How to listen to Spotify offline
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms in the world. It offers a wide selection of music, podcasts, and audiobooks that users can listen to online or offline. However, listening to Spotify offline requires some specific settings.
In this article, we will show you how to listen to Spotify offline on various devices including Android and iPhone smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. Additionally, we will provide you with some useful tips to maximize your offline listening experience on Spotify.
How does offline listening work on Spotify?
When using Spotify in offline mode, you can access all downloaded playlists on your device without an active internet connection. This means that you can listen to your favorite music anywhere, even if there is no Wi-Fi or mobile data coverage available.
To be able to listen to Spotify offline, however, you need to download the desired playlists onto your mobile or desktop device. This way, the songs will be available for listening even when the device doesn't have internet access.
- In the next section of the article, we'll look at how to download playlists on different devices.
Downloading Playlists
Once you've activated offline mode, you can download your favorite playlists to listen to them when you're not connected to the internet. Here's how:
- Open Spotify and go to the playlist you want to download.
- Click on the "Download" switch at the top to activate playlist download.
- Wait a few minutes while the playlist is downloaded to your device. The download time depends on the size of the playlist and the speed of your internet connection.
- Now you can listen to your downloaded playlist even when you're not connected to the internet. Go to the "Playlist" section of Spotify and find your downloaded playlist under "Downloaded Playlists".
Remember that downloaded playlists take up space on your device, so make sure you have enough available space before starting the download.
Also, keep in mind that if you decide to delete a downloaded playlist, you will lose access to its offline version. To restore offline access, you'll need to download the playlist again.
Activating Offline Mode
To listen to Spotify offline, you need to activate offline mode. Here's how:
- Open the Spotify app
- Select playlists to save offline
- Activate offline mode
Make sure the app is updated to the latest available version.
Browse through your playlists and tap the "Download" button next to those you want to save offline. The songs will be downloaded onto your device and you can listen to them without an internet connection.
- Open the dropdown menu in the top right corner of the Spotify app
- Select "Settings"
- Scroll down until you find the "Offline mode" option
- Tap the switch to turn on offline mode
Now you're ready to listen to your saved offline playlists on Spotify, wherever you are!
Remember that downloaded songs can take up space on your device, so make sure you have enough available memory before downloading too many playlists. Also, if you want to add new songs to your saved offline playlist, you'll need to do it manually each time.
Managing storage space
With Spotify Premium, you can download up to 10,000 songs for offline listening on a maximum of five different devices. However, it's important to manage storage space efficiently to avoid filling up your device's memory too quickly.
Delete unnecessary playlists
The first thing to do to free up space is to delete playlists that you no longer listen to or that don't interest you. To do this:
- Open the Spotify app on your device
- Tap "Playlists" in the bottom bar
- Scroll down to the end of your list of playlists
- Find the playlist you want to delete and tap the three dots next to its name
- Tap "Delete playlist" and confirm the operation
This will permanently delete the playlist from your Spotify account and free up space occupied by downloaded songs.
Limit the number of downloaded songs per playlist
If you have many playlists that you want to keep, but still want to save space, you can limit the number of downloaded songs for each playlist. To do this:
- Open the Spotify app on your device
- Tap "Playlists" in the bottom bar
- Select the playlist you want to modify
- Tap the three dots next to its name
- Tap "Edit playlist"
- Scroll down to the "Download" section and select "Add downloadable songs"
- Choose the maximum number of songs you want to download for that playlist
- Tap "Save" to confirm the changes
This way, Spotify will only download a limited number of songs for each playlist, freeing up space on your device. You can always add or remove downloaded songs later.
Delete unnecessary songs
If you've already deleted all the playlists you're not interested in and limited the number of downloaded songs for others, but still need to free up space, you can delete individual songs that you no longer listen to. To do this:
- Open the Spotify app on your device
- Find the song you want to delete in your personal library or playlists
- Tap the three dots next to its name
- Tap "Remove from device"
This will permanently delete the song from your device and free up occupied space.
Remember that you can always re-download songs or playlists later, so don't worry too much if you accidentally delete something.
Reactivating your internet connection
If you're able to restore your internet connection, you can easily reactivate listening to Spotify online. Here's how:
1. Check your internet connection
Make sure your device is connected to a Wi-Fi or mobile data network and ensure it's turned on. Open a website to check if you have internet access.
2. Restart the Spotify application
There may be temporary issues with the application preventing offline songs from loading, so try closing and reopening the application. If this doesn't work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the application.
3. Check your subscription status
Ensure that your Spotify Premium subscription is still active and that payment has been made correctly. If you have a free subscription, you may need to wait until the end of the billing cycle to regain access to Premium features.
4. Disconnect all devices
In some cases, other devices connected to your Spotify account can cause offline playback issues. Disconnect from all other devices and try accessing offline listening again.
- Example: You shared your Spotify account with a friend who is listening to music offline. This could prevent you from accessing the offline feature.
By following these steps, you should be able to reactivate online playback on Spotify and get back to enjoying your favorite music wherever you are.
Conclusion
Listening to your favorite music on Spotify is easy and convenient, even when you're offline. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily save your favorite songs for offline listening and save mobile data. If you experience connection issues, follow the advice provided to quickly reactivate online listening.
Always remember to keep your subscription active to enjoy the benefits of Spotify Premium and share these tips with friends who may have difficulty using the application offline.

Michael Anderson - Software Engineer
My name is Michael Anderson, and I work as a computer engineer in Midland, Texas.
My passion is sharing my knowledge in various areas, and my purpose is to make education accessible to everyone. I believe it is essential to explain complex concepts in a simple and interesting way.
With GlobalHowTo, I aim to motivate and enrich the minds of those who want to learn.





