This site is not affiliated with Spotify; this is an independent explanation.
Spotify not working can mean the app never opens, songs skip or stay grey, the player loads forever, downloads vanish from your offline list, or the login screen throws you out. On phones, laptops and the web player, the cause is nearly always something small that can be fixed in a few minutes.
Start by working out which device is affected, because that decides the fix. If the music plays on the web player in a browser but not in the installed app, the app is the problem. If it fails everywhere, check your connection and account, and see whether the service itself is having trouble. One note first: this page covers the official app only. Modified or cracked copies break often and are not something to repair.
Common causes
1Poor or switching internet
How to tellSongs pause and buffer, or the home page stays empty
What fixes itTest another network and stay on stable Wi-Fi
2Old app version
How to tellApp crashes on start or some buttons do nothing
What fixes itUpdate from the app store or the official site on a laptop
3Cache grown too big or corrupted
How to tellSongs skip, play only half, or the app is slow
What fixes itClear cache in the app settings, or from phone settings
4Account signed in on too many devices
How to tellPlayback stops and says it is playing on another device
What fixes itSign out everywhere and log in on just this device
5Offline downloads out of sync
How to tellDownloaded songs show as unavailable
What fixes itGo online once, then remove and download again
6Battery saver or background limits
How to tellMusic stops when the screen locks
What fixes itLet it keep playing in the background
7Service problem
How to tellWeb player and app both fail for other people too
What fixes itWait and check again later
How to fix it, step by step
Try the web player
Open the web version in a browser and sign in. If music plays there, the installed app is the cause, so continue with the steps below. If it does not, the problem is your network, your account or the service.
Check your plan and login
Make sure you are signed in to the right account and that your subscription or free access is active. A payment that failed can quietly turn a premium account into a free one with limits, which makes features appear broken.
Pause and resume with a fresh connection
Turn Wi-Fi off, wait a moment, and turn it on, or switch to cellular. Poor signal causes most buffering. Streaming at lower quality inside settings can also help on a weak line.
Restart the app, not just the song
Swipe the app out of the open apps list and start it again. On a laptop, quit it from the tray or menu bar, then reopen it, instead of only closing the window.
Clear the cache
The app has a storage section in its own settings with a button to clear cache. On Android, the phone's app info screen has a similar option. Your playlists and likes live in your account, so they will not be lost.
Update, or reinstall cleanly
If an update is available, install it. If problems remain, uninstall the app, restart the device, and pull a genuine build from the official listing. Downloaded songs will need to be saved again.
Let it play with the screen off
If music stops when the phone locks, open battery settings and set the app to unrestricted or let it keep working while the screen is off. Power saving modes cut off audio apps quickly.
Sign out of all devices
In your account page on the website, use the option to sign out everywhere. Then log in again on only this device. This fixes the case where another device is taking over playback.
Why Spotify is not working on a laptop
On Windows or a Mac, the desktop app can freeze because of hardware acceleration, a stale cache, or a security tool that blocks it. Switch off the hardware acceleration option in the app preferences, restart, and clear its cache. If the desktop app stays broken, use the web player, which works in any modern browser and needs nothing installed. Sound problems on the laptop itself belong to a different fault: see laptop sound not working.
The play button turns on, the time bar moves, but there is no sound. That means the app is working and the audio output is wrong. Check the output device, volume and Bluetooth connection before reinstalling anything.
Why Spotify is not working on my phone
On Android and iPhone the usual culprits are battery limits, a low storage warning and a connection that moves between Wi-Fi and cellular. Check that the phone has free space for downloads, that data saver does not restrict the app, and that Bluetooth is not sending sound to an earbud or speaker you left connected. If the speaker is the only part that fails, see phone speaker not working.
Is Spotify not working right now for everyone?
Check an outage tracking page, look at the service's official support account for notices, and ask a friend on another network to play a song. If all of these say it is broken, only waiting helps. If everything else looks normal, return to the checks above. For broader help with apps that fail in the same way, read apps and websites not working.
Modded, cracked and unofficial versions
Unofficial or modified apps are not supported, stop working without warning when the service changes, can contain malware, and can put your account at risk. We do not recommend them and cannot fix them. Remove the modified copy, then get the genuine app from the store on your phone, and sign in with your own account.
Common symptoms and the quickest fix
| Symptom | Try first |
|---|---|
| Songs are greyed out | Check region, account and whether you are offline |
| Plays then stops after a minute | Battery limits or another device is playing |
| Downloads missing | Connect online to refresh, then download again |
| Endless loading | Change network, clear cache |
| Login fails | Reset the password from the official login page |
Frequently asked questions
Why is Spotify not working today?
The cause is a brief service issue or a fault on your own device. If the web player also fails and others report it, wait. If the web player works, fix the app.
Why is Spotify not working on my phone, even though the net is fine?
Common reasons are a poor connection, a full cache, an old version or battery limits. Try cellular and Wi-Fi, clear the cache and allow background use.
Why is Spotify not working on my laptop?
The desktop app may have a stale cache, hardware acceleration trouble or a blocked connection. Restart it, clear the cache, or use the web player.
Why is my Spotify mod or cracked version not working any more?
Modified apps depend on loopholes that get closed when the service updates. They are unsupported and risky, so use the official app instead.
Why do my offline songs not play?
Downloads need to check in with your account from time to time. Go online, open the app, and if songs stay unavailable, remove and download them again.