How to Download Songs on Spotify for Offline Listening

Spotify is a leading music streaming service that offers a vast library of songs, podcasts, and other audio content. While streaming is convenient, there are times when you might want to listen to your favorite tracks without an internet connection. Fortunately, Spotify allows Premium users to download songs for offline listening, and even Free users can download podcasts. This guide will walk you through how to download songs on Spotify, troubleshoot common issues, and manage your downloads effectively.

Downloading Songs on Spotify: A Step-by-Step Guide

Downloading songs on Spotify is a straightforward process, whether you’re using a mobile device or a desktop. Keep in mind that downloading music is a feature exclusively for Spotify Premium subscribers. Free users can only download podcasts.

Here’s how to download music and podcasts on Spotify:

1. For Albums and Playlists (Premium Only):

   • Navigate to the album or playlist you wish to download.
   • Look for the download button, which is usually a downward-pointing arrow. It’s typically located near the album or playlist title.
   • Tap the download button. It will turn green to indicate that the download is in progress.
   • Once downloaded, the download button will remain green, and a Downloaded icon will appear next to the album or playlist.

2. For Podcasts (Premium & Free):

   • Go to the podcast show you want to download.
   • You can download individual episodes or entire shows if available.
   • Similar to albums and playlists, find the download button (downward arrow) next to the episode or show.
   • Tap to download. The button will change color to show the download status.

Important Download Limits and Requirements:

• Device Limit: You can download up to 10,000 tracks on each of up to 5 different devices.
• 30-Day Online Check: Spotify requires you to connect to the internet at least once every 30 days. This is to verify your Premium subscription and collect play data to compensate artists fairly.

Troubleshooting Download Issues on Spotify

Sometimes, you might encounter issues when trying to download songs on Spotify. Here are common problems and how to fix them:

Not Downloading? Common Fixes:

• Check your internet connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection when initiating downloads. While you need to be online to start the download process, you don’t need to be online to listen to downloaded content afterwards.
• Insufficient storage space: Make sure your device has enough free storage space. Spotify recommends at least 1GB of free memory for downloads to function smoothly. Consider deleting unnecessary files or apps to free up space.
• Device limit reached: You might have exceeded the 5 devices limit. If so, you’ll need to remove downloads from one of your registered devices before downloading on a new one.
• Cache clearing or battery-saving apps: These apps can sometimes interfere with Spotify’s download process. Temporarily disable them and try downloading again.
• Restart the Spotify app: Closing and reopening the Spotify app can often resolve temporary glitches that might be preventing downloads.
• Reinstall the Spotify app: As a last resort, try reinstalling the Spotify app. This can fix more persistent issues. Note: Reinstalling will remove all your downloaded music and podcasts, so you’ll need to download them again.

Track, Playlist, or Podcast Not Downloaded Anymore?

If your downloaded songs or podcasts disappear, here are possible reasons:

• Haven’t been online in 30 days: As mentioned earlier, Spotify requires an online check-in every 30 days to maintain your downloads.
• Reinstalled the app: Reinstalling the app removes all downloaded content.
• Exceeded 5 devices limit: If you download content on a 6th device, Spotify will automatically remove downloads from the device you’ve used least recently.
• Outdated Spotify app: Ensure your Spotify app is updated to the latest version. Outdated versions might have bugs that affect download functionality.
• SD card issues (Android): If you store downloads on an SD card, ensure it’s working correctly and properly inserted. A faulty SD card can lead to download issues.

Managing Your Spotify Downloads

Spotify offers features to manage your downloaded content effectively.

Switch on Offline Mode

Offline Mode ensures that only your downloaded content is played, preventing any data usage. Downloads typically play automatically when you lose internet connection, but Offline Mode gives you extra control.

To enable Offline Mode:

1. Tap your profile picture.
2. Go to Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Offline mode to switch it on.

Delete Downloads to Free Up Space

You can remove downloads to free up storage space on your device.

Remove All Downloads from Your Mobile Device:

1. Tap your profile picture at the top.
2. Tap Settings and privacy .
3. Go to Storage (iOS) / Data-saving and offline (Android).
4. Select Remove all downloads.

Manually Remove Downloads from Specific Albums or Playlists:

1. Open Your Library.
2. Mobile only: Tap Downloaded.
3. Open the downloaded album or playlist you want to remove.
4. Tap the green Downloaded arrow button (it will be green if downloaded).
5. Mobile only: Tap Remove.

By following these steps, you can easily download your favorite songs and podcasts on Spotify and enjoy them anytime, anywhere, even without an internet connection. Enjoy the convenience of offline listening with Spotify Premium!