, depending on your OS).
- Scroll down to Spotify and click it.
- Click on Storage (or Storage Usage).
- Look for the Clear Cache option and press it.

For iOS:
- Open Settings.
- Go to General.
- Choose iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down to Spotify.
- Tape Offload App.
Your app will likely be functional by now.
Check for new updates
Keeping your Spotify app up to date is crucial for avoiding compatibility issues and glitches. Check for any updates in the Settings app.
Check your device’s volume and sound Settings
Believe it or not, frustration might cost you your sanity. Checking your phone volume and media settings must be noticed in such cases. Ensure other apps are playing sound and you generally have no issues with your phone volume.
Log out and log back in
Try logging out of your Spotify account. After that, quickly log back in with some other account or your same account. Try if it solves the issue. If it does, the glitch was likely on the server’s side.
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Restart your device
If your phone is starting to act up, switching off/on it might solve your problem.
With task managers getting overwhelmed by the number of tasks, your phone itself is likely causing problems. Restart your phone to see if Spotify is back on.
Check the currently playing menu
Spotify has this feature where it syncs across multiple devices nearby for the same account, and users can easily switch between devices without opening apps anew.
Open the Spotify app and see if it shows signs of playing your song on your other device nearby.

Turn off antivirus and VPN
Recheck your apps to ensure that any app interferes with your music streaming experiences. You may look at the settings for it.
If you have suspicions about any app, check out the Permissions section and turn off any unnecessary options that might be causing the problem. If the VPN is on, try turning it off, as some regions might not allow specific music to be played.
Enable auto-adjust quality
Higher-resolution streaming of music requires an excellent connection. If you face poor connectivity issues, consider reducing the streaming quality or enabling auto-adjust quality in the settings.
Note, however, that this manual adjustment is limited to premium users only.

Verify your Spotify account
Although this is not generally the case, an inactive or unverified Spotify account can possibly lead to playback problems. Make sure your Spotify account is in good standing.
Reinstall the Spotify app
A clean slate might be necessary for persistent issues that still need to be resolved by the previous methods. Reinstalling the Spotify app can help eliminate underlying problems. Visit the App Store or Google Play for this.
Contact Spotify support
If all else fails and you still face persistent Spotify playback issues, it may be time to reach out to Spotify’s customer support.
Users are encouraged to contact Spotify support and provide contact information or links to their customer support resources for the issue at hand.
Use X (Twitter) for personalized support
Using online forums, especially Twitter, is a convenient and efficient way to make your problem get noticed by the company’s customer service departments.
It is also a way to seek personalized solutions from other users facing the same problem. Tweet to Spotify on X (formerly Twitter) and explain your issue. They will guide you through your problem.
Check if Spotify is down
Spotify currently dominates the world of online music streaming, and they are at the top for a reason. They make frictionless music streaming by their users a priority. Still, things could go down temporarily.
In such cases, make sure your Spotify server is doing okay. Use downdetector.com for this. This app helps users monitor the live server status of various media platforms.
In an era where music has become an inseparable part of our daily lives, we find solace and inspiration in the melodic realms of melodies.
For millions worldwide, Spotify has emerged as a harmonious sanctuary, offering a vast library of songs at the touch of a screen.
Yet, during our modern musical journey, a symphony of frustration arises when Spotify’s melodies fall silent or become unattainable.
The promise of seamless music streaming can be shattered by a buffering circle or an uncooperative app, reminding us that even in the digital age, the seamless music experience we crave is not guaranteed.