Spotify Not Working? 10 Proven Fixes for Common Issues on Windows, Android, and iOS

As a leading music streaming service with hundreds of millions of users—many paying subscribers—Spotify dominates the market ahead of competitors like Apple Music. However, its vast user base, device support, and massive catalog mean occasional glitches are inevitable.

We've troubleshooted these issues extensively and compiled the 10 most common Spotify problems below, with reliable step-by-step fixes based on official guidance and real-world testing.

1. Spotify could not be started: error code 17
2. Unable to add local files to a Spotify playlist
3. Unable to download songs for offline playback
4. Missing Daily Mixes
5. Your Spotify account has been hacked
6. Spotify not working on Android
7. Troubleshooting Spotify on iPhones and iPads
8. You accidentally deleted a Spotify playlist
9. Spotify Music stutters during playback
10. No sound during playback

Learn more about using Spotify at the end.

1. Spotify could not be started: error code 17

This persistent Windows issue causes Spotify to crash just before launching, despite years of reports.

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Fix:

1. Download the Spotify installer to your desktop.
2. Right-click it, select Properties.
3. In the Compatibility tab, check Run this program in compatibility mode for: and select Windows XP (Service Pack 3).
4. Click Apply and run the installer.

If needed, boot into Safe Mode and repeat.

2. Unable to add local files to a Spotify playlist

Spotify's desktop app lets you blend local tracks with streaming playlists—a standout feature.

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Recent updates changed the process: Go to Edit (Windows) or Spotify (Mac) > Preferences > Local Files. Enable scanning for iTunes or your music library, or point to custom folders.

3. Unable to download songs for offline playback

Offline mode is ideal for data-saving on the go, but you're limited to 10,000 songs per device.

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Exceed this? Delete offline tracks. Toggle Download off/on via the More menu, or clear cache (detailed later).

4. Missing Daily Mixes

Spotify's up to six Daily Mixes blend your library with algorithm-suggested tracks by genre, found in Your Library > Made for You.

Missing? Log out/in. Still gone? Reinstall the app, per Spotify's official advice.

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5. Your Spotify account has been hacked

Hacks are common; past breaches like 2016 exposed credentials.

How to know if you've been hacked?

Unfamiliar play history, odd Discover Weekly suggestions (e.g., unlistened genres), or sudden logouts signal compromise.

What should you do?

If accessible: Visit Account Overview > Sign Out Anywhere, then change password (and Facebook's if linked).

Lost access? Contact Spotify via their form, @SpotifyCares on Twitter, or Facebook.

6. Spotify not working on Android

For device-specific glitches like blank screens or skipping: Log out/in first.

Clear cache and perform a fresh install

Clear via Settings > Apps > Spotify > Storage & Cache > Clear Cache/Data. Delete these folders if present:

• /emulated/0/Android/data/com.spotify.music
• /ext_sd/Android/data/com.spotify.music
• /sdcard1/Android/data/com.spotify.music
• /data/media/0/Android/data/com.spotify.music

Uninstall/reinstall from Play Store.

Remove cleaner apps, process managers, and battery managers

These can kill Spotify processes. Uninstall or whitelist Spotify.

7. Troubleshooting Spotify on iPhones and iPads

No system cache clear on iOS. In-app: Home > Settings > Storage > Clear Cache.

8. You accidentally deleted a Spotify playlist

Playlists take effort—recover via website: Retrieve Playlists > Restore.

9. Spotify Music stutters during playback

Crunchy audio? Enable More > Display > Hardware Acceleration. Note: May slow older PCs.

10. No sound during playback

Check mute/volume mixer: Windows (right-click tray > Volume Mixer), Mac (Option + speaker icon). For mobile headphones, clean jack with compressed air.

Learn more about using Spotify

For other issues, check Spotify's support, forums, or r/Spotify. See our guide on managing playlists.